Can You Repair Cracked Concrete Driveway

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Ideally, a concrete driveway will last the lifetime of your abode. But, there are conditions that tin can shorten its lifespan and result in cruddy cracking, discoloration, settlement or scaling.

Find driveway repair contractors nigh yous

The typical causes of concrete driveway distress include:

• An improperly compacted subgrade
• The utilize of an inadequate concrete mix
• Exposure to severe atmospheric condition weather condition
• Bad placement procedures

Rather than ripping out the concrete and starting over, you can often save coin by repairing your driveway, as long as the concrete is structurally sound. If you aren't sure of the structural integrity of your driveway, take a professional assess the condition of your physical and brand repair recommendations.

Earlier first any driveway repair projection, the first and most of import step is to figure out what caused the harm and and so determine the best repair process for solving the trouble (read this troubleshooting advice). Depending on the condition of the concrete and your upkeep, your options for driveway repair range from a simple color enhancement by applying a coat of stain to full physical resurfacing with a decorative overlay.

REPAIR, RESURFACE, OR Replace - HOW TO DECIDE?

Equally long as your driveway is structurally audio, there are means to repair minor—and fifty-fifty major—defects without tearing out and completely replacing it.

Defect	Repair Options	DIY or Contractor?
SMALL CRACKS/HOLES LESS THAN i/4"	Patch or fill	DIY or rent a contractor, depending on the extent of cracking
LARGE CRACKS/HOLES GREATER THAN ane/4", SPALLING, SCALING, OR DISCOLORATION	Resurface Engrave Re-color	Hire a contractor
SINKING	Slabjack	Hire a contractor
STRUCTURAL Harm	Supercede	Hire a contractor

KB Concrete Staining, Norco, CA

DRIVEWAY REPAIR SOLUTIONS

Patch or fill minor cracks

• Cracks or holes less than ¼" wide generally don't pose a structural threat and can exist filled or patched as a temporary prepare.
• Fillers and patches are visibly different than the concrete they are practical to. If there are a lot of areas to ready, this tin can consequence in an unappealing blotchy overall wait, so that is something to exist considered.
• Also, patches aren't h2o tight, meaning that eventually, h2o will seep between the patch and original concrete, reopening the crack or pigsty.
• Filling a few small cracks or holes can exist a relatively easy DIY projection washed with materials purchased at your local hardware store.

Learn more about driveway crack repair.

Physical resurfacing to cover larger cracks or surface problems

• Large cracks or holes greater than ¼", spalling (horizontal peeling or chipping of the surface), and discoloration can be covered with resurfacing or a concrete overlay (a sparse layer of cement-based material applied directly over the existing concrete).
• Resurfacing allows yous to add decorative finishes such as stamping or coloring.
• Your driveway volition look like new without the added work and expense of removing it and installing a new ane.
• A middle footing betwixt patching and replacing, refinishing with an overlay provides a longer lasting and more than artful repair than patching.

Physical engraving to disguise cracks or flaws

• For concrete with minor cracking or discoloration, you can completely disguise the flaws by engraving a pattern in the surface.
• With engraving, the concrete is stained first and so a special routing car is used to cut the pattern into the surface, creating faux grout lines.
• Depending on the pattern y'all choose, the flaws in the concrete can actually contribute to the look.
• Learn more than nearly concrete engraving.

Recoloring to revive or correct the wait

• Discoloration of concrete driveways tin exist due to a number of causes including weathering, sun exposure, improper colour awarding, and absorption of stubborn grease and oil stains.
• In most cases, the physical color can be revived past applying a new glaze of acid or water-based stain (see Changing the Color of Integrally Colored Concrete).
• Employ a UV-resistant staining product and protect the physical with a good sealer and your newly colored driveway should maintain its beauty for many years.

Before and after: Driveway renovation with h2o-based stains. See more than on this project below. Flooring Seasons, Las Vegas, NV.

Slabjacking to elevator sunken physical

• If your driveway slab is sinking in spots, the problem is near likely due to a poorly compacted subgrade or soil erosion.
• Slabs can exist raised back to their original position past pumping a mixture of sand, cement, fly ash, and other additives beneath the slab—a procedure called slabjacking.
• See this overview of how slabjacking can fix a sunken concrete driveway.

IS It Time TO REPLACE YOUR DRIVEWAY?

