If you do not want to walk or park on an area of grass or dirt, there are several options available in the Austin area. For example, you could install a gravel driveway or walkway, but gravel can often present maintenance challenges. Other options may be less aesthetic, extremely expensive, or otherwise problematic. Therefore, it is not surprising that most homeowners in Central Texas choose residential concrete for their pavements.
What Is Residential Concrete?
A residential concrete company in Austin typically focuses on installing flatwork, which is a term used by concrete contractors to describe a flat slab. Austin residential concrete flatwork could include the construction of concrete floors for garages or garden sheds, concrete patios, or concrete sidewalks. One of the most common installations residential concrete companies perform is the construction or replacement of a concrete driveway.
What Are the Advantages of Residential Concrete?
There are several reasons to choose residential concrete in Austin. However, to obtain the greatest benefits, it is important to choose an experienced, trustworthy residential concrete company.
- The concrete industry in the Austin area is highly competitive, so concrete contractors typically maintain extremely reasonable prices. Beware of any Austin residential concrete contractor who offers you a price that sounds too good to be true, though, because the company could be planning to cut corners that could compromise the quality of its work.
- Residential concrete in Austin is remarkably durable when installed correctly. In many areas with extremely cold winters, concrete floors and driveways are particularly vulnerable to ground heave that can lift slabs or move them out of alignment. Austin residential concrete is not subjected to such harsh conditions, so it tends to last for many decades.
- Once upon a time, the pavements installed by concrete contractors were basically identical gray slabs that many people found rather boring. If you think that this is a requirement for all Austin residential concrete, prepare to be surprised. Thanks to advances in products, equipment, and techniques, residential concrete companies have become adept at making one pavement distinctly different from another. Residential concrete can be stamped to produce surfaces that resemble bricks, flagstones, or other designs, and stains and dyes can provide you with virtually any color you want your surface to show.
- Concrete is capable of bearing heavy loads without incurring damage. This can be critical for concrete floors, especially garage floors that support boats, campers, or other heavy vehicles. It can also be critical for a driveway that supports the comings and goings of multiple passenger vehicles every day.
- Residential concrete in Austin requires very little maintenance. Homeowners should clean up any fluids that vehicles might leak onto their concrete floors or driveways. Downspouts should be directed so that they do not discharge runoff directly onto Austin residential concrete. Trim grass or weeds that are growing near the edges of your residential concrete. About the only other maintenance residential concrete companies recommend is to sweep your pavement as needed, and use your garden hose to wash it occasionally. However, you should call your residential concrete company if you notice signs of distress. Signs of distress include uplifted or sunken slabs, severe cracking, or surface delamination.