How to Pour a Concrete Driveway | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner repave her concrete driveway to make it safer and increase curb appeal.
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Skill level: 3/5
Cost: $500-$1000
Time: 2-3 days
This Old House mason Mark McCullough meets with homeowner Britt to discuss issues with her driveway. The pitch is too steep, and it is uneven and made up of a mix of asphalt, concrete, and gravel. Since replacing the pitch would involve reconfiguring the cement slab in the garage, Britt enlists Mark to pour a new concrete driveway.
Materials
• Wire mesh [thd.co/3Ib2pSi]
• Styrofoam insulation [thd.co/3LSDe9i]
• Concrete mix [thd.co/3p4dME4]
Tools
You may choose to rent a cement mixer [thd.co/3LOdScS], jackhammers [thd.co/3v74087], and a plate compactor [thd.co/3sRpcfA] to speed the work along.
• Hearing protection [amzn.to/3sXx3bw]
• Safety goggles [amzn.to/3h8kzIA]
• Shovel [amzn.to/3HcVuH1]
• Picks [amzn.to/3sc8LeO]
• Rake [amzn.to/3BMK8IL]
• Trowels [amzn.to/3t428ug]
• Sledgehammers [amzn.to/3vcxHVe] of different sizes (3 lbs, 5 lbs, and 10 lbs)
• Screed [amzn.to/3se78x6]
Where to find it?
To break up the old driveway, Mark used both a Brute [amzn.to/36nWRG3] Bosch jackhammer (www.boschtools...) and a Hilti TE 1000 [amzn.to/3IaDsXc] jackhammer. (www.hilti.com)
To compact the base soil and gravel, Mark used a Wacker Neuson VP1340 Plate Compactor [amzn.to/34XMybE] (www.wackerneus...)
All other tools used, including shovels, picks, trowels, and concrete smoothers can be found at local home centers.
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About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How to Pour a Concrete Driveway | Ask This Old House
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[@fightclub-rule-1]

Great Video! Here are some of the best direct quotes from this video... 1. "Bang away at it" 2. "Certainly doable for two people" 3. "I should give you a little lesson on the jack hammer" 4. "Get yourself set, start banging again" 5. "It's moving into a soft area...not something that is rigid and hard" 6. "We're going to go about six inches" 7. "Easy in, Easy out" 8. "Go down as soft as you can" 9. "I am happy as heck" 10. "This is exactly what I wanted"

[@JDankens]

Nicee.

[@pedrochip]

i love this show, no bs, just straight to the work. i love how they let the homeowner help out

[@rutgerhoutdijk3547]

I don't like how scripted it is

[@ShadeMedia]

@@rutgerhoutdijk3547 90% of reality tv is scripted lol but i think the homeowner gets a SWEET deal and huge cut off the project by agreeing to the video and helping out.

[@Guardducks]

Not, that home owner i bet doesn't do that again. After running that electric pogo stick for a couple of hours and stop, you continue bouncing for a couple of hours.

[@Fattony6666]

@@rutgerhoutdijk3547 I don't like your KZbin comments

[@poshko41]

So much better than the bs on HGTV.

[@Token_Civilian]

Concrete driveway 101. Perfect explanation for the homeowner who needs a primer on what it takes to do a small concrete driveway.

[@SR-cm2my]

Kudos to the home owner. She worked really hard!

[@bhadz100]

Saved thousands of $$$

[@JtotheRizzo]

This must be the home owner's comment. 😂

[@bhadz100]

@@JtotheRizzo I wish I was the homeowner. I’ll gladly work for a free driveway in exchange for some segment filming

[@The_Cyber_Nomad]

She actually quit seconds into each job. Watch the full ep on TV.

[@jimcrelm9478]

@@The_Cyber_Nomad I'm not surprised, swinging heavy tools and chucking rubble about is properly knackering, if not used to doing manual labour or working out a lot. Assuming she's an officewala she'll be regretting it the next day. Good on her for trying though.