Cracks or holes larger than ¼" wide can often indicate a bigger problem and require more investigation. Are there roots growing under the concrete causing it to crack or elevator? Is there a leaky pipage causing erosion under the slab causing it to sink, crack, or become discolored? If an underlying cause such equally these is discovered, you may be left with no other selection only to replace your driveway.

Keep in heed that whatever repair is temporary, although some volition final longer than others-perhaps many years. However, the structural integrity of the driveway as a whole is but as good as the underlying concrete and will somewhen crave further repair or eventual replacement. In the short run, repairs volition save you lot coin, but they may just be delaying a much bigger job.

Price COMPARISON

The best way to get an idea of what your repairs will toll is to get an judge from a contractor near you. They can assess the extent of the harm and can recommend the appropriate solution.

Patch or make full: Exercise-it-yourself solutions can be as low as $10 if only filling a few small cracks or holes.

Resurfacing: Hiring a professional person tin can range from $3 to $10 per foursquare foot (or higher) depending on the add-on of decorative options and surface prep required.

Engraving & Staining: Costs tin vary greatly depending on color and pattern choices.

Slabjacking: Depending on how far the concrete has fallen and the size of the slab to be lifted, costs can vary. Get a quote from a RamJack contractor.

Supercede: If you determine that repair or restoration isn't an option, find out more about the price of pouring a new driveway. Go on in mind, there may be additional costs for replacing versus just pouring new, such equally tear-out and disposal, equally well as whatsoever costs associated with correcting the cause of the harm (tree roots, plumbing, etc.)

DIY vs HIRING A CONTRACTOR

• As with most home comeback projects, DIY costs are usually lower-that is, if yous have the correct tools and the ability to do the job right the first time.
• Patching or filling modest cracks can be done piece of cake enough with a pre-mixed patch material.
• Larger projects like driveway resurfacing are best left to the professionals with strict requirements for surface prep, forming, concrete mix, and finishing.
• Coloring, re-coloring, and staining should also exist done by a contractor who understands how different coloring products piece of work together (i.e. acrid-based vs h2o-based stains) and the different surface prep requirements and restrictions.
• Engraving and slabjacking both require specialized equipment and training, and so again, these are jobs best left to the pros.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are some common causes of physical driveway cracks?

There are many reasons why your driveway may develop cracks. Improper subgrade prep, poor concrete mix, or shrinkage when curing are all factors that can crusade cracks and stem from incorrect initial installation of a driveway. Weather-related causes such equally freeze-thaw cycles, and full general wear and tear over time can also result in cracking and other surface problems.

How to fix crumbling concrete driveway?

In climates where freeze-thaw cycles happen regularly and deicing chemicals are used, surface damage called spalling or scaling is mutual. Acquire more virtually how to deal with spalling issues and foreclose it from occurring in your driveway or garage.

Practice oil stains demand be cleaned before repairing or resurfacing my driveway?

Yes, oil stains will need to exist cleaned before whatever repair, staining, or resurfacing can be done. Learn the best manner to remove oil stains from physical.

If I accept a problem with my sealer, can that be superficially repaired?

Many times driveway problems are superficial and don't crave a full repair or restoration. One example would be problems with the sealer coat. Learn more than about dissimilar issues that tin occur with sealers and possible solutions, including dealing with hot tire marks.

Physical DRIVEWAY REPAIR PROJECTS

Envision Physical in Escondido, Calif.

Bamboo-Patterned Driveway Overlay

A garden full of bamboo plants was the inspiration for this concrete driveway overlay, which is stamped with a pattern of bamboo leaves over a light stone texture.

Champney Physical Finishing in Lynchburg, Va.

Floor Seasons in Las Vegas, NV

Color Makeover Restores a Faded Driveway

This colored physical driveway was streaked and faded due to weather exposure and improper maintenance. H2o-based stains, in the colors of bark brown and lite adobe, were used to revive the original color.

Pizzazz Painting in Las Vegas, NV

Stains Disguise Driveway Peachy

Some homeowners think at that place is no hope for a driveway with deep cracks and crevices. But sometimes the solution is simple and can have stunning results. On this project, the concrete driveway was stained a warm walnut tone to accentuate the existing cracks and give it a rich leather-similar appearance.

Concrete Illusions Inc in Kankakee, IL

RELATED:
Concrete Driveway Extension

Can You Repair Cracked Concrete Driveway,

Source: https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/concrete_driveways/repair.html

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