A Guide to the Best Type of Concrete for Driveways

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What Type of Concrete Is Best for a Driveway?

The type of concrete that is best for a driveway must have a compressive strength of 4000 psi (pounds per square inch).

The strength & performance of concrete depends primarily on the quality of its key ingredients (Cement, Aggregates and Water) . 

The type of concrete that you finally end up with, depends on the ratios between the key ingredients; namely, cement, water and aggregates. The ratios play an important role in determining the strength of the concrete and the workability of the concrete mix.

Water to Cement Ratio

The water to cement ratio has an inverse relationship with concrete strength. Lower the water to cement ratio, higher is the concrete strength. A water to cement ratio of 0.5 or slightly lower will result in the desired strength of the concrete driveway.

NOTE: The workability of the concrete mix drops as the water to cement ratio drops.

Cement to Aggregate Ratio

Generally speaking, a lower cement to aggregate ratio will increase the strength of the concrete. However, you need sufficient cement to bind the aggregates together.

Ultimately, you have to find the sweet spot between

1. Water Cement Ratio
2. Cement Aggregate Ratio
3. Concrete Mix Workability
4. Concrete Compressive Strength

In addition, the following factors will also have an impact on the final strength & performance of your concrete driveway.

• Air Entrapment %age in Concrete Mix
• Use of Concrete Admixtures
• Proper Compaction of the Sub-base and Base
• Reinforcement
• Curing Process & Conditions

Is 4000 psi Concrete Necessary for a Driveway?

4000 psi concrete is not necessary for a driveway. 3500 psi concrete can also be used.

Of course, the performance and life of a 4000 psi concrete driveway will be better than that of 3500 psi concrete driveway.

A 4000 psi concrete must certainly be used in cold climates where the freeze thaw cycle can create additional stress on the concrete driveway. It will also have a higher chemical resistance to deicing salts.

Further, a 4000 psi concrete driveway will not crack, even if a heavy truck has to go over it occasionally. (Think of future home improvement projects). The initial extra cost may be well worth it!

For more details check out my blog post on what is the best psi concrete for a driveway.

Use Best Quality Ingredients for Best Type of Concrete

Best Cement

Cement is sometimes thought to be the same as concrete. Cement is not concrete but it is an extremely important ingredient along with water, aggregates and sand.

During the curing process cement and water react to form a crystalline web-like structure that binds the aggregates and forms rock hard concrete.

For the best type of concrete for driveways, Type I Portland cement, conforming to ASTM C 150 (or AASHTO M 85) from one of the top manufacturers, should be used in the concrete mix.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCT

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The Best Portland Cement for DIY Projects

The best Portland Cement for small or even slightly larger jobs around your home is QUIKRETE® Portland Cement (No. 1124). You can mix it with aggregate and other ingredients to make concrete mix, mortar mix, and base coat stucco as per your requirement.

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Best Water

Do make sure that you are using good quality, clean and chemical free water in the concrete mix. This is not too difficult. Just keep the following guidelines in mind.

• Water fit for human consumption, that is drinkable or potable water is ideal for making a concrete mix. If the water is potable, no further testing is required. 
• Non-potable water can also be used for making concrete provided thepH Level of the water is within 6.0 and 8.0 and harmful solids content (ppm) is below minimum acceptable levels.
• Sea water or brackish water will certainly not meet the above specifications.
• Wash water from concrete mix plants is acceptable as the solids in the water are obviously not harmful to concrete performance.

Best Aggregates

Aggregates used in the concrete mix for a driveway should conform to following guidelines:

• Aggregate Size: Use a mix of different sized coarse aggregates. Size range ¼” to ¾” is best. Using a mix reduces void spaces.
• Aggregate Texture: Aggregates should have sharp edges. This creates a stronger bond between individual particles due to interlocking.
• Aggregate Hardness: The aggregates must be hard, strong, non-flaky, free of fault lines, chemically inert, and non-porous.
• Foreign Matter: Ensure aggregates are clean. Have them pressure washed before putting in the concrete mix in case they are coated with dirt or dust.

Use a mix of Crushed Stone #57 and Crushed Stone # 67 for optimal concrete strength.

What Does the Slump Mean in Concrete Mixes?

The slump of a concrete mix is a measure of the workability of the mix. It is a relatively simple test that can be conducted as per ASTM  guidelines. A slump of 5 to 6 inches is considered ideal for pouring concrete mix in driveway projects.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that the best concrete for a driveway must have the following characteristics:

• Compressive Strength of 4000 psi for cold climates. Compressive strength of 3500 psi is good enough for warm climates.
• Water to Cement Ratio of 0.50 or slightly less.
• Crushed Stone aggregates of size 1” or less. A mix of Crushed Stone 57 and Crushed Stone 67 is a good option.
• Slump of 4” – 5”.
• Air Entrapment of 6% for cold climates where the driveway will be subject to freeze thaw cycles.

Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.