I am thinking about pouring my own driveway, or at least prepping to do so. I was wondering how deep the driveway needs to be to hold up to a car? (Approximately 4 inches deep???)
2007-07-02 15:30:25 · 11 answers · asked by jcann17 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Form it with 2 x 4 boards. You want at least the 3.5 inches this gives you. Try to average around 4". I live in Minnesota and have worked as a commercial general contractor for 6 years and have been in the industry for over 10. If 4" of concrete can beat the frost here, it will make it anywhere. Besides, concrete is expensive, only use what you need. If you pour it yourself, remember to reinforce it with some steel. The fibermesh works okay, but I would still use steel mesh with it. Finally, the only guarantee you can give concrete is, IT WILL CRACK. Try to control it with cuts. When you put in cuts, the largest panel should only be 10' by 10'.
2007-07-03 02:31:51 · answer #1 · answered by Bucky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A concrete driveway should be minimum of 4", if you have heavy vehicles 6". That is a big job. Depending on the size of the driveway you will need at least 4 people with bull racks as the truck is pouring the concrete and then bull floats to smooth and someone to put in the expansion joints for the controlled cracks.
2007-07-04 20:20:11 · answer #2 · answered by Jeanne P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 inches is the standard depth for residential driveways unless heavy vehicles, like large RVs, are driven across the driveway. I'd suggest a 5 sack concrete mix, which makes a 3,000 psi mixture. Also, in lieu of metal reinforcement, there is an additive that works very well -- fibermesh. It is fiberglass that is added to the concrete mix and adds tensil strength to the concrete.
2007-07-02 23:39:34 · answer #3 · answered by Turnhog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This will vary depending upon where you are. Some climates need thicker because of weather conditions and soil types. Check with the local zoning and building inspector. Where I am (Rhode Island) the concrete driveways run just about 3 inches. I can tell you because I must have had to drill through five hundred of them in twenty years!
2007-07-02 22:35:49 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By 4", everyone means use a 2x4" to frame the drive. The approach (the wide entrance ) has to be 6" deep 10' back from the road.
2007-07-03 01:08:01 · answer #5 · answered by T C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 inches is about average. make sure you use re-bar or wire mesh in the concrete. use a hook to pull it up into the concrete as it is pored. also, have plenty of help, it's a hard job.
2007-07-02 22:50:09 · answer #6 · answered by safetyman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hum, I thought it was 6 inches. Maybe check with the building codes department in your county. It's very possibly different in different states.
2007-07-02 22:35:05 · answer #7 · answered by Cheech 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a min of 4'' with plenty of wire mesh and rebar but be in store for a big job !
2007-07-03 02:05:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
check your local building code. i think it is 4 inches here in south jersey
2007-07-02 22:38:19 · answer #9 · answered by Carol H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Six inches . Then it will take delivery trucks
2007-07-03 01:28:45 · answer #10 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