It’s hard to think of something you might want to see less than a deep crack starting to form in your driveway. As a property owner with a ton already on your plate, the idea of dealing with a concrete driveway repair in the middle of everything else can be a big inconvenience at best, or hugely daunting at worst.
Rest easy, because dealing with this is not as tough as it sounds. Repairing the crack–or indeed, cracks–in your concrete driveway properly comes down to knowing how severe they are, and then picking the right approach. In this blog post, that’s exactly what you’ll learn, so read on!
Why Concrete Driveway Repair is So Important
Even the smallest cracks in your driveway can grow into deeper, wider, bigger problems when left unattended. This is because cracks let water into your driveway’s structure, weakening it over time and leading to things like potholes, heaving, or even a full-scale degradation of the entire surface.
New Zealand also demands that your driveway puts up a real fight, because our weather conditions here can be very unpredictable. Even small cracks can get worse quickly, so it’s important to repair issues even faster than the water can get in.
How to Repair a Minor Driveway Crack
When it comes to concrete driveway repair, a crack less than 3mm wide that doesn’t show signs of deep structural damage is likely a surface-level issue. If you want to tackle it on your own, you can.
But before you do, make absolutely sure there is no deeper structural issue giving rise to the crack (a professional concrete driveway repair assessment can help if you are unsure). Missing deeper issues can only spread the problem.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to do:
- Clean the area. Clean and smooth it using a wire brush or a high-pressure hose. You don’t want any debris in the crack.
- Use a concrete crack filler. Follow the instructions to fill in the crack and prevent any further water from getting into your driveway.
- Reseal your entire driveway. Cracks are the first sign that your driveway is starting to age, so it’s important to keep water out and ensure stability and strength. Resealing your driveway can help significantly with this (there are both DIY and professional methods available).
Once you’re done, make sure to keep an eye on the area, especially after Aotearoa throws one of its big storms at your driveway. If more cracks appear or the one you dealt with just gets worse, then you’re likely dealing with a deeper issue.
Major Concrete Driveway Repair: Our Recommendations
But what about major repairs? If your driveway has cracks spiderwebbing up and down, has major cracks much larger than 5mm wide, is visibly sinking in places, or won’t drain water, then you likely have a bigger job on your hands. This is when we always recommend calling in a professional to inspect the issue.
How to spot a major concrete driveway repair.
Even the best driveway construction will eventually start to show signs of age, but it’s clear that major concrete driveway repairs are needed when:
- Cracks are wider than 5mm or keep coming back after patching.
- The driveway is uneven or has sunken sections.
- There are multiple cracks forming from one another, or in different spots.
- Potholes or surface spalling (losing gravel) are turning up.
These signs can all point to some pretty serious failures in the foundation of your driveway, subpar drainage, or a slipping sub-base.
What to do next:
The best thing to do next is to take a thorough look at the extent of the damage. Concrete driveway repairs are sometimes complex, so provide as much data as possible to your incoming repair time by heading out to measure cracks or take some photographs. This will help determine whether spot repairs are possible or if resurfacing the entire area is best.
From there, call in your local concrete driveway repair specialists to get your driveway assessed. This is always the best port of call, as we can inspect the sub-base to diagnose any underlying issues and recommend the best course of action. If you don’t already have the equipment and expertise necessary, tackling a major concrete driveway repair alone is often more expensive than calling in the pros.
Once the inspection is finished, your team may recommend anything from resurfacing to help with the cracks and seals, or they may suggest replacing some of the most damaged sections. If your driveway is severely damaged, they might recommend removing it and starting again.
There you have it! Everything you need to know about basic crack repair, what a seriously damaged driveway looks like, and how to tackle that old cracked driveway. When in doubt, getting a professional to assess your driveway can be helpful and save you a lot of money. Whatever you do, move quickly and carefully, as allowing water to get into your driveway can only make the problem worse.
Need a concrete driveway repair? We are here to help.
Asphalt & Civil are your local concrete driveway repair experts, offering a quick and cost-effective service to get your driveway back in working order. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, we can help with your repair.
Get in touch to arrange a fast, free quote on your project today.