Aprons · Columbus Concrete Driveway
Driveway Apron & Approach Work in Columbus, OH
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Aprons & Approaches
Driveway Apron for Columbus, OH
The apron, or approach, is the stretch of driveway between the street and the sidewalk or property line. It takes the hardest loads on the whole drive, from garbage trucks and delivery vans to plows striking its edge, and it gets the most salt, since street slush lands on it. It is also usually in the public right-of-way, which means the city, village or township sets the rules, not the homeowner: a permit, an inspection in many places, and specifications for thickness, curb shape and joints.
Because those specs vary between Columbus and each suburb, the first step is pulling the local permit and reading what it calls for. Typical requirements include a thicker section than the rest of the driveway, a specific curb treatment such as a drop curb or a curb cut with a depressed section, and joints that line up with the public sidewalk. The apron is separated from the private drive by an isolation joint, so the two can move independently. On busy streets, traffic control may also be part of the permit.
What's included
What goes into driveway aprons and approaches
- 01
Permit handling
The right-of-way permit pulled from the city or village before work starts.
- 02
Curb cut or drop curb
Curb removal or replacement shaped to the local spec for a driveway entrance.
- 03
Thicker apron section
Thickness set by the permit, often heavier than the private driveway behind it.
- 04
Sidewalk crossing
The section where the drive crosses the public walk, matched to the walk's grade and joints.
- 05
Isolation from the driveway
A joint separating the public apron from the private slab.
- 06
Inspection-ready forms
Forms and base set for any pre-pour inspection the permit requires.
Examples
Aprons & Approaches: examples
Example photos of the type of work.
How it works
Aprons & Approaches, step by step
- 1
Permit
Apply to the local engineering or building department and confirm the spec.
- 2
Remove
Saw-cut and remove the old apron, curb section and walk crossing as permitted.
- 3
Form and inspect
Set forms and base to the permitted spec, and schedule an inspection if one is required.
- 4
Pour and reopen
Pour, finish, joint and barricade until the apron can carry traffic.
Questions
Aprons & Approaches questions
Why does the apron fall apart before the rest of the driveway?
It carries the heaviest vehicles and catches the most salt and plow damage. Brine-soaked street slush sits on it all winter, and the edge where it meets the street takes impacts. Air-entrained concrete at the permitted thickness, with a clean joint at the street, holds up longest.
What changes the price of an apron replacement?
Mainly the permit requirements: thickness, curb work, how much sidewalk crossing is included, and any traffic control. Size, removal of the old apron and access to the street also count. The quote is free once the local spec is known.
Who issues the permit for a driveway apron?
The local government that controls the right-of-way, typically the city or village engineering or building department. Each suburb and the City of Columbus keep separate procedures, and townships can handle it differently. The permit is pulled before the old apron is removed.
Can the apron be replaced without redoing the driveway?
Yes. The apron is separated from the private driveway by a joint, so it can be cut out and replaced on its own. That is common when the street side is crumbling but the rest of the drive is sound.
How long before cars can cross a new apron?
About 7 days for cars and longer for heavy trucks, and the permit may set its own minimum. Barricades stay up until then, so plan where to park. Cold weather stretches the cure.
Driveway services
Related work
Driveway Replacement
Remove the old driveway, fix what failed underneath, and pour a new slab to a complete spec.
More on driveway replacement
New Concrete Driveways
First-time driveways for new homes or old gravel drives, specified from base depth to joint layout.
More on new concrete driveways
Extensions & Parking Pads
Widening strips, side parking pads and turnarounds, doweled into the existing driveway with joints lined up.
More on extensions & parking pads
Service area
Aprons & Approaches around Columbus
Quotes for driveway aprons and approaches are available in Columbus and these towns:
Franklin County
Pickaway County
Fairfield County
Delaware County
Licking County
Talk to us about driveway aprons and approaches
Length, width, what parks on it and what is there now are enough to start a free driveway quote.