Latest Guides
Plain answers from JP Companies, a family-owned concrete and masonry contractor in Centreville, Virginia, on driveways, concrete, walkways and steps and patios across Northern Virginia. The two driveway guides, on what a new driveway costs and when to replace one, come first.
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How Long Does a Concrete Driveway Last? 9 Factors That Decide It
A well-built concrete driveway typically lasts 25–30 years with standard homeowner care. Whether a particular driveway gets there depends on nine things, and most of them are decided on the day it is poured.
Read More: How Long Does a Concrete Driveway Last? 9 Factors That Decide It
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Concrete vs. Pavers: Which Is Right for Your Home?
Concrete is the better choice when you want a durable, low-maintenance surface at a lower price. Pavers are the better choice when you want pattern, color and the ability to repair one piece at a time, and are…
Read More: Concrete vs. Pavers: Which Is Right for Your Home?
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Water Pooling on Your Patio: Causes and Fixes
Water pools on a patio for one of three reasons: the patio was built without enough slope, part of it has settled, or water from the roof or the yard is running onto it faster than it can run off. A puddle that…
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Planning a Custom Patio: Size, Material and Layout
A custom patio starts with one question: what will you do out there? Dining, lounging, a fire pit, a place for the kids to play? The answer decides the size, the shape, the material and what goes with it. Material…
Read More: Planning a Custom Patio: Size, Material and Layout
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How Long Does a Patio Last? Concrete, Pavers and Natural Stone
A well-built patio lasts decades. Concrete, pavers and natural stone can all go twenty-five years or more; what cuts a patio's life short is almost never the material on top. It is water, a weak base and the…
Read More: How Long Does a Patio Last? Concrete, Pavers and Natural Stone
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Why Walkways Fail, and How to Build One That Lasts
Most walkways fail from below, not on the surface. A walk sinks, tips or cracks because the ground under it moved, water collected against it, or the stone was laid loose on a base that could not hold it. A walk…
Read More: Why Walkways Fail, and How to Build One That Lasts
Have a Project in Mind?
Read up, then call (703) 327-7007 or send the form, and JP Companies will look at your driveway, walk or patio with you.