[@01aharley]

Only thing I would do different is add a control joint down the middle long ways or short, it will crack, but everything is correct

[@SadUncleTed]

I would have buried hydronic snowmelt piping too. Sloped concrete driveway will be a mess in the winter, especially if you care enough to not salt it.

[@rupe53]

with the recent penchant of going toward expensive repairs, I'm amazed they didn't cover adding electric heat coils in the driveway to prevent ice buildup.

[@jimmymcclelland3727]

As a concrete finsher that pour was super wavy. It should be broomed against traffic not with. Would've been a good one to swirl down. But for a homeowner it looks great!

[@robertmurphy3014]

would that leave water sitting in the channels unable to drain away?

[@jimmymcclelland3727]

The broom? No its such a fine broom it won't make a difference. Especially with that driveway being so steep.

[@01aharley]

I noticed that too not a biggy, you wouldn’t have put a control joint anywhere?

[@dogsense3773]

My brother was a concrete finisher,he die of lung cancer! Make sure you have a good mask!

[@robertmurphy3014]

@@dogsense3773 What? concrete gives of carcinogens? A paper mask would not save anyone, do you mean an actual respirator? I have never seen that correlation.

[@Jay0x00]

To stop your concrete from spalling because you use salt, go watch Tyler Ley's, PE & PhD, videos on the subject. Basically, the concrete will spall because the salt melts the ice and then the salt water mix gets absorbed in the surface of the concrete. If it gets colder outside the salt water mix refreezes and busts up (spalling) the surface of the concrete. Tyler Ley's two fixes are either use lots of salt to prevent how much water can refreeze or use a good concrete sealer to prevent the concrete from absorbing the salt water. TOH should invite Tyler on the show, he has years of university research on concrete and best practices (developed from real science) to keep concrete looking like new.

[@nnamerz]

I'd love to learn more about this. You wouldn't happen to have the link to those videos, would you? Or even the titles so I can search them up? Thanks in advance 😊 UPDATE: I went searching and found 2 videos from Tyler Ley about salt damage to concrete (which I've linked below). But I still have no clue what the "Pe & PhD" part means. I couldn't find a channel with that name. •Tyler Ley - Intro to Salt Scaling: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooano6CneZaLfas •Tyler Ley - Why Does Salt Scaling Damage Concrete: kzbin.info/www/bejne/maiwYmCee95sgK8

[@user-zu2bw7ig5v]

Just don't pour so wet and don't over work the surface and your concrete will be stronger minimizing a lot of spalling.

[@Luckingsworth]

Or, just dont use sodium based salts, or use sand as an alternative.

[@alexanderzerka8477]

@@Luckingsworth Sand? You must be from Florida.

[@dcypherd]

Imagine how proud that home owner is going to be when SHE can say “yeah I demoed the old driveway on this place. Then I helped pour the new concrete driveway.” I don’t know if I could have done that.

[@VictoryOutdoorServices]

25 to life. Nobody pulled the wire. 😂Not Victory Style!

[@Xela0101X]

Plus they didn’t use a buggy or cut joints. Calling the wire mesh police on them would be a great start

[@Themdawgsishell]

Was about to comment this video on your page saying that lol. Who would have thought Ryan the concrete lover would be on KZbin looking at concrete videos.

[@LiveNinetyNine]

I was expecting a comment from you

[@VictoryOutdoorServices]

@@LiveNinetyNine 😂

[@Xela0101X]

@@VictoryOutdoorServices does concrete on mars need wire mesh? 🤔

[@PJJ196]

Really a huge improvement for the aesthetics of the house.. and the homeowner really got the hands dirty.. great video and great knowledge

[@malikdigger4544]

This helps me alot repaving a driveway like the a pro can help bring value to home & when u do yourself saves thousands .

[@georgeh1322]

If I missed it, you did not say how much gravel (thickness) you needed to add and the reason why you did not add more. That might be helpful for some of us DIY. Also when you put the wire in, how do you know you have it halfway in the concrete slab?

