The dirt pit in the driveway...

Things at Isthmus House are good these days. There's lots going on upstairs and we're really excited to be closing in on being done upstairs and getting that much closer downstairs.

This week though, I think it's time to look outside.

When I bought Isthmus House, I didn't think much of the outside. Considering there was still snow, that's not overly surprising.

I did notice that the gaping dirt pit in the middle of the driveway, but my attention to said driveway didn't stretch too much further. Lesson learned.

Really, the driveway was terrible. I figured this out when:

1. Water ran straight down the incline to the foundation and into my basement when it rained... or when I washed my porch
2. My car inclined down when I pulled into it
3. Shoveling snow started to resemble an ice chipping expedition

It took ages to deal with all of the pricing and contracting but finally we got the plans in place for replacement of the driveway from the sidewalk to the side deck stairs where the existing concrete leveled out. 

After grading for our new level, we started digging out the old stuff. 

Once the rock was all out and carted away for recycling, it was time to level the remaining dirt and put down a bit of gravel. 

The next morning, we were ready to pour concrete!

To prep the surface, the crew lightly wet down the gravel before truck arrived mid-morning. 

To work from the back of the house to the front, the wheelbarrows got loaded up and carted back.

Two workers brought back all of the concrete and dumped it for another worker in galoshes to spread it and smooth it out.

I will say, while the process was pretty quick, it was pretty impressive watching them get the concrete to just the right level and pitch using a float and trowel. 

Concrete smoothing complete, I learned that it's really important to cut joints so that when your new concrete cracks - and it will in a freeze thaw cycle like we have in Madison - it cracks on the pre-determined joints.

To cut the joints all the way across, the crew had to use pads that don't sink into the concrete so they can kneel on the partly dried surface.

Once the joints were embedded, the concrete was re-smoothed of any imperfections.

Finally, it was time to brush finish the surface by, you guessed it, dragging a horse hair brush over it.

And we were done! It's hard to believe just how much of a difference it makes. Granted, it's about a $3000 investment but it's worth every dime in not chipping ice away and the way it makes the front of the house feel.