Most property owners do not think about their sidewalks until something goes wrong. A tree root can push a slab up or a large crack can form right by the front steps. Walking through neighborhoods around Olive Branch, The Branch Concrete gets asked a lot of the same questions about concrete walkways. We will go through what you actually need to know about concrete sidewalks.
How thick should a residential sidewalk actually be?
For a standard walking path around your house, four inches is the standard thickness and works very well. If you have heavy foot traffic, or if you live over in a newer subdivision where the subgrade was heavily disturbed during mass grading, pouring a solid four and a half to five inches gives you extra insurance. Do not skimp on depth to save money on concrete delivery trucks.
Why is my new sidewalk cracking so soon?
Concrete cracks. It is just what concrete does as it cures and dries out. Here in North Mississippi, our clay-heavy soil expands and contracts dramatically depending on whether we are in a summer drought or a rainy winter. If you see hair-thin surface cracks, those are usually shrinkage cracks and nothing to panic about. Wide, uneven cracks where one side has dropped indicate movement in the subgrade, and it usually means the base was not compacted correctly before the pour.
Do I really need a permit for a sidewalk in Olive Branch?
If the sidewalk is entirely on your private property behind the curb, you usually do not need to worry about city permits. But the second you start working in the public right-of-way between your front yard and the street, or tying into a city sidewalk, the city of Olive Branch requires a permit and a plan. Always check local codes before you start tearing up turf near the road.
How long do I have to wait before I can walk on it?
Keep off the new sidewalk for at least 24 to 48 hours. Concrete might feel hard the next morning, but it only reaches about 70 percent of its final strength after a week, and full strength takes a full month. At The Branch Concrete, our team tells homeowners to keep heavy loads, bicycles, and delivery carts off new walks for at least a week to prevent chipping the fresh edges.
Can you pour new concrete right over my old broken sidewalk?
Almost always, no. Overlaying thin layers of concrete on top of busted, sinking walks is a recipe for failure. The old movement underneath will telegraph right through the new material within a single freeze-thaw cycle. You have to break out the old concrete, haul it off, prep a solid gravel base, and start fresh.
How do I keep tree roots from destroying my walkway?
Tree roots love the moisture trapped underneath concrete slabs. If you are planting new trees near a planned walkway, keep them at least six to eight feet away. For existing large trees, root barriers installed vertically in a trench alongside the walk can redirect roots downward instead of letting them crawl right under your path.
For Olive Branch homes, The Branch Concrete is here for all your concrete walkway needs. Give The Branch Concrete a call for concrete work in Olive Branch, Mississippi.