Crushed Concrete for Driveway Base: 7 Great Advantages!
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Is Crushed Concrete a Good Base for a Driveway?
Yes, crushed concrete can be a good base for a driveway as it is affordable, durable, and eco-friendly. Crushed concrete for driveway base is sustainable as it is made by crushing old concrete from demolition sites, roads, and buildings. After the crushing process it is screened and graded to create a uniform size and shape.
Crushed concrete is becoming a popular option for use as a base for driveways because you can help reduce global waste and save money too. If not used in construction, old concrete from demolitions will have to go into landfill. This may have an adverse impact on the ecology around the landfill.
Crushed concrete, in addition to being affordable and eco friendly, is also a strong and long-lasting material that can withstand heavy use. Crushed concrete for driveway base works very well, as it allows water to drain through it.
Advantages of Crushed Concrete for Driveway Base
There are several advantages to using crushed concrete for driveway base:
- Cost-effective: Crushed concrete is a cost-effective alternative to using traditional materials such as gravel or stone. Crushed concrete is cheap as the raw material is a waste product from old buildings, roads and other infrastructure projects. The manufacturers of crushed concrete get their raw material for free. They may even be paid for carrying away the waste.
- Sustainability: Using crushed concrete for a driveway base is a sustainable choice. It reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserves natural resources. Crushing concrete takes less energy than mining gravel.
- Durability: Crushed concrete is a highly durable material and can withstand heavy traffic and harsh weather conditions. It has a long lifespan and is quite comparable to gravel in its performance as a base for concrete driveways.
- Drainage: Crushed concrete allows for excellent drainage, which can prevent water from making the grade under your driveway soft. A soft grade will cause the driveway to sink and develop cracks, causing damage.
- Eco-friendliness: Using crushed concrete for a driveway base is an eco-friendly choice. By using recycled materials, you are reducing your carbon footprint and helping to protect the environment.
- Easy to Install: Crushed concrete is easy to install. The instalation can be completed quickly, saving you time and money on labor costs.
- Versatility: Crushed concrete can be used for a variety of projects beyond driveways, such as creating a sturdy foundation for a patio or walkway. Its versatility makes it a popular choice for DIY projects.
Overall, using crushed concrete for a driveway base is a smart choice for those looking for a cost-effective, sustainable, durable, and eco-friendly option.
How to Install a Crushed Concrete Driveway Base
Crushed concrete for driveway base must be installed properly to get all the advantages. The correct procedure is as under:
- Ground Preparation: Clear the area where the driveway will be installed. You will need to dig the ground to a depth of at least 10 to 12 inches depending on the base and driveway thickness. The soil must be excavated, leveled and tamped firmly. This is called the sub-grade of the soil support system.
- Geotextile Fabric: Placing a geotextile fabric between the subgrade and the subbase of crushed concrete will prevent it from migrating and getting lost in the subgrade due to traffic load and water movement in the grade.
- Layer Crushed Concrete: Instead of the traditional base layer of gravel or crushed stone, crushed concrete is used. Crushed concrete is a good substitute for gravel as it has many of the physical characteristics of gravel.
- Delivery and Spreading: Arrange with the supplier to deliver the required quantity of crushed concrete. Usually they are happy to drop it off as the delivery truck moves along the planned driveway area. This saves you a lot of time and effort in spreading the crushed concrete. Make sure that each layer of crushed concrete subbase is compacted using a compacting roller or a compactor machine.
- Finishing: Once the crushed concrete has been compacted, it is leveled and finished with a layer of sand or stone dust. This further helps to improve drainage of the soil support system.
- Vapor Retarder: Spread a vapor retarder film over the base before the concrete pour to protect it from water infiltration from below. Concrete can then be poured on top of the base, which will cure to become the driveway slab.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCT
The Best Vapor Barrier for Under Concrete Slab such as Driveways, Garage Floors & Patios
A concrete vapor barrier is a material that prevents moisture from entering a concrete slab from the grade below. This helps in controlling the concrete curing conditions in the initial stages. Subsequently it prevents the wicking of moisture into the concrete slab from the damp earth.
Here is the Vapor Barrier I recommend.
Farm Plastic Supply-Concrete Vapor Barrier (10 mil)
Heavy duty durable plastic sheeting engineered from low-density polyolefin. Primary application is as a vapor barrier underneath concrete.
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
