Oil spills or stains on your driveway? Don't panic - all you need is liquid soap and water! Even if your stain is more than 30 days old, using warm water can help lift the stain off. Make sure you don't use a wire brush, because that only harms your driveway surface. And while you may need to use a solvent to get rid of a stain on concrete, only use soap and water with asphalt.

Concrete is a unique material. It is hard, dense and durable yet it is highly susceptible to staining when it has a rough to semi-smooth finish. Most exterior concrete surfaces like driveways, sidewalks and driveway aprons need to have a somewhat rough surface for traction. Water, oil and other liquids can readily soak into concrete if it is not protected. Protect your surface with a clear sealer or liquid repellent.

When it comes to learning about concrete, there are two books that are must-haves, both from the Portland Cement Association. Looking for clear coating manufacturers? Many on the following list may not be familiar to you, because high quality clear coatings aren't usually sold at local hardware shops.

The following checklist contains 15 helpful pointers when using concrete to make a sidewalk, patio or driveway. Look at the control joint illustrations to see how they should be handled for residential driveways.

To solve concrete spalling, the job should be started with good concrete and ended with good finishing techniques. Deicing salts, contrary to popular belief, will not harm concrete that is made, placed and finished in the proper way. Never use fertilizers as deicers because the chemicals may attack your concrete. If you're still concerned about water messing up your surface, use a concrete sealant.

For information on deicing salt or concrete, check out the following trusted sources. The Salt Institute, the American Concrete Institute and the Portland Cement Association are all organizations who will give you professional information. Local engineering labs also are good go-to sources for literature.