The Various Techniques Used to Fix Damaged Concrete Driveways

Concrete material makes durable driveway paving. But with daily exposure to weather elements and vehicular traffic, any concrete driveway is bound to get damaged at some point. 

If you've installed a new concrete driveway in your home or commercial property, expect to see cracks, holes and other forms of damage on your paving over time. Knowing how to fix the damage is crucial to lengthening the lifespan of your driveway and getting the most out of it. 

Here are some common ways used to repair damaged concrete driveways. 

Patching

Patching involves filling in the small cracks, holes and divots on your concrete driveway to prevent further damage. Compared to the other repair methods, patching is easy and straightforward. 

The repair process involves cleaning the small cracks, holes and divots to remove any crumbled concrete, dirt or stones that may compromise the effectiveness of the patching compound. The patching compound is then applied and allowed enough time to dry and cure.

Although patching helps to extend the lifespan of driveway paving, it doesn't reinstate the initial uniform look of the entire paved surface.

Resurfacing

Resurfacing your concrete driveway is dictated by the extent of surface damage on your driveway. It is recommended when the cracks, holes and divots on your driveway are too large to be repaired through patching but too insignificant to necessitate complete removal and replacement of the pavement.

It is by far simpler and cheaper to resurface your driveway than to remove and replace it. Concrete resurfacing is an ideal repair option when you want to make your driveway look like new again.

Replacement

Although replacing a concrete driveway is the most expensive option when compared to patching and resurfacing, it is the best option for driveway paving that would be uneconomical to repair. If you notice large cracks forming across your entire driveway or deep holes in almost every part of the driveway, then it might be the right time to start planning for a replacement. 

Extensive damage to your concrete driveway may be a sign that the paving is reaching the end of its lifespan and needs to be removed and replaced. Otherwise, attempts to repair the driveway may be a waste of money as the repaired paving won't last long enough.

When in doubt about which repair method is best for you, ask a concrete driveway contractor to inspect your driveway paving and help you determine the most appropriate type of repair to undertake.