DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS TYPES OF CONCRETE to meet your project needs?

Concrete is one of the most widely used and versatile construction materials in the world. In fact, it is the second most widely used material in the world next to water. A simple mixture of natural ingredients—cement, aggregate, water—creates a plastic, malleable material that can be formed into any shape you want. When it hardens, it becomes as strong as rock with the durability and sustainability to last a lifetime—and longer. That’s pretty fantastic!

How Can Concrete Be Environmentally Friendly?

Concrete is considered one of the most sustainable building materials on the planet due to its long life, low life-cycle cost, safety, and reliability. It also provides energy efficiency and resilience following natural and man-made disasters. By those attributes alone, concrete is a plus for the environment. There are also lots of other great factors to consider.

The concrete we use every day to build our driveways, patios, sidewalks, parking lots, highways, and structures must be durable and resilient to withstand Michigan’s variable weather. At the same time, we must be aware of the effect our work can have on the environment. Every year we place such a large amount of concrete that even minor changes or enhancements to the formulation can have a noticeable effect on our carbon footprint.

Today's construction industry is facing many challenges including rising material costs, material shortages, delays, and lack of labor and construction. Even before the pandemic made its appearance, contractors were worried about labor, trade wars, and profitability.

If you’ve chosen concrete for your driveway or parking lot, you’ve made a great choice! Concrete is durable, versatile and low maintenance. However, having a quality end product involves more than just selecting the right material—you also need the right contractor to execute the work. But how do you choose one?

If you’re considering concrete for your parking area, you’re on the right path! When designed and properly constructed, concrete parking lots are the strongest and longest-lasting parking pavement surfaces available. They also enhance curb appeal.

Choosing the right paving material for your parking lot, driveway or patio project is a major decision. How do you determine whether concrete or asphalt is the better choice for your project? Beyond aesthetics (concrete allows many more options for decorative colors and patterns), multiple factors go into making the right decision. These include:

Concrete Maintenance

Concrete is the most durable product you can use for the paving of parking lots, driveways, roadways, bridges and more. But, over time, even concrete can become distressed and experience cracks and scaling. Concrete maintenance is key to maximizing the life of your pavement and has many benefits, including preserving the structural integrity of your pavement and substantial cost savings over its life. According to a Pavement Coatings Technology Council (PCTC) article shared by ForConstructionPros, cost savings occur when pavement preventive maintenance is applied early in the pavement’s life. “It is much less expensive to keep pavement in good shape if treatments are applied early in its service life or to repair a pavement when distresses are just beginning to appear.”

When designed and properly constructed, concrete parking lots are the strongest and longest-lasting parking/pavement surface available. Just like any other surface, however, it does have a lifespan and will not last forever. The key is to recognize the signs (besides normal wear and tear) that your parking lot is nearing its end and addressing it before significant deterioration occurs. 

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and put in a new concrete driveway at home or a parking lot for your business. After comparing the types of concrete contractors, you’ve reached out to local concrete contractors and you’re accepting bids. But once those bids start coming in, what should you look for?

While every contractor’s bid will look a little bit different, in order for you to make an informed decision, all your proposals should contain enough information to help you make that decision.

Let’s take a look at what should be included in a concrete bid for your parking lot or driveway.