Driveway KIng • We Do Driveways

 

Services

At Driveway King we offer many different services for your concrete needs.

Some of the services we offer are:

Building Green

When you burn massive amounts of pulverized coal, one of the waste products is an ash that acts a lot like cement in the right recipe. That makes for a great relationship between coal-fired power plants and ready-mix concrete producers who use fly ash as an admixture.

The in turn works well for contractors and their customers, who can save a little on materials as well as take satisfaction in using "green" building material that would otherwise go up the chimney or back in the groun. Fly ash scores well on the environmental scale not only because it is recycled material, but also because it supplants the use of cement, which uses energy and raw materials to produce.

If ever there was a "win-win" relationship, it's the one between the industries of coal combustion and concrete.

Pervious Concrete:

Storm water runoff is a leading source of pollutants entering our waterways. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 90 percent of surface pollutants are carried by the first 1-1/2 inch of rainfall. Storm water drains don’t typically channel this polluted runoff to treatment facilities, but instead convey it directly into local water bodies. This can increase algae content, harm aquatic life, and require expensive treatments to make the water potable.

According to Youngs, the big three pollutants in urban runoff are sediment (dirt an debris); heave metals (from the brake linings of cars), and hydrocarbons. One source of hydrocarbons is the oil that drips onto pavements from vehicles. But the primary contributor is asphalt. Studies have show that 90 to 95 percent of the hydrocarbons in urban runoff is from the binder and sealer used for asphalt pavements, he says.

To address these serious pollution concerns, the EPA and many local municipalities and regional watershed authorities are tightening environmental regulations and requiring more stringent storm water management practices. Previous concrete is becoming one of the most viable solutions.

Here are some of the reasons why.  A pervious concrete pavement can:

Reduce the amount of untreated runoff discharging into storm sewers.

Directly recharge groundwater to maintain aquifer levels.

Channel more water to tree roots and landscaping, so there is less need for irrigation.

Mitigate pollutants that can contaminate watersheds and harm sensitive ecosystems.

Eliminate hydrocarbon pollution from asphalt pavements and sealers.

In addition to storm water control, pervious concrete pavements aid in reducing the urban heat-island effect. Because they re light in color and have an open-cell structure, previous concrete pavements don’t absorb and store heat and then radiate it back into the environment like a typical asphalt surface. The open void structure of the pervious pavement also allows cooler earth temperatures from below to cool the pavement.

The lighter color of concrete is also beneficial from an energy-savings standpoint. Because the concrete is reflective, the need for lighting at night is reduced.

Beyond helping the environment, pervious concrete pavements are also safer for drive and pedestrians. Because pervious concrete absorbs water rather than allowing it to puddle, it reduces hydroplaning and tire spray. In California, parks are installing pervious concrete pathways to provide disability access for people in wheelchairs.

Concrete: A Healthy Alternative:

The Healthy House Institute reports that indoor air pollution is the cause of about 50% of illnesses. Common sources of this pollution include out gassing from toxic paints and finishes, carpeting, manufactured wood products containing glues high in formaldehyde, dust mites, mold spores, mildew, and some cleaning products.

When it comes to poor indoor air quality, carpeting is one of the worst offenders. New synthetic carpeting can outgas over 100 different VOCS. And whether made of synthetic or natural materials, carpet is difficult to clean and becomes a haven for dust particles, pollutants, and bacterial growth. Tens of millions of microorganisms can be found in a square foot of carpeting. Carpet can also be a major source of mold, especially if it becomes wet and the water isn’t removed completely.

Concrete floors, stained with nontoxic pigments, are a healthier alternative to carpeting because they do not emit harmful VOCs and are easy to sweep clean. In fact, VOC emissions from concrete building products are much lower than those for most other building materials, according to PCA. The use of natural lime-cement plaster wall finishes and concrete countertops can also significantly reduce total VOC concentrations inside a home.

Exposure to toxic mold in homes and buildings has been blamed for ailments ranging from headaches to severe respiratory infections and immune system disorders. Mold can thrive on any organic material, especially in warm, moist, humid conditions. In addition to carpeting, mold can feed on drywall and wood studs, j joists, and wall sheathing. Concrete floors and walls won’t support the growth of toxic mold.