Should I Resurface or Replace My Concrete Driveway?

Concrete is normally a tough and durable material, but, without regular maintenance—or despite your best efforts—a concrete driveway can fall into disrepair. Cracks, holes, and stains can appear and will turn your once-pristine driveway into an unsafe and unattractive problem. 

When that happens, you’ll have to consider what you want to do. Should you get a new surface on the driveway? Should you replace it entirely? This handy guide will walk you through your options and make sure you save both time and money.

Everyday Wear and Tear

Damage to a concrete patio or driveway—in fact, any concrete surface—isn’t always your fault. Constant use will put a strain on concrete no matter how much you look after it. A properly maintained driveway will last for years longer than one that’s unloved, but, even so, there will come a point in time when it will need work to restore it to its former glory.

What Can I Repair?

In the hands of a skilled contractor, almost any kind of damage can be repaired on a concrete surface. The damage might be only surface-level, or it might just be a worn decorative design. On the other hand, you might be looking at extensive structural damage from years of use and heavy weather.

Chipped edges are a little trickier to repair without making the driveway look uneven, but if it is a safety issue more than an aesthetic one, it can be done. Again, it all depends on you hiring a professional and reliable concreting company to do the right job.

Assessing the Damage

As with all decisions, the first step is to take a step backward. Look over your driveway and really try to figure out how much damage there is. Some questions you need to ask yourself:

How deep do the cracks go?
Is there no way to get that stain off?
Does any part of the driveway move when you walk on it?
Are you just dissatisfied with the way it looks?
This will help you understand what needs to be done and what your next move will be. If you’re still not totally sure, it may help to get an outside opinion from a friend, neighbor, or builder.

Your Three Options

When it comes to fixing a driveway, your two options are generally either resurfacing it or replacing it entirely. However, there is a third option: patching it with a little extra concrete where necessary.

Patching

If there’s only one hole or a surface-level crack, patching the concrete could be your best bet. This is both cheap and easy to do on your own, but you will need to be careful and make sure the hole doesn’t represent a bigger, structural problem.

The problem with patching is that, like most quick-fixes, it won’t last for very long. Water will find its way into the edges between the patch job and the driveway and will deepen the crack underneath it. You may find that you have to repeat the patch job every year as it fails. On top of that, if you rush the job, it won’t blend in with the rest of the concrete surface and look unattractive.

Resurfacing

As a way to cover small pits and holes and shallow cracks, resurfacing is the way to go. All this involves is laying a new level of concrete over the top of the driveway and adding a texture again if desired. Sometimes, the top level of the existing driveway will be ground down to make way for the new layer.

Note that this will not fix any big structural problems with the driveway—if the new surface is laying on a broken foundation, the same problems will appear further down the line. Having said that, this is a great way to refresh your driveway as well as cover up permanent stains, adding a lot to “curb appeal” and the value of your home, especially if you’re about to sell.

Replacing

The most drastic approach of the three is to rip out that old driveway and lay down a whole new one. You may not have a choice in the matter, here: If the surface has cracked all the way through and is showing signs of instability, this is the only safe option.

Obviously, this will be the most expensive option. On the other hand, getting an all-new driveway means you have the chance to change the shape, size, and design—to accommodate more cars, for example, or follow a different path.

Sticking to Your Budget

Probably the most important thing to most homeowners is the expense of repairing your driveway. Patching it is, by far, the cheapest way to fix up small issues, and replacing it entirely will cost you the same amount as installing a new driveway in the first place. Before you get started, you’ll have to consider how far your budget stretches.

Of course, you also have to factor in the longevity—how long the repair job will stand up for after it’s done. If a replacement driveway costs twice as much as a resurface, for example, but will last three times as long under pressure, then it’s probably worth it in the long run, especially if you’re planning to hand that house on to the next generation!

Source: ccsconcretedriveways

EJ & Jr Concrete is a family owned, all our work is guaranteed. No matter the size of your project, we are ready to do. Effective planning is crucial to the successful completion of any project. Before starting the project, our team of experts will first assess your goals. Then we provide you with an estimate and time-line for completion. From beginning to end you will be involved every step of the way call at +1 832-216-4950.

Concrete Driveway in Houston

Concrete Driveway in Houston, Concrete Patios in Houston, Concrete Sidewalk in Houston, Concrete Slab in Houston, Stamped Concrete Driveway in Houston, Stamped Concrete Patios in Houston, Stamped Concrete Sidewalk in Houston, Stamped Concrete Slab in Houston, Concrete Flatwork in Houston, Concrete Road Surface in Houston, Concrete Pool Deck in Houston, Concrete Garage in Houston, Concrete Interior Flooring in Houston, Concrete Foundation in Houston, Concrete Protection and Restoration in Houston, Stamped Concrete Flatwork in Houston, Stamped Concrete Road Surface in Houston, Stamped Concrete Pool Deck in Houston, Stamped Concrete Garage in Houston, Stamped Concrete Interior Flooring Stamped Concrete Foundation in Houston, Stamped Concrete Protection and Restoration in Houston, Stained Concrete Driveway in Houston, Stained Concrete Patios in Houston, Stained Concrete Sidewalk in Houston, Stained Concrete Slab in Houston, Stained Concrete Flatwork in Houston, Stained Concrete Road Surface in Houston, Stained Concrete Pool Deck in Houston, Stained Concrete Garage in Houston, Stained Concrete Interior Flooring in Houston, Stained Concrete Foundation in Houston, Stained Concrete Protection and Restoration in Houston, Epoxy Driveway in Houston, Epoxy Patios in Houston, in Houston, Epoxy Sidewalk Epoxy Slab in Houston, Epoxy Flatwork in Houston, Epoxy Road Surface in Houston, Epoxy Pool Deck in Houston, Epoxy Garage in Houston, Epoxy Interior Flooring in Houston, Epoxy Foundation in Houston, Epoxy Protection and Restoration in Houston.