Get matched with top concrete leveling pros in East Machias, ME

Building a concrete driveway normally takes between one and three days, including the time to cure the concrete. Wait at least seven days before driving on your driveway and two days before walking on it. Your contractor may require additional time if you need to level the ground, install a drainage system, or order special concrete materials. Installing a driveway also often requires a permit, so be sure to include this wait into your prep time as well.

The curing time for troweled concrete depends on different factors. The type of concrete mix used in the project can impact the time it takes for the concrete to cure, and climate conditions such as moisture and humidity can as well. It can take several days to a few weeks for concrete to fully cure, depending on the concrete mix.

Minor hairline cracks in your concrete may not look pretty, but they’re often not serious. It’s when concrete cracks are larger—wide enough that you can slide a credit card into it—that you need to worry. If you monitor a crack and can trace its active expansion over time, you’ll definitely want to call in a pro to inspect it and, potentially, repair it. Want to prevent cracks in your garage and driveway concrete in the future? Stay on top of sealing. Here’s how to seal your concrete garage floor and driveway.

Most of the time, you or your contractor will spray the concrete form and framework with a release agent or oil to prevent sticking. This is common practice with wood and steel forms. For insulated concrete forms, the styrofoam formwork often remains in place after construction, so you don’t need to treat it beforehand. Foam concrete forms made out of melamine also may not need treatment beforehand, as the material naturally won’t stick to the concrete after it’s cured.