Can You Pour a Concrete Driveway Yourself?

Consider these factors first before tackling this major DIY project.
By Anne Balogh, ConcreteNetwork.com

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If you’re thinking about installing a new concrete driveway, but are concerned about the dent it will put in your budget, you may be tempted to save labor costs by doing the work yourself. But is a do-it-yourself concrete driveway a good idea? And can you really save that much money by pouring your own concrete?

Before you jump head first into this major undertaking, it’s important to be aware of the steps involved and what can happen if things go wrong. Not only will you be responsible for the backbreaking work of tearing out your existing driveway, all the planning, prep work, installation and finishing of your new concrete driveway will also fall squarely on your shoulders. Read on to learn why pouring a new concrete driveway, or extending an existing one, is best left in the hands of a professional.

GOOD PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL

Before you start your DIY concrete driveway project, you’ll need to plot out the driveway’s overall length and width as well as other important dimensions, such as walk-about space and turn-around room (see Driveway Width Standards and Planning Tips). In many cases, the dimensions of your driveway must also conform with local building codes.

Planning for water drainage and run-off is equally important. Knowing how to properly slope your driveway and where to direct the water is critical to prevent puddling and protect adjacent structures, such as your home and garage, from run-off.

SUBGRADE PREP CAN’T BE OVERLOOKED

One of the most common reasons a DIY concrete driveway fails is improper subgrade preparation. If you have an existing driveway, you’ll have to break it up with a jackhammer or hydraulic breaker and properly dispose of or recycle the waste (see Concrete Demolition Methods). Then to create a solid, uniform base for the new concrete, the exposed ground should be covered with a 4- to 6-inch base of compacted and leveled gravel or crushed stone. And don’t make this common DIYer mistake: Forgetting to call a utility locating service before demo work and digging begins so you don’t accidentally damage buried electric, gas or water lines.

Learn more about subgrades and subbases for concrete slabs.

FORM ASSEMBLY IS COMPLICATED

Using the right concrete forming system and installing it properly can have a big impact on the appearance of your new driveway because it serves as the framework for the slab and keeps the freshly poured concrete in place until it sets. Not only must the forming boards be set to the proper level and securely braced so that the pressure of the concrete won’t cause them to bow outward, the timing of form removal is also critical. If you remove the forms too soon, before the concrete hardens, your newly poured slab can collapse and fail (see When to Remove Concrete Forms.)

YOU NEED TO USE THE RIGHT CONCRETE MIX

A big decision a DIYer needs to make when installing a concrete driveway is whether to order the concrete from a ready-mix supplier or buy a preblended, bagged concrete mix. As convenient as bagged mixes are, they aren’t very practical for a large driveway project unless you buy or rent a portable concrete mixer. Also keep in mind that your driveway will be subject to vehicle traffic and freeze-thaw conditions (in most climates), so you’ll need a high-performance, low-permeability concrete driveway mix designed to withstand these conditions.

Another word of advice: Whether you plan to use a bagged mix or order the concrete from a ready-mix supplier, you’ll have to accurately calculate the number of cubic yards needed to complete your project so you don’t run short before the pour is completed. Learn more: How Much Concrete Do I Need for a Driveway?

POURING YOUR OWN CONCRETE IS HARD WORK

Hauling around fresh concrete by wheelbarrow to pour a large driveway can be backbreaking, labor-intensive work. Unless you are ordering the concrete from a ready-mix supplier who can dispense the concrete right into the formed area, you will be responsible for moving all the concrete yourself. What’s more, as you pour the concrete, you’ll need to use a shovel or concrete rake to spread the material evenly within the formwork. While this may be doable for a small driveway slab, you’ll typically need to pour a larger driveway one section at a time or recruit a few strong friends to help you.

FINISHING CONCRETE REQUIRES THE RIGHT TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

Placing and finishing a concrete slab requires the use of specialized tools to achieve good results, including a screed to level off the freshly placed concrete, a bull float to flatten the surface and eliminate ridges, and a finishing trowel to produce a smooth, dense surface. While most of these tools are readily available at hardware and home improvement stores, many DIYers don’t have the skill it takes to use them properly. The biggest mistakes the inexperienced make when finishing a concrete driveway are overworking the surface and performing finishing operations while bleedwater is still present.

Learn more about the tools and techniques required for finishing concrete.

JOINTS ARE NEEDED FOR CRACK CONTROL

All concrete driveways need control joints to help prevent random cracking. But do you know how far apart to space the joints and how deep to cut them to obtain effective crack control? Before installing a DIY concrete driveway, you’ll need to come up with a viable jointing plan and then make sure you sawcut the joints soon enough after concrete placement. In hot weather, concrete might crack if the joints aren’t cut within six hours after final finishing.

PROPER CURING IS ESSENTIAL

After you pour and finish a concrete driveway, your work isn’t done. You have to let your newly poured driveway cure by keeping it moist for at least seven days so it can reach its maximum strength and durability. In extreme cases, failure to cure the concrete immediately after final finishing can result in strength reductions of up to 50% and increase the possibility of surface defects. Read more about why curing concrete is important and how it's done.

YOU’LL PAY A STEEP PRICE IF THINGS GO WRONG

If you’re still determined to pour a concrete driveway yourself after weighing all the pros and cons, consider what the consequences could be if your DIY efforts fail. Get it wrong, and you could be facing substantial costs for concrete repair or replacement and end up wasting money rather than saving it. Also keep in mind the total costs of all the equipment, tools, and other supplies you’ll need to buy to complete the job.

By hiring a professional concrete contractor to do the work, you can rest assured that you will be getting an attractive, problem-free concrete driveway that will add to the value and curb appeal of your home. Plus, having a concrete driveway professionally installed may not be as expensive as you think. The cost of a basic concrete driveway, with no decorative colors and finishes, can run for as little as $5 to $7 per square foot.

DIY CONCRETE DRIVEWAY FAQS

Can you use Quikrete for a driveway?

Quikrete and similar fast-setting bagged concrete mixes are designed for relatively small projects, not for those on the scale of a concrete driveway. Once it’s mixed, Quikrete sets and hardens in as little as 20 minutes, giving you only a short window of time to place and finish it.

Should you put plastic down before pouring a concrete driveway?

Most exterior concrete slabs do not need plastic to be put down on the subgrade to act as a vapor barrier. However, if you are going to seal your driveway, be sure to use a permeable sealer that allows for the passage of both air and moisture.

How thick should concrete be for a driveway?

Most residential concrete driveways should be placed at a minimum thickness of 4 inches to give them the structural capacity needed to support normal vehicle traffic (see How Thick Should a Concrete Driveway Be?). If your driveway will be supporting heavier loads, such as trucks or RVs, consider increasing the thickness to 5 inches to boost its load-carrying capacity.

Do you need reinforcement for a 4-inch-thick driveway?

Reinforcing your driveway using steel rebar or wire mesh will provide additional structural capacity and is especially important if the slab will be exposed to heavy traffic. In general, it’s best to use wire mesh for driveways that are 4 to 5 inches thick and rebar for those that are 5 inches thick or greater. Keep in mind that the reinforcement must be installed properly to be of full benefit.

How deep do you need to dig for a concrete driveway?

Typically 8 to 10 inches deep for a 4-inch-thick driveway, which will allow for a 4- to 6-inch base of compacted stone.