Is this normal for new concrete driveway?

[Sage55]

I'm looking for some feedback. I'm not a concrete guy and maybe all of this is perfectly normal and expected, but I just wanted to see what others thought.

Less than a month ago we had our old worn out driveway ripped out and a new driveway poured. We waited almost two weeks before we started driving on it.

The first thing I've noticed is when the driveway is wet after a rain shower it's very discolored and spider web looking like so:






But what is kinda bothering me is the chipping around the saw cut relief joints. We probably have 4 or 5 of these, maybe more, already:





Some of these are maybe a quarter of an inch up to 1-1.5" in size.


I know concrete typically doesn't do well on top of other concrete so this next picture isn't a huge concern for me just thought I'd share what it looked like more than anything.

This piece is from a corner of the OLD curb that had a chip broken off and the contractor just poured new concrete over it to clean it up a bit, however that didn't stick and this is what the chipped off piece looks like - this is new concrete:



A bit more about the project, if this helps at all. The main driveway is 5" thick with gravel compacted. They were to use 4,000 PSI concrete with fiber mesh and also laid wire mesh.

So is this all normal and expected or do I have a problem?

 

[pattenp]

Concrete was not kept wet and surface dried out too quick. Unsightly but likely not a structural problem.

 

[Sage55]

Concrete was not kept wet and surface dried out too quick. Unsightly but likely not a structural problem.

Probably nothing I can do to improve it at this point? Mostly concerned about the number and size of chipping at the saw joints.

 

[ConCretin]

The spider web appearance is called crazing, which results from shrinkage cracks in the cement paste on the surface. While it can be indicative of deeper problems, it is not uncommon and not generally a cause for concern. The color variation is normal and will even out with time. The spalling at the control joints is mechanical damage caused by cutting too early or using the wrong type of saw. It's unfortunate but it shouldn't get any worse. All and all, I don't see anything that concerns me.

 

[Sage55]

All and all, I don't see anything that concerns me.

You have no idea how much comfort that brings me.

I couldn't care less what it looks like wet, the cracking at the joints was the biggest concern. But so far based off yours and the previous reply there doesn't sound to be any major issues of concern.

Thanks!

 

[pcmeiners]

Count your blessing, with the quality of today's workmanship by wannabe contractors, you could have ended up with much bigger problems, especially in the warmer weather.

 

[thebmrust]

I’m NOT a concrete guy, so this could be completely wrong info:

If the surface is bad, make sure you get it sealed before winter.

Those micro cracks will attract water, water freezes, concrete breaks.
Rinse. Freeze. Repeat.

Anyone can correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[Shiftless]

Concrete was not kept wet and surface dried out too quick. Unsightly but likely not a structural problem.

Did the concrete guy tell you to mist the slab multiple times per day for the first week?

 

[F-22]

You could get someone to grind the top surface down a little bit. It makes it way more durable and even.

 

[NUTTSGT]

You have no idea how much comfort that brings me.

I couldn't care less what it looks like wet, the cracking at the joints was the biggest concern. But so far based off yours and the previous reply there doesn't sound to be any major issues of concern.

Thanks!

You mean the chipping at the control joints ?

Cracks should appear in the control joints.

 

[skulldrinker]

In a year all those spots will be gone. I've seen worse when it was covered with plastic. The chips, looks like the saw hit a rock and kicked it out. Live with it.

 

[Bucko]

Personally what kills me is when they clean the edge up after the broom finish and "picture frame" the edges. I prefer a full broom finish but maybe thats just me.

 

[rayra]

overworked and underwetted. Too much cream brought to the top, creating different curing and resulting in the crazing. Nothing you can do about it now. The slight chipping at the saw cuts is related.
You don't list a region, hard to tell if future freeze/thaw cycles could cause you trouble in several years.

 

[LXCam]

I don’t see any crazing. What I see is curing compound.

 

[ArkTinkerer]

I'd fill the saw cuts with a gap filler. Would help keep water out and prevent more of that chipping from freeze/thaw cycles.

 

[welder4956]

I just had a new driveway poured in January. The mottled appearance on the surface will go away over time. I washed mine down with high pressure stream of water (not a pressure washer) after about a month of cure time and it went away. Can't even tell where it was now.

 

[Joemctag]

I don’t see any crazing. What I see is curing compound.

Yes, the spots are remaining curing compound. Sprayed on final-finished concrete, often somewhat less than thoroughly. Waxy. Keeps concrete from losing water needed for curing to full strength. It eventually goes away. You want good curing. Easier than setting and covering with plastic.

 

[BombShelter]

I miss my old boss, he was old-school and he used to love picking apart the competition's driveways. Personally I'd say they used fiberglass filiments (instead of rebar), wicking up moisture. Hopefully you don't live where it gets cold and snows alot. (***I just reread the thread, yep, filiments!***)

I might be wrong, I've got very little experience compared to most guys here but I do revisit old projects I lost bids to and they look like **** after 10-14 years. I'm not a fan of the extreme brush finish and super-nice coved edges, these look great at first but never seem to last long and the guys with the much cheaper "filiment reinforced concrete" have the worse track record. My guy loved rebar, he lifted it when pouring, so it wasn't on the ground and I can still drive around town and say "we did that job" and know it was the TOTL and still looks good years later.

I just don't remember ours doing the same thing when wet and we have pretty extreme weather conditions up here, people would call up if they sensed any issue but it was more for leaves falling on the fresh concrete and maybe some discoloration between slabs. Never for bad cuts in the expansion joints or funky spidery water discolorations.

 

[MattN03]

I had a concrete sidewalk poured in February this year that looks just like that. I'm in KY and the weather was probably in the 40*-50* range. I'm disappointed with the appearance, but there isn't much I can do about it now