Driveway Widening in Carmel, IN
We add width to concrete driveways in Carmel, Indiana, so there is room for another car.
- Quotes in writing
- 15 areas covered
Carmel Concrete Pros widens concrete driveways for homes across Carmel. We measure the driveway you have, check the city's rules for your lot, and write you a quote before any concrete is cut.
How we widen a driveway
We start by sawing a clean, straight edge along the side of your old driveway. Then we dig out the strip of lawn next to it, lay a stone base and pack it down hard.
We set wooden forms, the boards that hold the wet concrete in shape, along the new outside edge. We drill short steel bars into the edge of the old slab, so the new strip is tied to it and the two parts don't drift apart. Then we pour, smooth the top and cut the joints, which are the straight grooves you see across a driveway.
We match the slope of the new strip to the old one, so rain keeps running toward the street or the lawn and not toward your garage.
Carmel's rules for a wider driveway
We plan every widening around the City of Carmel's driveway rules:
- A home driveway should be at least 12 feet and no more than 20 feet wide where it meets the street. The department says it will not support layouts outside that range.
- Each property gets one curb cut, which is the city's term for an access point from your lot to the street. A second one needs approval from the Board of Public Works and Safety.
- Before any work out at the street, in the area the city calls its right-of-way, you need a right-of-way permit. The city says you also need to post a bond before work starts there.
- If any part of the driveway sits in an easement, a Consent to Encroach Agreement must be signed. The city describes an easement as part of your property that other parties also have rights to use, such as for drainage or utilities.
- Driveway work outside any easement or the right-of-way doesn't need the board's approval.
If your plan breaks one of them, we tell you before we give you a quote.
Where the extra water goes
The City of Carmel says local soils drain poorly and have seasonally high water tables. It also says property owners are responsible for managing groundwater around their homes through foundation drains, sump pumps, grading and similar measures. We look at where that water will run off a wider driveway before we draw the new edge.
What to get in writing
Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:
- How wide the driveway will be when we're done, and how wide it will be where it meets the street.
- How the new strip will be joined to the old slab.
- How thick the new concrete will be, and what base goes under it.
- Where the joints will be cut.
- Which permits the job needs, and who applies for them.
- When you can drive on the new part.
Questions about driveway widening in Carmel
Will the new concrete match my old driveway?
We tell you before we pour that new concrete starts out a different shade from a driveway that has been outside for years. If an even look matters to you, we can talk about concrete sealing or a full driveway replacement.
Can you widen only the part near the garage?
Yes, we can widen just the top of the driveway and leave the street end as it is, which can keep our work out of the city's right-of-way.
Does my HOA need to sign off?
When the Board of Public Works and Safety has to approve a driveway, the City of Carmel wants a plot plan that shows any easements and right-of-way, plus where the new driveway goes and its size. It also wants a letter from your homeowners' association saying the work doesn't break any neighborhood rules.
Do you call 811 before you dig?
We do, every time. Indiana's Call Before You Dig law requires everyone who digs to contact Indiana 811 at least two full working days before starting. We make that call so buried utility lines are marked before we dig out the strip.
Is cutting the old edge dusty?
OSHA says cutting, sawing, grinding and drilling concrete makes very small particles of crystalline silica, at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand. It says workers who breathe them in are at higher risk of serious diseases caused by silica. When we saw the old edge, we ask you to keep back while we work.
What happens to the concrete you cut off?
The EPA says brick, concrete and masonry can be recycled on site as fill or driveway bedding. We tell you where any old concrete is going before we cut it.
Can you add a parking pad instead?
Yes, we can pour a separate pad beside the driveway for an extra car or a trailer, and we check it against the same city rules first.
How much does driveway widening cost?
We price your job once we've measured it, and you get that quote in writing. We base it on how much width you add, how much lawn and soil comes out, and the finish you pick.
Get a quote for driveway widening
Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and how much wider you want the driveway. We'll measure, go through the options with you, and give you a written quote. To see the other work we do, go to the Carmel Concrete Pros home page.
Ready to talk about your concrete job?
Call us or send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.