Introduction to Residential Driveway Construction

Are you planning to construct a driveway in your residential district?

The American Legal Publishing dictates specific rules for driveway construction in residential areas. All driveways must be made of a hard surface such as concrete, asphalt, or any other approved material. When constructing a concrete driveway, it is crucial to follow the specifications provided by the ACI 318 manual. The driveway's minimum thickness should be four inches, with a foundation of four inches of acceptable tamped fill or undisturbed dirt. Steel bar, wire mesh, or fiber mesh can be used as reinforcement.

Proper subgrade preparation is essential to support the driveway loads. Soft spots should be replaced with suitable substances such as crushed rock or gravels. ASTM C-94 recommends using ready-mix concrete for uniform concrete mix, which prevents random cracking. Concrete with a compressive strength of 4000 psi is suitable for most conditions. The ideal option for heavy traffic driveways that frequently face freezing and thawing and chemical exposure is high-performance concrete.

Reinforcement can be used to strengthen the structural capacity of the driveway, and synthetic fibers are increasingly used as secondary reinforcement. Concrete driveways must have a minimum thickness of four inches, and the additional thickness is added to the margins to support heavy loads.

The contractor must ensure proper finishing of the concrete driveway to achieve the intended quality, polish, and durability. Activities performed over bleeding water or overworking the surface can lead to mistakes. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the proper steps for completing the driveway, including placement of joints and adequate drainage facility.

Remember, access driveways must be three feet or more from the property line, and the gradient of the driveway and apron cannot surpass 12% and 8%, respectively. The driveway apron must run the entire length of the street right-of-way. Therefore, if you want to construct a driveway in a residential district, follow these specifications to ensure the driveway's functionality and appearance.