Timing for a new driveway?

PhoenixStar · Nov 22, 2007 1:22 pm

I would like to ask what is the general opinion of members?

When building a new home and if it is up to the owner to install the driveway. Has anyone been able to have their driveway installed while still building OR have you had to wait until after handover?

Then the next question is, if after handover, do you move in after the driveway is complete or do you move in over the dirt and put the driveway in asap after?

Some people tell me to talk to the supervisor to arrange the driveway timing, just before handover?

We're in two minds as to what to do? For those that have had this issue, please feel free to share?

Cookiemonster · Nov 22, 2007 1:43 pm

A driveway only takes 2-3 days to do. Get it done after handover but before moving in to minimise dust and dirt being draped through your house/car.

We'll be doing the landscaping too before we move in.

The last house we built we moved in straight away and then did the driveway and landscaping and the amount of dust and dirt draped through the house was terrible.. especially with kids around.

Michelle · Nov 22, 2007 1:49 pm

**Phoenix**
Gold Member

Joined: 20 Aug 2007
Posts: 740
Location: Melbourne

Cookiemonster
Gold Member

Joined: 31 May 2007
Posts: 726
Location: Sydney

Looks like you better snap to it Cookie!!!!

_Al_ · Nov 22, 2007 1:56 pm

Good post....staying on topic.

As Cookie said, driveway before you move in. Also, knowing Melbourne weather, they day you move in will be the day it buckets down and you really don't need a truck bogged in your new (but still dirt ) driveway.

Plus tradies and their trucks etc may crack your driveway while working. Or if you get pattern sprayed or whatever, it will get ruined too.

PhoenixStar · Nov 22, 2007 1:59 pm

OK 2-3 days for the actual job, but then how long until you can drive on it?
We are looking at exposed aggregate.

rellie · Nov 22, 2007 2:03 pm

We got ours done after handover. Moving day was no drama as we had no fences yet so the truck unloaded at the back of the house so we could bring everyhting through the bi-folds. It did hoewever bucket down the next day and we were almost marooned in the house :lol:

We still have copious amounts of dust through the house, nothing will stop that until it is fully landscaped.

If you were looking at a handover date that is in the wetter months I would definately get it done before you move in.

rellie · Nov 22, 2007 2:03 pm

**Phoenix**

OK 2-3 days for the actual job, but then how long until you can drive on it?
We are looking at exposed aggregate.

We have exposed agrregate and waited 3 days after the sealer was applied before driving on it.

_Al_ · Nov 22, 2007 2:10 pm

Walk on it the next day. I wouldn't drive on it for a week though.

Tam · Nov 22, 2007 2:34 pm

We paid in the contract for driveway up to the crossover and then organised with the concreter to do the rest all at the same time.

Only problem with this is I thought we got ripped off a bit on the price for the crossover!!

I think it's much easier to move in with the driveway. Especially if you have to store a bit in the garage.

davinci · Nov 22, 2007 3:35 pm

95% of concrete no matter the type takes a full 28 days to reach its full m.p.a strength

expossed agg is normally either 25 mpa or 32 mpa dependant on location of conc. area

25 m.p.a expossed i would normally recommend a minimum 7 day stay off period for vehicles
the day after the pour generally it gets acid cleaned then dependant on weather 2 x clear coat of sealer the next day but you should moisture test conc first.
then 3 odd days after sealing you can drive on it with a car or 4x4 not trucks
this all depends on weather temp. mix type etc

drive and preferably landscape should be done before moving in

Adrian B · Nov 22, 2007 5:29 pm

If not done after handover, make sure it is the last thing. You dont want heavy machinery parked or vans parked on a curing driveway for long periods of time in the same spot. As for the dust, that ends when the gardening does :cry:

ahuang · Nov 23, 2007 9:01 am

Why can't you start getting all the quotes (for drive way, landscaping, ...etc) before hand over? Then you can start the work right after hand over...

sneakersss · Nov 23, 2007 9:15 am

Our driveway was the very first on our to do list and we wanted to have it laid pretty much after we moved in but we couldn't get the timing right. We ended up waiting about 3 weeks which all worked out in the end as when we actually moved in we tended to bring things into the house via the garage. And having a driveway we couldn't walk on would've made the move just that much more difficult as we would've had to walk around the long way to the side of the house and move things in through the sliding door.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is just prioritise and co-ordinate it with how soon you actually plan to move to the house after handover. We moved the day after so it was pretty hectic.

Having said that, if you get your driveway laid and you share the crossover with your neighbour and they haven't built yet make sure you have a fence up to prevent stupid people and their massive concrete trucks driving over your newly laid driveway!!! :evil:

This happened to us. Couple of days after we got it laid the concrete truck driver was too lazy to drive on the road to get around to where he wanted to go to so he just drove over the neighbours block of land. While doing that he managed to clip the edges of our driveway with those massive tires those trucks have. Then, another concrete truck arrived waiting to do exactly the same thing! :evil:

Not intentionally, I know, but still!

But our driveway is okay.

ahuang · Nov 23, 2007 9:19 am

YSSIM

But our driveway is okay.

Excellent! That means the quality of your driveway was first class!

PhoenixStar · Nov 24, 2007 12:51 pm

Thanks everyone for the feedback.. Just have to make sure all ends are tied up as we also have to arrange carpet and timber flooring. I thought that we could move in the day after handover. But now i think that it is not worth the stress. I'll hold on and see it i can get everything done during the week after handover and then move in after that.....Hopefully :lol: