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The prevention steps are essentially the same, no matter the patio material. Keep the surface clean and maintained. Ensure there's no debris buildup, and cover the whole thing in a quality sealant. If it's the start of a season or it's been a while since you've cleaned the area, use a pressure washer.

Placing either a layer of mixed-size gravel or a paver base under your crushed concrete driveway is a good idea. The smaller pieces will compress and prevent the larger pieces of concrete from driving into the soil below, helping to avoid sinking over time under the weight of vehicles. For added protection from sinking and weeks, you can also install a heavy-duty weed liner beneath the gravel or paver base. Just be sure to use a permeable material to avoid drainage problems.

The easiest way to handle extra-wet cement is to pour it, let it harden, and then recycle it using one of the methods above. You can also crush it down and sell it for base materials, although this can be pretty time-consuming. Your best bet is to start with less concrete than you need and make more as you go to avoid this problem.

Concrete stain is usually better than dye for longevity because it is more durable and shows less wear and tear. While stain is not as saturated as dye, it gives you more control over the final look of the concrete countertops.