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

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The typical causes of concrete driveway distress include:

• An improperly compacted subgrade
• The use of an inadequate concrete mix
• Exposure to severe weather conditions
• Bad placement procedures

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

Before beginning any driveway repair project, the first and most important step is to figure out what caused the damage and then determine the best repair procedure for solving the problem (read this troubleshooting advice). Depending on the condition of the concrete and your budget, your options for driveway repair range from a simple color enhancement by applying a coat of stain to total concrete resurfacing with a decorative overlay, get the best short load concrete delivery near me.

REPAIR, RESURFACE, OR REPLACE – HOW TO DECIDE?

As long as your driveway is structurally sound, there are ways to repair minor—and even major—defects without tearing out and completely replacing it.

Defect	Repair Options	DIY or Contractor?
SMALL CRACKS/HOLES LESS THAN 1/4″	Patch or fill	DIY or hire a contractor, depending on the extent of cracking
LARGE CRACKS/HOLES GREATER THAN 1/4″, SPALLING, SCALING, OR DISCOLORATION	Resurface Engrave Re-color	Hire a contractor
SINKING	Slabjack	Hire a contractor
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE	Replace	Hire a contractor

DRIVEWAY REPAIR SOLUTIONS

Patch or fill small cracks

• Cracks or holes less than ¼” wide generally don’t pose a structural threat and can be filled or patched as a temporary fix.
• Fillers and patches are visibly different than the concrete they are applied to. If there are a lot of areas to fix, this can result in an unappealing blotchy overall look, so that is something to be considered.
• Also, patches aren’t water tight, meaning that eventually, water will seep between the patch and original concrete, reopening the crack or hole.
• Filling a few small cracks or holes can be a relatively easy DIY project done with materials purchased at your local hardware store.

Learn more about driveway crack repair.

Concrete 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 thin layer of cement-based material applied directly over the existing concrete).
• Resurfacing allows you to add decorative finishes such as stamping or coloring.
• Your driveway will look like new without the added work and expense of removing it and installing a new one.
• A middle ground between patching and replacing, refinishing with an overlay provides a longer lasting and more aesthetic repair than patching.