Construction & Contractors Blog
The concrete driveway on your property makes up a big part of your home's appearance and you use your driveway every day and expect it to last for many years to come, but damage can occur to the slab. Damage in the form of cracks, surface spalling or flaking, and slab shifting will not only minimize your ability to use your driveway, but it can pose a safety hazard. Here are some tips to help you make the needed repairs to improve your concrete driveway and lengthen its life.
Fill Your Own Cracks
As a homeowner there are many concrete repairs you can complete yourself, such as filling the cracks that form over the surface of your driveway. Smaller cracks can present an opportunity for weeds to grow from them and make the crack larger and more serious, so if you can complete a DIY project to repair them, you can prevent further damage.
Be sure you remove any loose and cracking concrete from the crack and clean the area with a broom or pressure washer. It is best to use a concrete cleaner to remove any oils or residues that may be on the surface of your concrete driveway to ensure the repair stays in place.
Apply a concrete filler product into the crack, either through its application tube or with a trowel, depending on the size of the crack. For cracks that are wider than one-quarter inch, plan to insert a concrete backer rod into the base of the crack to help fill the crack and support the base of your repair. Smooth the surface of your repair to make it level with the surrounding concrete surfaces.
Consider a Concrete Resurfacing
When there is a large amount of damage to your concrete driveway, such as spalling and large cracks, you can benefit from a full driveway resurface. When you resurface your driveway you apply a new concrete layer over the old surface. Be sure any cracks and gaps are filled first to ensure your new overlay remains in place. It is also recommended that you clean your driveway's full surface as well.
You can complete your driveway resurface project yourself, but be sure your driveway's old surface is damp when you apply the new layer to ensure it cures properly. If the existing surface is dry it can pull moisture from your overlay, causing it to be too dry and fail during and after it cures.
A concrete professional can complete the overlay for you and also inspect your concrete to determine the cause of any surface damage. For example, if the subsurface of your concrete has caused sinking to the slab, they can recommend a repair for it to eliminate future damage.
For more information about concrete driveway repair, contact a local professional.
Share18 September 2020
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
