how tough is it to do your own concrete driveway? anyone ever do this?

[GagHalfrunt]

I did 6' of sidewalk after tree roots ruined a section of my existing sidewalk. NEVER AGAIN! I'm pretty handy and it barely came out adequate. A driveway would be WAYYYYY beyond even a good DIY-er. Odds are not only will you spend a good amount of time and money, you'd then need to spend a lot more money to get professionals out to cart off your mistakes and do it right. Concrete is not a typical handyman home improvement project. It's hard work and requires experience to do it right.

 

[Fritzo]

If it were a patio block, I would say give it a try, but a driveway? You're in over your head...have someone do it.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: phatj
... but i'd love to say "i made that driveway"

Do you do your own brakes too?

Actually, I do and its easy.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: phatj
maybe i will hire a pro but i'd love to say "i made that driveway"

Hire a pro... and then sign your name in the concrete before it dries.

 

[Greenman]

It's a big job, and easy to screw up. Don't even bother trying to use a mixer, it will look like a patchwork quilt.
You might want to look into interlocking stone pavers. The material costs a bit more, but you can take all the time you need to get it right, and the finished drivway will look sweet. With pavers, the prep work is everything, so take your time and do it right.

 

[Analog]

If its flat, it shouldn't be too bad. I did a 16x48 with 3 other friends. Rent a power trowl FTW. Use 2x4s on the sides, and mesh. You can easily put seams in using a tool, or have it saw cut the next day.

 

[kami333]

I've done 6x6 sections and that was a pain, couldn't imagine doing something larger. The finishing is the hard part.

Like Evadman suggested, maybe you can do all the prep work and have someone come out to pour it and finish it. That's what I would do.

 

[Hubes]

rofl Good luck. Not worth all the hassle just hire someone, they will be done in a a day.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
is there any slope? if so have fun

Little jobs, I take on. A driveway. ......NEVAH!

 

[MasterAndCommander]

I've seen some pretty bad DIY driveways.
I do a lot of DIY repairs, and this was one I didn't want to even dream of trying on my own.
We hired a pro to do ours, and they were worth every penny.

 

[Ronstang]

I have done driveways before. I poured one for a the parents of a friend of my brother when I was 20 and they loved the results. That was almost 25 years ago and it is still there. This is one of those tasks that is not necessarily difficult but you have to know the proper procedure. Some research can give you all you need to know if you are basically handy to begin with. You will need some tools. It is imperative that you be able to plan and build the forms in a manner that one section takes a trailer load of cement from you local ready mix. That is how I did it. Each section took one trailer load to fill with a little left over. This way I could work with the cement without being pressuered. Once one section was done I returned with the trailer and got another load. You also have to start pouring in the right place so you don't pour yourself into a corner. Common sense helps here.

We had professionals pour the downstairs under our lake house and it wasn't long into that day when I was wishing we had done it ourselves. The so called professionals could not grasp the concept of sloping the concrete TOWARDS the plumbed in drains or sloping it properly so the water did not pool where you do not want it. They did EVERYTHING backwards and wrong. Must have been the language barrier.

 

[DrPizza]

You'd be insane to mix it yourself...
Around here, there are 2 or 3 different cement companies I can call to have it mixed and delivered to me... I'd just need to know how many yards to order. (A yard meaning a cubic yard.) You select the type of mix you want; it's quite inexpensive - you'd be a fool to mix it yourself. They'll simply deliver it to you at the time you want it, and pour it out a chute onto your job site (or, if the job site is inaccesible, you'll have to quickly transport it with a team of guys with wheelbarrows) It's back-breaking work especially if you don't have the right tools and machinery... Pouring and finishing the concrete is the easiest part of the job though (in my opinion)... it's all the prep work that's difficult.

You could probably do it yourself if you spent 2 or 3 days watching a couple of driveways getting done. Personally, I've been debating doing it myself one of these years or just getting a blacktop driveway.... or perhaps going the more difficult route and putting down really nice pavers or having stamped concrete done. Someone above said to hire it done and it'll be done in one day?? Must be a really small drive-way to do in one day. Usually, the first day is prep, the second is pouring and finishing. The 3rd (not necessarily consecutive) - removing the forms and finishing around the edges (dirt, etc.)

 

[phatj]

each of these responses are greatly appreciated

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: Evadman
I would do everything except actually lay the concreete. Prep work, forms, bed I would do, let pros do the floating.

exactly. if i was going to DIY on the driveway I would do all the work and hire a truck to pour and float the stuff.

 

[Sentinel]

Originally posted by: Evadman
I would do everything except actually lay the concrete. Prep work, forms, bed I would do, let pros do the floating.

Nah, if you are going to do all of that work, may as well float it as well. Just have a cement truck pour it for you & lay it yourself. Just need a handfull of guys to give you a hand.

 

[BoomerD]

I poured a LOT of concrete when I was younger. Driveways are doable, but you will definitely need some help, (preferrably someone who knows what they are doing), and DON"T try to mix it yourself. Get it delivered for a more consistent & better quality mix, and better results. if I need concrete poured nowdays, I hrie it done by a licenced contractor. My back can't take the work, and I want it done RIGHT...

 

[skyking]

I paid $2200 total for a:
24X24 garage slab.
16X24 carport slab
8X12 shed slab
4X16 handicap ramp.

I did all the forming, and the contractor did all the rest. I considered it money really well spent, that was nice to have it all done. They used fiber reinforced concrete everywhere.
I've helped on various pours, the largest being a 40X80 monopour fiasco at my buddy's shop.
The mud was too hot, not enough help, and it looked like crap.