Generally, the best
Traditional concrete walls and columns tend to range from 3,000 to 5,000 psi, while 4,000 to 5,000 psi is needed for pavement. Concrete structures in colder climates require a higher psi in order to withstand more freeze/thaw cycles.
The typical concrete strength used for a driveway is in the 3000 psi to 4000 psi range, although temperate areas of the country may use lower strengths. Contractors, when ordering ready mixed concrete, should advise the producer of the intended use for the concrete.
3,000 PSI. The residential workhorse of concrete, 3,000 PSI can be used for driveways, patios and sidewalks. Its durability will help shrug off the freeze-thaw cycle of harsh winters. This is a fine choice for any general construction use.
Concrete driveways are typically poured four inches thick, giving the concrete driveway enough strength to withstand loads of regular vehicles (up to approximately 8,000lbs).
As for thickness, non-reinforced pavement four inches thick is standard for passenger car driveways. For heavier vehicles, a thickness of five inches is recommended. To eliminate standing water, the driveway should be sloped towards the street a minimum of one percent, or 1/8 inch per foot, for proper drainage.
The recommended thickness is 4″ to 6″ inches for residential driveways that only lightweight vehicles pass through. For commercial concrete driveways that deal with heavy traffic by garbage trucks, heavy trucks, moving vans, and other heavy vehicles, the recommended thickness is 6″ to 8″.
Foundations, Driveways, Patios, RV Slabs, Sidewalks
A strength of 4,000 psi (pounds per square inch) after a one month cure is the industry minimum for concrete driveways, slabs, and sidewalks. However, 4,500 psi as the ideal.
The higher the PSI the more durable your concrete will be and will thus be resilient to cracking. The average residential project uses a minimum of 2,500 to 3,000 PSI; however if you're concerned about cracking then we recommend talking to your concrete contractor about stronger products on the market.
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.
It is generally recommended that you wait at least a week before driving on the surface with a passenger vehicle. Even then, the slower curing areas, such as the edges, will not be as hard as they need to be. For this reason, you'll want to be careful until the concrete is fully cured.
PSI 6000 can be used for any application requiring concrete in a minimum thickness of 50 mm (2”), such as slabs, footings, steps, columns, walls and patios. Each - 25 kg (55 lb) bag of QUIKRETE® PSI 6000 will yield approximately 12.2 L (0.43 cu ft) of mixed concrete.
Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI
They're great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood. They work especially well for cleaning patios, sidings, roofs, decks, and fences.
Improper strength of Concrete
For example, if anything less than a 4000 psi is used for a driveway, the concrete can definitely crack. Often times a higher psi strength concrete is recommended for driveway installations. It is important that you get the manufacturer's recommended strength for the appropriate use.
The minimum thickness for a residential concrete driveway is 4 inches. However, 5 or 6 inches is recommended if you live in an area with heavy traffic or large vehicles. For extra strength and durability, you can go up to 8 inches.
The three most common are; 3000 PSI, 3500 PSI, and 4000 PSI.
Moist curing is a common method of concrete curing. It involves wetting the concrete slab often with water (5-7 times per day) for the first 7 days. This method ensures your concrete slab will be extremely strong and durable, because it allows the moisture to evaporate slowly, preventing cracks and shrinks.
Curing should be started as soon as possible and should continue for a period of 5 days in warm weather at 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) or higher or 7 days in cooler weather at 50 – 70 degrees (10 – 21 degrees C). Protect concrete from freezing for at least 48 hours.
Pavement and floor slabs in homes and business are made of concrete at 4,000 PSI and able to withstand traffic and support heavy loads. Concrete that exceeds 5,000 PSI is used in special construction projects that require building materials that are able to withstand heavy impact and extreme wear and tear.
It is estimated that a 50-story structure with 4-foot diameter columns using 4000 psi concrete can reduce column diameters by approximately 33% by using 8000 psi concrete (Peterman). High –strength concrete is occasionally used in the construction of highway bridges.
If you want to clean your driveway quickly and efficiently, use a pressure washer of at least 3100 PSI. Using pressure washers with pressures ranging from 1000 to 2300 PSI will also help you clean your driveway, but it will take a long time.
Typically, you'll be able to drive and park on a new concrete driveway seven days after placement. By that time, your concrete will have attained about 70% of its potential strength. Still, you'll need to take some precautions until the concrete has reached full strength.
Rebar is not necessary for every concrete project. The general rule of thumb is that if you are pouring concrete that is more than 5 inches in depth, you are probably going to want to add in some rebar to help reinforce the entire structure.
Use wire mesh for driveways that are 4 to 5 inches thick, and rebar for those that are 5 inches or more. Place rebar in a grid pattern with a spacing between bars of approximately 12 inches. In either case, blocks should be used under the reinforcement to keep centered within the concrete.