The idea of having a concrete driveway can be quite appealing due to how little maintenance it actually needs once it is laid. It is able to last a long time and it does leave the area looking neat and tidy and of course it gives a great surface for the driveway itself. Although you are perhaps best to get a company in to do it you are able to build concrete driveways should you be inclined to do so.

Before you begin to build your driveway you need to be sure about any local planning regulations or any specific rules that only apply within your area especially if you live in a village. For example if you live in an area which is more traditional in style then they may not be too happy at you having a concrete driveway as it is not going to tie in with the rest of the place.

What you really need to do is to get your plans together for your driveway and submit them to the relevant people. So in order to do this you need to really know what kind of plans you need so as you are allowed to do this at the first attempt.

First of all you are going to need some drawings done to scale of your driveway and a detailed description of the changes that are being made. Any other plans or information that has to be submitted can vary depending on your location so you are best to check first with the local planning department as to what they expect.

You are of course going to need to buy materials but never buy anything or arrange to hire any machinery until you have permission for work to start. Although you are not buying at first you can still use the time to source the materials and the price that you are going to pay in order to get the best possible price. It is surprising how much you can save by simply shopping around.

When it comes to actually creating the driveway you need to make sure that you have a good foundation prepared. It should be smooth but also firm and it has to be to the exact measurements that you submitted in the plans. It is worth spending some extra time making sure about the foundation as it can weaken the entire driveway if done incorrectly.

Along with the foundation the other thing which is very important is building the framework for the driveway. This is what is going to define where the concrete is going so it has to be very well built as it needs to be able to withstand the pressure that comes from the concrete.

It is then time to pour the concrete so you need to know how to get the right mix for it as this means it shall be as strong as possible. You are also best to make sure there is a slight slope on it as this can let the rain drain off it without leaving your new driveway flooded.