A typical driveway takes two or three working days on site, and then about a week before a car goes on it. Weather in Concord affects the schedule mostly through summer heat and winter rain.
How long does concrete take to cure?
Concrete reaches most of its strength in the first week and its design strength in about 28 days. Curing means keeping moisture in the slab during that time. It does not mean drying out. In dry inland heat we cure with a curing compound, wet coverings or plastic so the surface does not lose water too fast.
How long before I can walk on new concrete?
Wait one to two days before you walk on new concrete with normal shoes. Keep dogs, bikes and anything with small hard wheels off for a few days longer, since they mark a young surface.
How long before I can drive on new concrete?
Wait about seven days before you drive on new concrete with a car or light pickup. Heavy trucks, RVs and loaded trailers should stay off for about four weeks. Avoid turning the steering wheel while standing still on a new slab.
How long does it take to pour a driveway?
The pour takes a few hours. The whole job is longer: a day to break out and haul the old driveway, a day to grade, compact the base, set forms and place steel, and a morning to pour and finish. A city inspection of the approach, where it applies, can add a day.
Can concrete be poured in the rain?
Not in steady rain. Water falling on an unfinished surface weakens it. Light showers can be managed with covers if the forecast is known. In our rainy season, roughly November through March, we watch the forecast and reschedule when we need to. A base that has turned to mud must dry or be reworked before any pour.
Is it too hot to pour concrete in a Concord summer?
It is too hot to pour in the middle of a very hot afternoon, but not in summer as a whole. We order the first truck of the morning, dampen the base and forms, adjust the mix for the weather and cure as soon as the finish is done. Heat and wind together are the real risk, because they pull water from the surface.
Can concrete be poured in cold or freezing weather?
Yes, with care, and freezing weather is seldom a problem here. Concord gets some frosty mornings in December and January but the ground does not freeze. Cold slows the set, so finishing takes longer and the slab should be covered overnight if frost is forecast. Footing depth here is set by the building code and the soil, since frost is not the controlling factor.
What is the best time of year to pour?
Spring and fall are the best time of year for concrete in Concord. Temperatures are mild and rain is less likely. Summer works well with early starts. Winter pours are fine between storms. Book ahead for spring, when most people want the work done.
Can I use salt or deicer on new concrete?
You will almost never need to in Concord. If an icy morning does come, use sand for grip and keep deicer and salt off concrete in its first winter, because both can damage a young surface. Fertilizer with ammonium salts can also pit concrete, so sweep spilled lawn fertilizer off the driveway.
The real number for your job comes from a free visit, where we measure and look at the ground. Call (925) 690-1468 or text a photo of the area.