A Surface Built to Carry Daily Traffic
A driveway takes more punishment than any other concrete around a house. Cars, trailers, delivery vans and the occasional skip bin all load the same strip of surface, day after day. At Volcanic Creations Concreting, we build concrete driveways in Hobart from the base upwards, because a thin pour over poor preparation cracks no matter how good the finish looks on day one. We work out the fall so water runs off the surface and away from the house, set the reinforcement for the traffic expected, and cut control joints where movement should go. If you want more than a plain grey finish, our decorative concrete page covers the options. Call 0429 062 617.
Recent driveways work
Jobs we have set out, poured and trowelled ourselves around Hobart and the surrounding districts.
What Makes a Driveway Last
Longevity in a driveway comes down to four decisions made before the pour.
Base preparation
A compacted gravel base spreads load and stops the slab bridging over soft spots. We compact in layers rather than tipping and levelling in one go.
Thickness and reinforcement
A driveway carrying a caravan or a work vehicle needs more depth and steel than one used by a single small car. We set both to suit the heaviest thing that will actually park on it.
Falls and drainage
Water pooling on a driveway works its way into the joints and edges over time. We grade the surface so it drains to a garden, a strip drain or the street rather than back toward the house.
Joint layout
Control joints give shrinkage somewhere planned to go. We space and cut them early so cracks follow the joint lines instead of wandering across the middle.
Work out what the drive needs to carry before it's poured.
Talk to Us About Your Concrete Driveway Job
Nothing about a driveway can be fixed after the pour except how it looks. Call 0429 062 617.
Driveway questions we get asked
A standard car driveway is poured thicker than a footpath and reinforced to suit, with extra depth where heavier vehicles turn or park. The final figure depends on the subgrade and the loads the driveway will carry.
Pouring over old concrete is rarely a good idea, because the existing cracks and joints keep moving and telegraph through the new surface. Breaking out and starting from a properly prepared base gives a far more predictable result.
Options run from a broom or brushed finish for grip through to exposed aggregate, colour and stencilled patterns. Texture matters as much as appearance on a sloped drive, where a smooth finish can become slippery when wet.