Concrete Driveway Installation Los Angeles

Did you recently move into a new home? Or has being home driven you to see all the little things that need fixed around your home? Or worse a guest let you know that your driveway could use a little love? It doesn’t matter the how because know all that matters is the what. As in what are you going to do about your driveway?

Driveways are often the first thing anyone sees in regard to your home and probably the most used part of your property, from parking your car to standing around to maybe playing hoops or games, your driveway takes a beating every day.

It makes sense that you may want to update your driveway the same you would any other part of your home, but maybe you aren’t sure what your options are. There are many options available to make your concrete driveway look more pleasing to the eye. As long as your concrete is in good condition, it can be colored, resurfaced, scored or engraved to achieve a multitude of patterns and color schemes.

Can’t I Just Paint My Driveway?

Yes, you can always just paint your driveway for a quick and easy fix or upgrade. But! There are a few drawbacks that should be considered when you’re thinking about painting your driveway:

• Paint is not very durability – Paint doesn’t stand up to vehicle traffic and peels and fades with time.
• It has a short life – Paint typically only lasts for 1-2 years before it needs to be reapplied.
• Paint easily fades – Paint can fade in the sun and is not very resilient to weather.
• Paint is just a Quick Fix – Paint only coats the surface of the concrete and is, therefore, a temporary fix.

How Can I Remove Concrete Paint Off My Driveway?

So you decided to get rid of that pesky paint on your driveway and go with a better, longer lasting driveway solution. To do so, you first need to remove your old paint on your driveway.  To do this you should utilize the following steps:

• Clean the surface thoroughly and let dry.
• Scrape peeled or chipped paint.
• Apply paint stripper and wait.
• Rinse paint stripper residue.
• Reapply paint stripper as necessary.
• Clean thoroughly and let dry.

What’s the Best Way to Finish a Driveway in Los Angeles?

Once the old paint is removed and you have made sure the concrete is in good condition, you are ready to finish your driveway. But how will you give it that much-needed upgrade?  Well, here you have a several options of what you can do. 

• Broom Finish

This is a simple and affordable option for driveways that offers good traction. Try switching the direction of the broomed lines between joints to create some variation.

• Rock Salt Finish

This is a traditional and easy method for adding subtle texture and skid resistance to a plain or colored concrete driveway. A salt finish leaves a pattern of shallow indentations on the surface, similar to slightly pitted, weathered rock.

• Stained

Staining is an economical and versatile way to upgrade the look of both new and existing concrete driveways. Stains penetrate deeply into the concrete, producing fade-resistant, permanent color that will not flake off or peel away. The stain color can be made to compliment your house color, or to mimic natural materials.

• Stamped

A stamped concrete driveway offers many decorative options not possible with other paving materials. Using stamps combined with coloring agents, you can create cost-effective, realistic replicas of popular materials such as cobblestone, brick, natural slate, and flagstone.

• Engraved

Concrete engraving uses special tools and equipment to etch patterns and designs into existing concrete. Try adding a beautiful tree or compass rose as a centerpiece to your driveway.

What if My Driveway Needs Some Love?

Well, if you find your driveway could benefit from some TLC or just a overall refreshed look, then you should consider resurfacing. What does this do? In short, resurfacing works to cover cracks, spalling and fading color in your existing concrete surface. It can also help to make your driveway stronger, and last for a longer time. Even better, the overlay coating can take color, or be textured with a new pattern. Often applying a coating to your existing driveway is more cost-effective than replacing it.

Though you could tackle a driveway makeover as a DIY, I would suggest speaking to a professional and getting some advice. Some of the process could be split and be half completed by you and half by a crew. It’s best to make sure that you successfully do this repair to keep it from causing damage to your car or yourself. Give us a call at 1-818-722-8124 to learn what options are available to spruce up your driveway today!