[@rameshshankar1010]

If u ve the aptitude, interest,the effort is worth,satisfying

[@ammerconsulting]

What a hard-working young lady!

[@ernestcashion4462]

She's great! She is hands on for sure.

[@tomdurkins]

My builder just poured the concrete on the dirt for the driveway and sidewalk. No compaction, no gravel, no wire mesh. In their sales ads they say they take pride in their work and use ”craftsmanship”.

[@adammiller8415]

thats how my driveway is poured except for a little compaction. i pull a diesel truck and gooseneck trailer grossing 33k over it for 10 years with no issues

[@ryane6719]

@@adammiller8415 you must be in the south

[@jaycos5978]

Did they pull a permit and get it inspected before the pour?

[@tomdurkins]

@@jaycos5978 It’s in neighborhood so the company had permits. There was no pre-inspection required for the driveway.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

@@ryane6719 is there less gravity in the south?

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

We have high alkali soil in Central California. A layer of sealant has to be added to keep the alkali from distorting and cracking the cement.

[@nufcedkidyup8627]

Super lucky that the sun hits it in the afternoon. Half of my driveway has never seen sunlight. It's a grind in the winter.

[@petebishop7524]

I'm wondering why he didn't use screed rails of some sort. Also, as mentioned multiple times here, why no expansion joint?

[@aaronfagerstrom34]

4:10

[@danielmarcantuno]

Why no expansion joints?

[@rickmcphee4206]

No expansion joints because they said it was 10 by 10. Not needed. Same with control joints.

[@W94urndks9urneos]

Great videography! Love the action shots of the tools.

[@Chuchonation]

Right they stepped up their game on this one lol

[@mistereric416]

Hardworking homeowner! Good Stuff

[@travismcdonald148]

Love the work the homeowner put it! Doing something like this can inspire a home owner to become a doer! Keep up the generational work TOH!

[@datdo7753]

Very informative! Thinking of fixing and expanding my own home's drive way.

[@morrisfam8]

At the very end of the video (last 30 seconds) the main actor finally speaks about salt damage BUT he does not offer any solutions. Why? How do you seal a concrete garage floor or driveway? And I have pock marks/small holes in my concrete from salt. How do I fill them? and then how do i seal the floor? Please help!!!

[@t.texastimmy1022]

Mark is The Man 👍

[@larryfeeks6620]

The new concrete driveway really improves the curb appeal!

[@chrismillikensr110]

Ok, question. Just moved to the midwest from saltfree West Coast. Buying a house with a concrete driveway. They said not to use salt. What should i use on my driveway?

[@Lancers262]

Didn’t know salt damages a concrete sidewalk/driveway. Learned something new.

[@ccoit]

No expansion joints?

[@jimmymcclelland3727]

Maybe they are saw cutting them in the next day

[@alecg5429]

I was thinking the same thing. It's New England, guaranteed freeze/thaw.

[@donc-m4900]

4:02 ok. not what you mean. but thats where they are.

[@RichardFallstich]

Didn't you see the expansion joint ay the entrance to the garage, and Styrofoam stuff along the rock walls? THAT stuff is expansion joints. You're probably asking about CONTROL joints - they are 2 DIFFERENT things. the control joints can be saw-cut later after concrete hardens sufficiently. Or if the concrete is newly poured use a jointing trowel. The jointing trowel is the tool specifically designed for creating control joints.

[@jonathanmilton9753]

Skid steer and a hammer attachment.

[@AdamOmidpanah]

Mark is an asset to the team.

[@countach711]

Placing the wire mesh in the center of the concrete does absolutely nothing. If the concrete were to flex, there is neither compression nor tension in the center, so it is a waste of material. You need to place it in the bottom third, say an inch to an inch and a half up from the bottom where it will resist tension because concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension.

[@matthewjanes208]

Mark is great as always and TOH should hire Britt! Look out Kevin.

