For those of you out there who own a home - power to you! Owning a home is far more work than just lawn mowing and cleaning. You break things, other things break on their own; then you either shell out money to fix them or pay to have them fixed.
When we became home owners we knew that our driveway was going to need replaced. We wanted to make the improvement fast so that we could enjoy it (if) before we ever moved.
WARNING: this photo is graphic and is only intended for mature audiences.
(haha, okay, but really... :\ )
Beyond being visually unappealing, we couldn't get through winter without shoveling chunks of asphalt into our yard. We regularly tracked our driveway into our kitchen on our shoes and we had to sweep our garage of rocks.
We finally got tired of it (after we had saved enough money) and called D&M Concrete based out of Greenwood, Ind. They weren't our first call, but they were the only concrete contractor to give us the time of day AND a reasonable quote.
We booked them in the fall of 2015 and by March of 2016 they had broken ground and laid a new driveway and sidewalk in roughly two days.
Check out their progress....
We also had D&M put in a new sidewalk and install the first two feet of our garage floor (due to pitting).
These images were taken as soon as the framing was pulled off - WOW!!
And now - the stunning end product!
THREE WEEKS (yes, it really felt that long) later we were able to remove the "do not drive" tape. This meant we could finally park in our garage again AND use the driveway. We're much happier with our new curb appeal and love the functionality!
Some tips for those looking to redo their driveway:
- Get more than one quote! We originally thought we would do asphalt because people kept telling us that it was cheaper than concrete. "People" were very wrong. The price fluctuates (much like gasoline) and you should do your homework!
- If your contractor wants money before they do any work challenge them. A great contractor won't need money up front. They'll make sure it's perfect and your happy before they take your money. Besides, you want the job done, right?
- Have the contractor over and walk through your plans. Have them draw it out and review those plans again before they start the work. Over communicate to be sure that you're getting EXACTLY what you want. It's a pricey mistake if they get it wrong.
- Be flexible when it comes time for the work to happen. Weather is a huge factor when it comes to pouring concrete and sometimes your job will be bumped up or pushed back. Spring is a great time to have a job like this done because (hopefully) the only elements you're battling are rain - at least in Indiana. Freezing temps require additives to the concrete that jack up the price $1-$10 per yard!
- Prepare for a project like this at least 1-2 seasons in advance. Contractors schedule their jobs pretty far out so you'll want to be having these conversations before the moment you want the job done.
- Be honest with your contractor and share not only your budget but where you're hoping to save costs. They'll be able to tell you whether or not pouring more items, like a sidewalk, may actually be cost effective for you based on the mixing quantity of the cement truck.
- Review your contract and be comfortable with the terms. Add an addendum or initial changes in the document if you have reservations. This is particularly true for those wanting cash in advance of the job.
- Get educated on your new concrete or asphalt and learn about it's care. Concrete for example requires a spray on sealant every 2-3 years. It's also not good to power wash it but rather to use bleach to kill the fungi and bacteria growing on it and gently power wash it off afterwards.
Thanks for stopping by the Humble Hammock!
Cara
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