Browse Forums Paving & Concreting 1 May 13, 2010 2:22 pm Hi everyone, We are now at the end of our build and think more seriously about our driveway etc. We initially thought we would have plain coloured concrete but are re thinking a saw cut /handcrafted effect. Our driveway is 4.8m wide and 18m long and I would like to have a large slab effect so maybe 1mx1m squares cut in........ I had a few questions - -has anyone got pics of a driveway with saw cut finish and are you happy? ( i have looked at many on the net and seen a few driving around) - are the control joints (not sure if right term) just integrated into the design? - could you just have lots of control joints ie every metre to get this look? - is saw cutting more like to weaken the control - will there be more chance of cracking? - is there a problem with chipping at edges of cuts? My parents plain concrete driveway which is 42 years old has control joints every 1.2m ie 1.2m squares, and there are cracks in the joints but not one on the surface anywhere (their driveway is a monster 10m x 21m long) but I read that control joints can be max 3m - is there a benefit having them closer and what is the best distance? I am seeing concreters but just want to be a bit prepared with what to ask. Thanks for taking the time to look and any advice would be great Re: Saw Cut/Handfinished Driveway 3May 13, 2010 4:33 pm sawcuts can serve 2 purposes : decorative as well as structural Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Saw Cut/Handfinished Driveway 5May 18, 2010 9:52 am There are different types of joints in concrete, the two main ones are expansion joints and crack control joint (cuts). You should be able to intergrate both in your design. Expansion joints allow concrete to expand in warmer weather without putting pressure on adjoining features, crack control joints are an attempt to predict where concrete will crack (which it does when it shrinks as it cures) by setting up a weakened fault line in the material. (cut mark). The more cuts the less likely you will have cracking that is not in a cut. see http://www.pavingexpert.com/concjnt1.htm Fine with me... just let 'em step in with some affordable (but good) gear... 12 5485 All sorted guys. Just needed to buy a blade with the correct bush. Dunno how to delete this post, can't find any help file. Cheers. 1 3663 PM me your email. I have a build excavation calculator you can use based on your plans to double check what your builder is telling you. Cheers Simeon 1 10242 |