[@JesseVanPelt]

That's inappropriate matt

[@richardgarrow9260]

Hi Mark, Question, regarding fiberboard that you used between the garage and driveway. With a new house how long before this needs to be replaced? The other question I have is the gap between a concrete walkway so say three slabs then there is a piece of wood in between the next set of slabs. So my understanding and if I am wrong please clarify these at as buffer between the two slabs and allow the concrete to move if needed. So over time this wood breaks down as in my case. I found a gap filler that can be put in to replace the wood. What happens if this is not done and the wood breaks down, would this cause a shift in the concrete and cause it to break under pressure? I have been wondering if I tell my neighbors about this as we are all living in new homes. thanks

[@SadUncleTed]

Never. If the board rots out, you still have a gap, it just might be filled with dirt and such. You could use a solid board to provide that gap, if you could manage to remove it after the pour, which isn't really possible

[@lunzie01]

How did they raise up the wire reinforcement?

[@jej3451]

During the pour, they just pulled it up with their hands. Once the aggregate gets underneath it, no other support is needed.

[@JimDean002]

Most people use a piece of steel rod about 2 to 3 ft long with a hook on one end and a handle on the other. You just hook it and lift it as you go and it settles into place up into the mix. It doesn't have to be very thick ride. Maybe a quarter inch

[@wildmanofthewynooch7028]

A few points that I saw were errors. Don’t use hog wire. Spend money on rebar and set it on Adobe blocks. Cut relief joints in it. Otherwise it’s going to look just like it did before.

[@westvalley411]

Wait what about brooming parallel to sidewalk...across for traction??

[@Chickennss]

To combat salt. Salt Sentry from Price Research works very well.

[@whocares0692]

Not a fan of the broom finish. Would have loved to see the rosette finish instead.

[@SusanSvensson]

Same here.

[@passingthru308]

Great job mark.

[@andergat]

Very nice. Why didn't you put score marks in the concrete?

[@rucksacks]

No salt? What about in winter when it turns into a sheet of ice?

[@adammiller8415]

use urea. Salt will destroy new and even old concrete

[@MuzixMaker]

@@adammiller8415 Yellow snow?

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Calcium melt causes less damage ( cleaning up any excess after everything is dry ), but they recommend sand or cat litter 🤷‍♂️ I don't see much sidewalk damage like he pointed out there, here in Pa, and plenty of people use regular salt... I question the quality of that original job. Probably the same people who poured the driveway.

[@madisonjam85]

Sand

[@donc-m4900]

Kitty litter. (new)

[@anonymously241]

We need more Britt 😉

[@yasharenner6681]

Lol love the slow mo :)

[@nandoism7731]

Can you please do a video on how to fix concrete that is chipping and flaking?

[@sueanderson43]

Why doesn't coloration in the concrete "wear so well" in New England? (5:44 in the video) Does it hold up okay in Minnesota? (A friend is thinking of adding color to a new pour).

[@sethbrandenburg941]

It holds fine, check out Victory Outdoor services here on KZbin. He does flat work in Wisconsin and has quite a fee videos on colored concrete

[@the_jonathan_o]

Why didn't they put any expansion joints on the driveway. If they didn't put any i think it's going to crack as it cures. Lovely video though.

[@rekostarr7149]

well they could always cut later as soon as it cures.

[@_westcoastcanine_]

The guitar riff as shes jack’n 🔥🇺🇸

[@Lawlzinator]

Probably best to use anti-vibration gloves if you'll be doing quite a bit of this work with a jackhammer (or any other heavily-vibrating tool). It can cause permanent nerve damage over time.

[@obviousness8113]

I've never used a jackhammer but I used a weed eater when I had a bad wrist injury 9 years ago. I regret that to this day. Please, please, allow yourself to heal completely before doing something to aggravate your injury.

[@peehandshihtzu]

Try telling my wife that...

[@jeremiahrex]

Dude, I never knew about these. I always noticed a strange tingle in my hands after running the leaf blower. Regular gloves would cut it down but it was still there. I've put in an order for some of these, thanks!

