How to Lay a Cement Driveway

A new cement driveway is an excellent way to add value and beauty to your home. Cement driveways can be built in a variety of colors and styles to match the facade of your home. Installing a concrete drive way can be completed by any handy person with moderate construction skills and tools.

Supplies

• Bobcat or shovel


• Tamping tool


• Two-by-four boards


• One-by-four board


• Stakes


• Hammer


• Concrete


• Broom


• Burlap

1. Clear the area where you are building the driveway.


2. Remove the top soil with either a shovel or a Bobcat.


3. Use a soil compactor to pack the soil. The soil must be packed in order to create a level surface for the concrete pour.


4. Build the forms for the driveway using one by six-inch boards along the perimeter of the driveway. Attach the board to the wooden support stakes every four feet.


5. Install a one by four- inch board in the middle point of the driveway to create an expansion joint. This will prevent the drive from cracking during periods of stress.


6. Order the cement from a concrete company and have the truck deliver it.


7. Be ready to work the concrete when the trucks arrive to pour it. As the concrete is poured, use a shovel and a rake to even out and smooth the surface. Ask an assistant to help you screed the concrete in order to level it out. 


8. Use your float to smooth the entire surface once it is level.


9. Pull a broom across the concrete to add a rough texture to the smooth surface. This is especially useful on sidewalks and driveways, where they can become slick when wet.


10. Put burlap over the concrete once it has been leveled and smoothed. This will cure the cement at a pace that does not allow it to crack. The protective covering should be left in place a minimum of 72 hours depending on the weather conditions.