Can You Install a Printed Concrete Driveway in Bad Weather?

This year, we’ve already experienced a lot of bad weather across the UK. Wind, rain, ice, snow – you name it. Bad weather can take a toll on everyday life, but it can also pause construction work and home renovations. Can you install a printed concrete driveway in bad weather? This particular question needs a better explanation than a simple yes or no answer. For this reason, we have put together this article to explain how bad weather can impact the installation process of a printed concrete driveway. Does it make a difference to the final results? Continue reading to find out. 

How Is A Printed Concrete Driveway Installed?

Firstly, you need to have a general idea of the installation process. At Cobblecrete, we remove the old surface and lay a new sub-base as preparation. Wet concrete is mixed and poured onto the prepared surface, then it is evenly spread and smoothened. Next, a colour surface hardener is applied on top, this gives the driveway its colour. When the concrete is semi-dry, an antique release agent is added then, we imprint your design and crack control cuts with specialised tools. Once completed, it is power washed to remove dust and debris. The crack control cuts are filled with a coloured silicone. Finally, an anti-slip sealer is added for extra longevity. Leaving you with a stunning, durable and low-maintenance printed concrete driveway. 

Does Bad Weather Affect Installation?

While a finished printed concrete driveway can withstand harsh weather conditions, when it comes to laying down concrete, bad weather can impact the final results. After concrete is laid, it goes through a process called curing. This involves maintaining the right level of moisture, temperature and time to prevent it from drying out. In other words, newly laid concrete needs to be damp for a certain length of time to dry properly. If heavy rain is falling during the curing process, it can alter the moisture ratio, this results in a weaker surface. Strong winds and hot temperatures can also impact the installation process by causing the concrete to set too quickly and increasing the risk of cracking. 

The products used during the installation can also be affected by bad weather. As the antique release agent is in powder form, strong winds can blow this into the air, staining nearby walls and other concrete structures. In addition, a newly laid driveway needs to be left for at least two days to harden and settle before the anti-slip sealer can be applied.

Printed Concrete Driveways In Birmingham

While nothing is stopping driveway contractors from installing printed concrete driveways during bad weather, it is not recommended by the experts at Cobblecrete because you are taking the risk in achieving an unpleasant result, wasting both your money and time.

At Cobblecrete, we have been installing printed concrete driveways in Wolverhampton and Birmingham for over 30 years. If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing driveway, a printed concrete driveway by Cobblecrete resembles the look of a natural stone or slate driveway, but without the huge cost. Our team of installers prefer to lay printed concrete driveways during dry and cool conditions, so our clients achieve the best possible results. To learn more about our installation process, visit our dedicated page. If you want to see our work, visit our gallery or follow us on Facebook. To start the process to your printed concrete driveway, get a non-obligation quote by contacting us today via phone or email.