[@SadUncleTed]

They aren't too bad. They have pretty good isolation, the handles stay still while the hammer bounces. Something like a grinder vibrates at a much higher frequency that a 60 pound breaker, too. Usually it's your shoulders and back that hurt after using one, in my experience anyway.

[@GuapitoMonteNegro]

Maybe she's not into that

[@andrewc6385]

Great job guys!

[@tombryan1]

Get in there, ya really gotta straddle that vibrating tool to get results

[@Yourenotreal7]

Ya…go Britt💪💪🤗

[@REDCLAYHOMESTEAD]

Thats a heck of a weekend project

[@dyizhere]

Surprised it wasn’t cut to control cracking. Looks great!

[@andrewv5104]

They likely cut the joints in, which is done a day after pour. They should have covered that though.

[@bosse641]

Good job!

[@IvanHernandez-fr8fl]

It looks horrible that broom left little holes n when u broom u broom perpendicular to the flow of the cars direction

[@connorcaba2492]

No joints?

[@tambarlas5248]

I'd like to know about anything special about the concrete for pouring on such a slope.

[@jimmymcclelland3727]

Just to pour it pretty stiff.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Exactly, that's why it was chunky.

[@TheMichaelfoster05]

Thank you

[@louisax4058]

No salt? what about the car that will park there with its tires full of salt?

[@VishalSharma-dw1ub]

Very good work done ✔ 👍 👏 👌 😀

[@InJusticeAustralia]

Awesome vid

[@nilolee2426]

Is it no salt permanently or just temporarily until the concrete cured?

[@j-swizzle1922]

No salt ever on concrete, it won’t hurt asphalt but will pit concrete

[@harleyawesome8871]

Do our salt trucks know that with all these pot holes? Lol. Never heard of that until now and have been salting my concrete driveway without concern.... Well, it's unlevel anyway, maybe this way it will get bad enough my wife will let me have it redone lolol

[@augustreil]

You can seal the concrete and use salt made to not hurt it, supposedly ?

[@rickmcphee4206]

@@augustreil supposedly.

[@BenedictMHolland]

You hire someone. You hire this man to do the job. Concrete is really cheap to install and really expensive to take out.

[@martinlebreton6235]

"get yourself set, start bagning again." Big smile on her face 😁

[@kmadigan1347]

I understand the slow, but mark must have had that mud at a 2" slump and a 2 bag mix. My masons woul have kept adding water til it was a 10" slump and puddled at the bottom

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

More water you add into mix that weaker concrete becomes when it's harden.

[@videowithdamir]

no cut?

[@seepictures7669]

Noone complaining about using a rake to place the concrete yet.

[@TheAxecutioner]

rake works really well, whats wrong with it?

[@moonblink]

leaves get jealous

[@tvojslauf]

Missing control joints and sealer

[@KingOfHockeyNow]

I thought you were supposed to wet down the surface of concrete for a few days so it won’t cure too quickly? Or is that old fashioned?

[@AStanton1966]

It looked like they were getting into the fall season, so temps may have been nice and cool with no need for the water.

[@fnava2110]

Brush lines should've been horizontal for grip walking up and down

[@joesmoth2610]

It just needs a rough surface

[@armyvet8279]

It's not THAT steep!

[@jimbo2325]

Always a Monday morning quarterback in the room.

[@SadUncleTed]

In theory yes. Practically, probably won't matter.

[@smackflack5771]

Who brooms a driveway anyway

[@perceleonolopez2088]

no control joints

[@chetdonnelly509]

6” of 5000 psi seems a little excessive for that

[@Katwoman4318]

Awesome 😎

[@syedjavedahmad9719]

Great always helpful. 👍👍

[@mrvv8337]

Reinforcement that goes straight to the bottom of the slab...

