Concrete Driveways in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Durable Concrete Driveways

Driveways are the most abused of all of your property’s concrete surfaces. The daily driving cycle from your vehicles, the extreme UV radiation found throughout Florida, the constant heat expansion/contraction cycle, and the occasional severe storm conditions will all cause stress to the structural integrity of your driveway.

We at Fort Lauderdale Concrete Solutions design and build a driveway that is able to endure this abuse by properly preparing the site, strategically reinforcing, and utilizing the best finishing techniques to produce a durable concrete driveway that can handle South Florida’s unique weather conditions.

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What Makes a Quality Concrete Driveway?

When you are considering a concrete driveway, it is more than just pouring concrete into the ground. The life expectancy of a driveway will be directly influenced by its foundation. We make sure we have excavated to the correct depth to provide a solid base for the driveway. We then compact the base material (which is typically an aggregate) and ensure there is adequate drainage around the structure in order to prevent settlement and cracking due to water accumulation at the bottom of the slab.

In our concrete mix designs, we also take into consideration the specific climate conditions in the Fort Lauderdale area. In addition, we make sure to select the correct psi rating for the concrete mix depending on the number of vehicles and their weights that the driveway will be subjected to. We also utilize air entrainment in the mix when weather conditions require this. Depending on the size of the driveway and potential stress points, we may also add fiber-reinforced concrete or steel mesh to increase the overall structural integrity of the concrete slab.

We feel the finishing process is as important as the construction of the concrete slab itself. The placement of joints is critical to control where the cracks will appear. Also, adequate curing time is necessary to allow the concrete to reach its designed compressive strength. Finally, a professional sealant applied to the finished driveway will protect the driveway from moisture intrusion and surface deterioration over time.

Concrete Driveway Design Ideas

There are a few ways that you can match your driveway to the style of your home and meet all of your needs. There are several different types of driveways we can make for you:

Standard Finish: A broom-textured finish is the best way to get traction on your driveway, and it will fit into almost any architectural style. It is also the least expensive option.

Exposed Aggregate: We remove the top layer of the surface paste to expose decorative stones within the concrete. The exposed aggregate on our concrete driveways provides both good traction and nice visual interest.

Stamped Patterns: Our concrete driveways can be made to look like the pattern of brick, cobblestone, or natural stone. Stamped concrete driveway patterns provide high-end style at an affordable price.

Colored Concrete: Colored concrete is achieved either by adding an integral color to the concrete when it is mixed or through staining. Natural earth tones are very popular in Fort Lauderdale’s tropical landscape context.

Bordered Design: Bordered designs use different finishes together—such as smooth concrete and stamped concrete borders—for additional visual definition.

Concrete Driveway Installation Process

We follow a proven sequence for our installation.

Site Evaluation: We evaluate the site by assessing soil conditions, the pattern of drainage on-site, and any potential access constraints.
Excavation: We remove existing material to the required depth of excavation.
Base Preparation: After excavating, we install and compact an aggregate base material that is suitable to support the slab.
Form Setting: At this point, we set the forms to create the exact grade and edge details necessary for the finished slab.
Reinforcement Placement: Next, we place the specified type and amount of steel (rebar) or fiber reinforcement into the slab.
Concrete Placement: The next step in the sequence is to pour, spread, and consolidate the concrete into the slab.
Finishing: Once the concrete has been placed, we apply the desired finish and also make sure to properly locate and cut control joints.
Curing: Immediately after finishing the concrete, we protect it from weathering and allow sufficient curing time for it to develop its required strength properties.
Sealing: Finally, we apply a protective sealant after we are confident the concrete has cured long enough to be durable.

Typically, the total duration of the entire process is 7-10 days from the start of excavation until completion of the sealing operation. There will be a 24-hour delay between foot traffic and a 7-day delay between vehicle usage and the completion of the installation.

Concrete Driveway Installation Cost

The cost to install a concrete driveway will depend upon several different factors:

Dimensions of your driveway (the square footage of your driveway).
Your site access and how much preparation is required.
Depth of the base material or excavation needed before laying the concrete slab.
Thickness of the concrete as per your specifications.
Type and location of reinforcement within your concrete slab.
Selection of finish: standard vs. decorative.
Selection of sealer; type of product used & method of application.

Our concrete driveway quotes detail all of these factors so you can clearly see what you are being charged for and understand why we have to charge those prices. The price of our work is reflective of high-quality materials and the correct way to do it (quality in/quality out), rather than “cheating” on costs now with the intention of possibly creating future problems.

Concrete Driveway vs Asphalt

Several advantages support a comparison that favors a concrete driveway over an asphalt driveway in Fort Lauderdale:

Durability: A properly-maintained concrete driveway will have a useful life span of 30 to 40 years. An asphalt driveway is usually at the end of its useful life span (and needs to be replaced) after 15 to 20 years.

Thermal Resistance: Concrete driveways can handle the hot Florida sun without deforming, while asphalt driveways become soft under extreme heat.

Maintenance: Concrete driveways need to be sealed approximately every three years; asphalt driveways require seal coating and repair periodically, as well as more frequently than concrete.

Aesthetics: Concrete driveways are very versatile for designs. Asphalt driveways provide few options for aesthetics.

Cost: While asphalt is less expensive initially, in the long run, it is less advantageous as far as cost goes because of the shorter life span of asphalt compared to concrete and the increased maintenance required of asphalt driveways.

Ready to Upgrade Your Driveway?

When a high-quality concrete driveway is put into place, it can be one of the most attractive aspects of an exterior, and with the proper installation process, a driveway will have a long-lasting lifespan. If you would like to set up a meeting to discuss the possibilities for your project, contact Fort Lauderdale Concrete Solutions today to arrange your free consultation.

We will send someone to your property to evaluate site conditions as well as ask about your preferred design options. We will then create a complete quote for your project. There are no obligations or pressure from us — just advice based on our many years of experience in installing driveways.

Phone: (754) 354-4465
Email: [email protected]

Fort Lauderdale Concrete Solutions—building driveways that last in South Florida’s demanding climate.