A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a New Driveway

concrete driveway construction

If you’re looking for a new driveway or concrete patio, it can be overwhelming. There are so many options and factors to consider! There’s no way I could begin to cover all the choices in just one article, but this guide will give you a solid starting point on building a driveway that works for you. You’ll avoid expensive mistakes by following this step-by-step guide—I promise!

 

Planning Your Driveway

Before you start construction, you need to decide where you’re going to put your driveway and how long it will be. You should also take into account any other factors that may affect the design of your new driveway. For example:

  • Make sure that the location is safe and accessible for daily use by both vehicles and pedestrians. If there are any hills or slopes nearby, make sure that they won’t affect access during rainy weather (i.e., rainwater could collect behind curbs). If there are stairs in front of your property line with no railings (or they’re flimsy), consider building an upper level walkway instead!
  • Make sure that ground levels remain level throughout construction so trucks can move freely through your yard without raising dirt walls higher than necessary; this could cause problems later on down the road when trying reverse out onto another site again after all this hard work has gone into making sure everything was done correctly first time around!

Hiring a Contractor: What to Look For

driveway contractor

Hiring a contractor is one of the most important steps in building your driveway. It’s important to hire someone you feel comfortable with, who can do the job right and at a reasonable cost.

  • Check references: Ask them for their past clients’ names and phone numbers, along with details about how they handled each project. You want someone who has done this before, so ask if they’ve worked on other driveways or patios that were similar to yours. If possible, meet with each reference individually so you can get an idea of how they interact together as a team—and whether they make good impressions on others when working together!
  • Get a written estimate: A written estimate is often better than an oral estimate because it provides more detail about what exactly needs done (even if it’s just “add some gravel here”). Make sure whatever amount is quoted includes any extra costs associated with materials or services like excavation work; otherwise those will come out separately later on down the line when payment comes due!
  • Request a quote. The quote is probably one of the best ways to feel comfortable with the contractor. This is a great opportunity to interview and get an understanding of their work. Please give Dallas Retaining Walls and Masonry a call if you would like a free quote from us. 

What Type of Gravel Should I Use?

When you’re looking for a material to use as your driveway, gravel is a great choice. You’ll find that it’s less expensive than concrete and easier to install than either of these materials. That said, there are some important things you should know about choosing the right type of gravel:

  • Gravel is an environmentally friendly option because it doesn’t have synthetic binders or fillers in its makeup (which helps make it last longer).
  • It can be used in any color or pattern you want! If you’re looking for something more sophisticated than plain old brown dirt, however, we recommend using crushed stone instead—it has all of the same benefits as uncut natural stones but with additional benefits like durability and strength against water erosion through rainwater runoff
concrete gravel rebar

How Big Will My Driveway Be?

concrete drainage

Now that you know what to do, it’s time to figure out how big your driveway will be. The size of your driveway depends on the size of your property and how many cars you plan on parking in it. You’ll also want to leave room for a turning circle, which is the distance between where two wheels touch when driving around a curve. For example: If someone drove their car around a curve at 40 mph (64 km/h) then they would turn about 15 feet (4 m). This means there should be 20 feet (6 m) between each end of their vehicle so that they are able to make sharp turns without hitting anything or getting into an accident with another vehicle behind them

How Thick Should the Base Gravel Be?

The base gravel should be at least 1″ thick. To ensure that you have enough material, it’s best to use a vibrating plate compactor or hand tamper to compact your base gravel. This will help ensure that the sand and stones are packed tightly together and won’t slough off during rainfall events.

It is also important that the density of your base gravel layer is at least 95%. If there isn’t enough depth on top of the soil, then water can accumulate in pockets between layers which causes them to erode faster than normal due to increased pressure from below (and vice versa).

Should I Put in a Foundation?

If you don’t have a foundation, it’s not too late to install one. The first step is to dig a trench around the perimeter of your yard and then fill it with gravel or other fill material. You can also use crushed rock if that’s what’s available in your area. Then, pour concrete into the trench until it reaches roughly 3 inches above ground level (the amount will vary based on conditions).

Once this has been completed and allowed to dry for at least 24 hours before filling any gaps between pavers or stones with mortar (see Step 7 below).

What Kind of Stones Should I Use?

The type of stone and masonry you choose for topdressing is important because it will have a big impact on the look and feel of your finished driveway. There are many different types of stones available, but there are also some basic guidelines that can help you choose the right one for your project.

  • Stone size: The larger the stone is, the better it will be able to carry weight without breaking or cracking. However, if you’re going with large stones in an area where traffic is expected (such as near walkways), then smaller ones may work better as they won’t block access for people who need to pass through quickly during busy times like rush hour traffic patterns or school pick-up/drop off days when children need their parents’ help getting them safely home from school by bus or vanpools–both situations where most adults would rather avoid having their cars damaged by too much weight being placed onto them at once!
  • Texture: Smooth vs Rough vs Polished vs Honed etc… All these factors come into play when choosing which kind of finish should be applied onto top dressing materials such as sandstone which already has some level”

Conclusion

So, if you’re ready to get started on your own driveway, then this guide is here to help! We’ve outlined everything you need to know about planning and building a new driveway. With these tips and tricks, along with a little elbow grease (and maybe some elbow grease), the end result will be something worth showing off to all of your neighbors.