Base preparation, which decides everything
Concrete is strong in compression and weak in bending, so it needs uniform support. That means excavating to depth, removing soft material, and compacting granular base in lifts.
Skimping on base thickness or compaction is the usual cause of cracking within a couple of winters, because the slab ends up spanning a soft spot and breaks.
Drainage is planned at the same time. The finished surface has to shed water away from the house and the garage, not toward them, and a driveway that slopes to a foundation is a basement problem waiting to happen.
Mix, joints and curing in this climate
For exterior flatwork here we use an air entrained mix, which contains microscopic air voids that give freezing water somewhere to expand. Without it, surfaces spall and flake after a few winters of salt and thaw cycles.
Control joints are cut at planned spacing so the inevitable shrinkage cracking happens in a straight line where you expect it, rather than randomly across the middle.
Then curing. Concrete needs moisture and moderate temperature to gain strength, so we cure it properly rather than leaving a fresh pour to dry out in August sun or catch an early frost.
The first winter matters
New concrete should not be exposed to de-icing salt in its first winter, while it is still gaining strength and the surface pores are open.
We give you that instruction in writing along with the cure schedule, because a beautiful new driveway salted heavily in its first January will show surface damage by spring, and that is avoidable.
What a concrete driveway quote includes
- Excavation and base: depth and granular thickness stated.
- Reinforcement: mesh or rebar where the design calls for it.
- Slab thickness: stated, and sized for vehicle loads.
- Mix specification: strength and air entrainment named.
- Control joints: spacing and layout planned, not improvised.
- Drainage and cure: slope away from the building, curing method included.
Where concrete driveway installation sits in the bigger job
This work is part of our general contractor service, so it can run on its own or as one stage inside a larger project. When it is part of a bigger renovation we sequence it with the other trades rather than treating it as a standalone visit.
Clients booking this often pair it with roof repair, roof replacement, new roof installation or brick repair. One contract covers whichever combination you need, with a single schedule and one point of contact.
Concrete Driveway Installation across the Ottawa area
We take this work on throughout the greater Ottawa area. Recent jobs have run through Nepean, Merivale, South Keys, Kanata and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The consultation is free wherever you are in the city.