A new driveway can significantly improve curb appeal. But installing one is a project best left to professionals. Choose a contractor at https://concretecontractorcoloradosprings.com/ who specializes in the surface material you select. Get estimates from three contractors and check their references. Asphalt is the least expensive option, at $3 to $7 per square foot, followed by gravel and then concrete.
Cracks
Concrete is one of the strongest construction materials, but over time it can develop cracks that will eventually compromise its load-bearing capacity. Depending on the size and severity of the cracks, they may be easily repaired or they might lead to more significant problems. Small cracks can indicate a variety of issues, such as that the driveway foundation was not correctly graded to allow water to move away from it.
Driveway foundations are usually built up of a layer of crushed gravel or road base, which is compacted to form a hard surface before concrete is poured on top. If the ground beneath the driveway settles for any reason, such as if tree roots decompose or if a utility line was laid in the area before construction, it can create stress on the pavement and cause cracking.
Large cracks in the driveway are more serious and should be addressed immediately. These types of cracks can indicate that the driveway has lost its structural integrity, posing a safety risk for pedestrians and vehicles. If left untreated, the cracks can widen and deteriorate further, leading to a collapsed or sunken section of the driveway.
Small cracks can be repaired using a concrete or asphalt filler. A concrete sealant with a non-sag consistency is the best choice, since it will blend into the existing slab and hide any unsightly cracks. These products are available in a variety of colors to match your driveway, and are easy to apply with a caulking gun or a rubber squeegee.
When repairing hairline cracks, choose a sunny day to do the work so that the cracks can warm up and soften. Clean the cracks thoroughly, removing dirt, debris and weeds. Ensure the cracks are free of moisture, then use a product such as Quikrete Polymer Modified Structural Repair mixed with Acrylic Fortifier to fill and sculpt the cracked edges of the driveway. This repair mix is easily shaped and can be rolled with a rolling pin to reform the edges of the driveway. Follow the instructions carefully for this type of repair.
Potholes
Potholes are the scourge of any asphalt driveway, parking lot or roadway. They’re deep depressions in the pavement that can range in size from a basketball-sized hole to a few feet across or more. They can be quite dangerous for drivers, not only because they pose a tripping hazard but also because they jostle the car’s tires and suspension, creating damage and making it difficult to maintain control of the vehicle.
Most potholes are caused by rainwater that seeps through the pavement and erodes the base beneath it. The resulting craters are exacerbated by repeated driving over the area. In gravel driveways, the hole can be made even bigger by the water and ice from melting snow that thaws and re-freezes in the winter.
If you want to repair potholes in your driveway, there are a few things you need to know. First, be sure to clean out the holes as much as possible. Use a shovel or rake to remove any loose dirt or debris in the area and be sure to dig out any areas of deteriorating asphalt as well. Next, wet the driveway with a hose so that surface imperfections are easier to spot.
Before you begin to fill the potholes, you should heat up the asphalt around them with a flame torch (or a propane torch if that’s what you have handy). This will help to bond the patch aggregate to the existing asphalt and make it last longer. Just be sure not to overheat the asphalt and burn or scorch it, as this will cause more problems in the future.
After you’ve filled the pothole, you should compact it down to be sure it holds firmly in place and isn’t easily displaced by cars passing over it. You can use a tamper for this purpose or just drive over the area several times until it looks and feels level with the surrounding pavement surfaces.
Leaving potholes in your driveway can be hazardous to the health of your vehicle and the other vehicles that drive over it. The best thing to do is to repair them as soon as you can, as this will save you money on vehicle repairs and other related expenses.
Sunken Sections
Concrete is an incredibly strong, useful material for many things, including driveways. Unfortunately, even though it has a lifespan of up to 30 years or more, the concrete in your driveway can eventually begin to sink. This can be caused by a number of issues, from soil erosion to underlying drainage problems. Often, the issue is exacerbated by vehicles that have been driven over a damaged surface, causing the soil to shift.
The best way to solve this problem is to have the sunken sections of your driveway leveled out by a professional. Using a process called slabjacking, our professionals drill holes through your sunken concrete and pump a wet substance under it. Originally, this process was done with mud, which is where the name comes from. However, today it’s often performed with cement and rock for more durability.
This lifts the sunken section of your concrete and helps prevent it from sinking again. While this does help, it doesn’t address the underlying problems, which means that your sunken sections may return in the future.
If you have a large vehicle, such as an RV, in your driveway, it is essential to find alternative places to park it. Larger vehicles can create a lot of pressure on the concrete, which will cause it to shift and sink over time. In addition, erosion and poor yard drainage are common causes of shifting and sinking driveways.
Erosion can wash away the soil under a concrete driveway, creating a space underneath that allows it to sink. Erosion can also be caused by poor yard maintenance, clogged gutters and downspouts, and poorly compacted soil.
While sealing your concrete driveway can be a good idea, it won’t help with sunken sections or other areas of damage. To address these issues, you need to have the area leveled and rebuilt with a new driveway base and surface. This is a very costly solution, but it is the best option if you want to ensure that your sunken sections don’t return in the future. Alternatively, you can choose to have the sunken section lifted by using mudjacking or foam injection, which are less costly but will not address the underlying problems that led to the sinking.
Rough Edges
A driveway with a crisp, finished edge isn’t just attractive; it provides strength and durability. Without a clear boundary, the concrete can degrade into the softer soil adjacent to it and sink in during vehicle loading. A professional installer can repair crumbling asphalt edges by recompacting the underlying base, adding more aggregate and then laying new pavement. It’s much less expensive than tearing out the entire driveway and starting from scratch.
A well-defined edge of the driveway also prevents visitors from driving into your lawn, which can damage your grass and other plants. You can dress up your driveway edging with landscaping stone, bricks or even stamped concrete to add a touch of elegance and enhance curb appeal.
If you’re on a budget, you can use a landscape material like gravel or crushed rock to define the edge of your driveway. It is inexpensive and easy to install and maintain; just sweep away debris and replace any stones that become loose. However, using a soft material such as this can be inviting to weeds, so layering the gravel with a weed-blocking fabric is recommended.
You can also use a more durable material such as masonry or aluminum strip to create a clean, crisp edge of your driveway. These types of materials are available at most home improvement centers and are relatively inexpensive. They’re also a good choice for curved driveways. Just be sure to follow proper installation techniques. Dig a trench slightly deeper than the thickness of the edging and make sure it’s straight and level, and that it sits flush with the asphalt.
Wood edging isn’t as robust as masonry or strip, so heavy rainfall may wash it away. It’s best to set this type of edging deep into the soil and secure it with stakes, and to check it regularly for loose or missing pieces.
When choosing a contractor to work on your driveway, be sure to ask them how they plan to address the edges of your driveway. Reputable and honest contractors will take the time to finish the job properly. An unethical contractor might cut corners in order to get the job done fast and cheaply.