DIY Paving is a Complex Procedure
Though you might have some experience working with concrete, cement, or asphalt, driveway paving is a complex process that takes a large amount of work to finish. The following procedure is the bare minimum that you’ll be doing when paving your own driveway, though you may also end up doing much more than the following steps:
- Removing any old pavement from your driveway – Before you start any DIY paving project, you need to take old pavement out. This process involves cracking apart the pavement and removing it, either by hand or with high-powered tools. You also need to create a form for the pavement to keep it in shape.
- Preparing the base – You can’t simply pour pavement on your driveway and assume that it will be fine. Instead, you have to prepare a base that is level and supportive of your pavement. This process requires more work than you may realize.
- Mixing the paving material – After you prepare the base, you need to mix your concrete, cement, or asphalt. Do you know how to prepare paving materials? Even if you know the basic process, do you understand how to do it without making a mistake?
- Applying the pavement – Now comes the hardest part: pouring the pavement in the form. This process can be very challenging because it requires you to pour the concrete or asphalt into the form slowly and spread it out evenly. You’ll likely need a second worker to help with this step, or the pavement may dry too quickly.
- Finishing the pavement – Once you’re done pouring the pavement, you need to even it out and make cuts for expansion joints, if necessary. Knowing how to even out this material can be a challenge and knowing where to form expansion joints is particularly tough for many.
Some people may not think that these steps sound all that challenging. For example, you may have paved a small bit of sidewalk in the past or worked on a paving crew on smaller jobs. However, even the most talented amateur paver is likely to run into issues if they try to handle their own paving. Understanding these issues can help you avoid making a huge mistake.
Common Problems That Plague DIY Paving
Even if you can complete the process outlined above, there is still a good chance you’re likely to make some mistakes that could complicate your success. The following issues are the most common concerns you’re likely to experience when performing DIY paving on your own:
- Poorly-mixed pavement – Mixing pavement is more complex than it seems, and if you make a mistake, you could be setting yourself up for a problematic repair procedure.
- Poor preparation – If you don’t take the time to adequately prepare the base for your pouring – including the form where the concrete will sit – you’re going to run into some serious issues.
- Uneven surface – When you try to flatten your concrete slab, you need to go over it as much as possible to ensure that it doesn’t become uneven.
- Incorrect cuts – Many people cut their pavement at the wrong distance and end up with expansion joints that don’t do their job correctly.
All of these problems make DIY driveway paving something that just isn’t worth your time. Instead, you should contact a professional to get the help that you need. This step helps to minimize the kind of issues you’re likely to experience with DIY paving.
How to Choose a Paving Company
If you’re looking for a professional for your driveway paving , there are a few steps that you should take. This simple process will help you to fine-tune your search and find a company that works the best for your needs. Just a few steps that you can take include the following:
- Research their licensing – A good paving company should be fully licensed to meet the needs of a large number of people. Make sure that their licenses are up to date and provided by the appropriate authorities.
- Talk about paving options – Talk to several of your available professional pavers to learn more about what kind of opportunities that they provide. Ask these experts if they have a type of pavement that appeals to you or talk to them about which type is right for you.
- Choose a paving option – Once you fully understand what type of option is best for your needs, pick a pavement that is right for your driveway. This process should take into account a variety of factors, such as the average weather in the area and much more.
- Pick a paving time – Try to choose a day when you can be at the paving site to ensure that your driveway is flawlessly installed. Make sure to also select a day when the weather is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the risk of rain is as low as possible.
These simple steps should help set you up for a high-quality paving experience. In the end, you should always choose a company that you trust to do the best possible job. Thankfully, you should have many companies available for your choice, so make sure that you do a lot of research. And, as always, don’t start doing any DIY paving if you can avoid it.
We Can Help You Overcome This Trouble
As you can see, DIY driveway paving in Stevens Point, WI is too much of a problem to try doing it on your own. While you could save a little bit of money on installation fees, you’re ultimately going to end up spending more when you need to hire professionals to repair your paving mistakes.
So please don’t hesitate to contact us at Custom Paving to get the help you need with this issue. Our professionals can help find a type of pavement that suits your needs and will work to find a price that doesn’t cost too much to handle on a limited budget.