Dan is a co-worker of Kevin- we were hired by Kevin to pour a new driveway for him and he actually referred us to Dan before we even started his work- how’s that for a great reputation? Dan had an existing asphalt driveway and the apron was sinking away from the garage floor. He wanted it replaced with concrete, and the experts at Countryside Concrete got the call!

Aprons, especially asphalt aprons, sinking away from the garage floor is not an uncommon occurrence. What happens is that the apron is placed over an area that has been excavated for the foundation wall underneath the front of the garage. The garage slab rests on a ledge on top of the wall, and the main area of the driveway is typically not excavated and far less prone to settling. But the apron area is placed over the excavated and backfilled area, and if not properly compacted will settle over time and the asphalt drops with it. Sometimes the situation is exacerbated by construction debris or large rocks being left in the bottom of the hole, which makes the settling worse.

Regardless of the cause, the fix is relatively simple. In almost all cases, the work can be completed in less than a day. While the asphalt can be replaced, concrete is always a better alternative. First the asphalt is saw-cut straight across the driveway at a distance between 3 and 6 feet out from the garage floor. Then the asphalt is removed and properly disposed of. If additional sand fill is needed for base grading, it is placed at this time. Foam or fiber expansion joint material is placed between the garage floor and new apron, and the two slabs should NEVER be doweled together with rebar. It is critical that the exterior concrete be free to move independently from the garage floor. If your contractor tells you he wants to dowel the two together, politely thank him for his time and call Countryside Concrete. Before the concrete it poured, the base is thoroughly compacted to minimize any risk of future settling. #4 (1/2″ diameter) steel rebar is placed approximately 36″ on center, each way for proper reinforcement. Then 4″ thick 4000 psi exterior grade concrete (air-entrained mix with granite aggregate) is poured from the edge of the garage slab (resting on the front of the foundation ledge) to the existing aphalt. The resulting apron is properly constructed, structurally sound and ready for years of trouble-free service.

Check out the picture below to see the results. If you live in the Twin Cities and need a new concrete garage apron, give Countryside a call- we’ll make sure it’s done right!  Click here to read Dan’s comments about his experience with Countryside Concrete.

Filed under: Driveways, Restoration