[@butchs2337]

i read many comments here, how many of you really think this lady ran that 60 pound jack hammer very long hahahaha photo op only i believe, wonder how many times she got the bit stuck and could not get it out hahaha and by the time you rent the hammers and packer you could just about have hired a person to do the job, this not as easy as a home owner will think after watching this video

[@SadUncleTed]

I'm glad those come with more than one bit. I've definetly had to disconnect the hammer from the stuck bit and use another bit to free it lol

[@8minecrafter8]

"we've customized this solution for the harsh new england winter!" "also no salt whatsoever" "uh..."

[@jonathanmurray2186]

Yea what do you use instead of salt??

[@noreensiomos233]

@@jonathanmurray2186 I don’t like to use salt since it’s bad for concrete and landscaping, so I just sweep our sidewalk and driveway with a broom. The sun dries the remaining snow within a few hours and the concrete is dry.

[@bludika]

she forgot the EASY MONEY when brooming

[@rigakit]

Looks great, now fix the downspout.

[@davidmerkel1874]

Why wouldn't you seal it

[@mypassion830]

Thumbs-up to her for getting her hands dirty great job 👏

[@AK-vb3jh]

I can see edge finishing not good. could have been better.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

😂 Brit was a warrior with those jackhammers 💪 He could have explained the reason for the different bit for the asphalt ....

[@americanpatriot4483]

I have been a Concrete finisher for 16 years and honestly I don't even know where to start not even looking at true concrete but just diy the homeowner great job and for not really knowing what she's doing she held that bullfloat flatter then most vets I see the contractor though Holy hell all wrong

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

And no relief cuts??

[@donc-m4900]

Is that done after it dries a bit?

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

@@donc-m4900 well, you can tool cut it while it's wet, put in expansion joint while pouring, or saw cut it when dry, but if they were going to cut it, you'd think he would have said something. Maybe not 🤷‍♂️ but it is an important detail.

[@thomasfreer580]

should've put an expansion joint .....guarantee it cracks inside of 3 yrs.

[@Guardducks]

She's gonna bounce for a day or two from that electric pogo stick. I know this because i broke up a slab with a Jack hammer and i bounced a couple of days. Started with 60 that did nothing to a 6"thick slab in places and even a hundred pound struggled

[@pppscooby]

Should have gone the extra step and stamped , coloured and sealed it.

[@mrvv8337]

Cover that green concrete with 6mil plastic for two weeks and the surface will be hard enough for any salt. Let it dry in a day and there will be spalling with salt.

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

BS! Regular concrete is never resist to salt and nothing do with hardness it's all about chemical reaction.

[@mrvv8337]

@@mr.wizeguy8995 That's exactly the point, it's all about chemical reaction. As long as the concrete stays green and does not dry out it will continue to get harder. The more you know and now you do.

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

@@mrvv8337 I know hardening is chemical process but not what i meant. I meant salt reacts also chemically with hardened concrete and that's why it will deteriorate.

[@mrvv8337]

@@mr.wizeguy8995 concrete will not react to salt with properly finished and cured concrete. Take an ACI class for flat work.

[@mr.wizeguy8995]

@@mrvv8337 You need special mix or added additives into mix or some sealers to make concrete withstand salt without those it will eventually fail. In the end concrete is artificial stone.

[@adamguymon7096]

It was so nice to see an on-the-site project? Long time no see? Was this recent or is this a rebroadcast or new?

[@ackack612]

NICE!

[@AlreadyAUser]

was all about this until it said I couldn't use salt. A huge amount of salt gets used in my region in the winter

[@ShakespeareCafe]

brick pavers look better...kinda sadistic to give her that big jack hammer....good way to get trigger finger. Some pry bars and a little leverage would have done the job. that old slab was on its last legs. It'll last maybe 5 years tops. That rusted metal will disintegrate under continuous salt conditions which the city will spray her way

[@moonblink]

that;s what i was thinking

[@YAHYA_SUMIGAR]

Mantap, mantap..👍

[@thanos9846]

2" slump???

[@joffrecueva5662]

No salt?

[@chrislane5677]

Avoid nylon brooms and wet the broom first