Concrete driveways can crack due to a variety of reasons ranging from heavy loads, repeated thawing and freezing, shifts in-ground, and tree shifts. If you have been facing similar issues, then you have come to the right place. Today we are going to share tips on how to repair cracks in your concrete driveway. Armed with such knowledge you can handle the cracks in a DIY manner before they attain bigger stature.
Did you know that restoring your broken concrete driveway can improve your home’s overall appeal! This is especially true while trying to sell a property. Cracks appearing in the driveway can be repulsive for you potential buyers. So, read on to know about how you can repair the cracks and keep your driveway in good shape.
Fine surface cracks usually occur when cars travel at super-fast speed on the driveway. They can appear immediately after the incident itself. Initially, they do not reveal any sign of serious structural damage. You can put recurring products on the fine cracks if the remaining concrete surface is smooth. Doing this covers the cracks with a thin layer. However, you need to be careful about thoroughly following the instructions appearing on the label before the application.
The existing concrete has to be thoroughly cleaned using a high-pressure washer following which a resurfacer has to be spread with a long-handled squeegee. You need to target small areas at a time since the product tends to dry out quickly. Before using the driveway, you need to ensure that the resurfacer has completely dried and cured.
Cracks having a width of less than ¼ inch might not initially show signs of serious damage. However, these hairline cracks can grow bigger once water gets into them and freezes during the winter months. This causes the cracks to expand and vehicles passing over can further add to the damage.
Deep cracks, on the other hand, can pose serious concerns. You can fill them, or apply a driveway repair tape as a temporary fix. If you come across uneven cracks having a width exceeding one inch, then it is a signal of underlying structural issues. In such cases, you can seek out professional help to deal with the jagged cracks who will completely remove and rebuild the driveway for making it drivable again.
Repairing Cracks With Width Below ¼ Inch
Before starting with the repair of your concrete driveway you need to ensure that the surface reaches a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and there is a forecast for dry weather. Also Read; Benefits of Concrete Art faux concrete plaster.
- Now search for a concrete crack-filler with flexible articulation so that it shifts along with old concrete and doesn’t pull away from being thawed and frozen.
- Break the old concrete patch materials before applying the new filler. To do this, you can use either a hammer or masonry chisel. Remove the old caulking and abolish all broken pieces using a chisel screwdriver. Often weeds and grasses might grow in the cracks. They need to be pulled out.
- You can opt for a leaf blower to remove leaves and debris from the driveway.
- In case of cracks with a width exceeding ¼ inch, insert a backer rod in the cracks to minimize the filler requirement and deliver uniform results.
- Make sure that the concrete dries before the cracks are filled.
Final Words
Before repairing a concrete driveway, make sure to put up a sign so that vehicles can take a detour. Homeowners can claim insurance over their cracked driveway since the insurance covers all property structures built on the property. Horizontal cracks are worse than vertical ones as the former is caused by soil pressure and the latter by foundation issues. Cracks like these can be an eyesore, and while there are methods where you can fix them yourself, you can always rely on companies like EverLine Coatings and Services to give the driveway an extra sheen, resulting in a smoother-looking driveway. Irrespective of the amount of care, concrete driveways are bound to crack in sooner or later. However, filling them up at regular intervals can prevent further damage in days to come.
