Behind the Scenes: The Making of a Driveway

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Over Digging the Basement 

We over dig your basement two foot six inches all around the perimeter of the foundation. We do this to allow room for our contractors to work around the foundation when setting their forms and also to water-proof and install drain tile.  The soil is very hard to compact around the foundation in this area.  To combat this problem and to alleviate potential concrete problems, we pack what we can of the soil, water-soak, and then we also pin rebar into the foundation along the garage floor all the way along the over dig section.  This will keep the concrete from moving should the soil below settle out over time.

The Driveway

Have you ever noticed how the area between your garage floor and your driveway is at different heights? The driveway is actually poured at ½” to ¾” below the height of the garage floor. We leave this difference in height to allow the driveway to heave should frost find its way under the front edge of the driveway during the cold winter months.  By pouring it lower initially, we allow room for it to move up without heaving too far above the garage floor although in certain circumstances it is not uncommon for the driveway to heave as much as 1" above the garage floor.  We also install an expansion joint in this gap between the two pours to prevent the two areas of concrete from locking together.  This also provides room for expansion and contraction during the changes in seasons.  Both of these measures help alleviate many future problems you could experience here in the cold winters of Nebraska.

Dowel Rebars in the Driveway 

We also dowel rebar into the foundation where the driveway meets the garage floor.  This rebar sits directly under the driveway and the entire width of the driveway rests on it.  It is not poured into the driveway, which again helps from locking the driveway in place and causing future problems by preventing it from expanding and contracting.  This rebar also helps prevent the driveway from sinking should the soil settle out from under it over time.

Driveways are an important part of the overall appearance and functionality of your home.  With proper planning and installation your new driveway will last you many years to come.

Check us out next time for tips on maintaining concrete.

Our New Home Warranty

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At Charleston Homes we pride ourselves at providing an in-house, 1-year warranty for your home. Because we stand behind every home we build, you can feel confident knowing that your new home was built with quality products and service.

What Does Having an “In-house” Warranty Mean to You?

At Charleston Homes, we stand behind our product, so we will handle any concerns you have with your home for 1-year from when you close. About, 60 days after you’ve settled in your new Charleston Home, we’ll check in with you to answer any questions or take care of any concerns you may have. Then, eleven months after closing, we reiterate our commitment to satisfaction by again taking the time to handle any required warranty work, discuss concerns, or answer any questions that you may have.

How Do I Report a Concern?

Occasionally you might have a concern about something in your new home. Getting in touch with us is easy! In fact, it can all be done online. Just go to www.charlestonhomesomaha.com. Click on the “Warranty Requests” tab. You will fill out the appropriate information, and then submit your request.

If your request is an emergency, which means that your home is unlivable, after your claim is submitted, we will give you a list of contractors with their phone numbers you can contact after hours and on holidays.

Once your request is submitted, it is emailed to a select group of people at Charleston Homes. The Warranty Manager determines how critical the issue is and how quickly a response is needed. We have issues that are classified as emergency and priority that will be taken care of quickly. Then other issues that are not terribly bothersome to you or your home will be classified as a normal warranty issue and can wait until your next warranty evaluation.

So, because we stand behind the quality of our homes, our in-house warranty service is very important.  It’s just one more way we are working to make your home buying experience even better when you build a Charleston Home.

A Great Financial Team at Charleston Homes

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During a time when many building companies are struggling to stay afloat during the building crunch of the last few years, Charleston Homes has thrived. We couldn’t do it alone though. There are many partners that make Charleston Homes what it is today.

First National Bank has been a great partner with Charleston Homes in the past few years. We pride ourselves in this relationship and are proud to have FNB along with us as we’ve grown. We’ve built a solid reputation with them as being a dependable company.

Banks don’t lend money to just anyone. The fact we have been able to actually increase our borrowing in the last few years shows Charleston Homes is a strong building company with the customer’s best interests at heart. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t have thrived during such a touch time of building.

Come discover what makes both Charleston Homes and First National Bank such a great team. We know you will be happy you did!