How to replace concrete driveway?

Oct 10

Here are some tips and ideas to repair or renovate your concrete driveway.

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A concrete driveway should last for the life of your house. However, certain conditions can reduce its lifespan, such as discoloration, settlement, or scaling.

Concrete driveway distress can be caused by:

Subgrade that has been improperly compacted
Use of a poor concrete mix
Exposition to severe weather conditions
Bad placement procedures

You can save money and avoid ripping out concrete and restarting the process. As long as your concrete is structurally sound, it's possible to repair your driveway. You can save money by having a professional evaluate the concrete condition and recommend repairs.

The first step in concrete driveway replacement near me is to determine what caused it. Next, you need to decide the best way to fix it. (Read this troubleshooting advice). Your options for driveway repairs depend on how the concrete is doing and what your budget allows. You can apply a coat of stain or complete concrete resurfacing with an overlay.

Fill small cracks with patching or glue.

Cracks and holes smaller than 1/4" in width are generally not considered structural threats and can be repaired or filled temporarily.
Concrete is visible to be different from the fillers and patches. It is essential to consider the possibility of a blotchy look if there are many areas to repair.
Additionally, patches aren't water-tight, so eventually, water will seep between concrete and the patch, reopening cracks or holes.
You can fill small cracks and holes with materials you find at your local hardware shop.

Concrete resurfacing is used to fix cracks and other surface issues.

Concrete overlays (a thin layer of cement-based materials applied directly to concrete) can cover large cracks and holes larger than 1/4".
You can add decorative finishes to resurfacing, such as stamping and coloring.
It will look brand new, and you won't have to do any extra work or expense in removing and replacing it.
Refinishing with an overlay is a compromise between replacing and patching. It provides a more lasting and aesthetic repair than patching.

Concrete engraving can be used to hide cracks and flaws.

You can make a pattern on concrete that has minor cracking or discoloration to hide imperfections.
Engraving involves staining concrete and using a particular routing machine to cut the pattern into the surface. This creates faux grout lines.
The concrete imperfections can make the look more attractive, depending on your chosen pattern.
Find out more about concrete engraving.

Recoloring can be used to correct or revive the look.

Concrete driveways can become discolored due to weathering, sun exposure, or absorption of oil and grease stains.
Most concrete colors can be restored by applying an acid- or water-based stain. (See Changing Concrete Color).
You can protect your driveway with a sealer and a UV-resistant staining agent. Your driveway will remain beautiful for many years.

Concrete that is sunken can be lifted by slab jacking.

The problem could be due to soil erosion or a subgrade that is not properly compacted.
By pumping a mixture of sand cement, fly ash and other additives underneath the slab, slabs can be raised to their original positions. This is called slab jacking.
This overview shows you how slabjacking can repair a sunken concrete driveway.