A sinking, cracking driveway will damage your curb appeal and promote water intrusion, and it will only get worse with time. Water intrusion can cause severe damage to concrete, and even minor defects can turn into total structural failure when ignored. If you allow your driveway to deteriorate long enough, you could end up needing a costly total replacement.
Addressing your damaged driveway as soon as possible allows you to avoid significant expenses down the road. If your driveway is starting to deteriorate and you don’t want to replace it, here’s what you can do.
- Lift sunken sections of concrete
Sinking concrete slabs are usually caused by soil erosion or water washing away the material underneath the driveway. But when this happens, you don’t necessarily need to spend thousands of dollars to replace your driveway. There are techniques that can lift sunken slabs up to their original height at a fraction of the cost. For example, mudjacking and polyurethane foam injection techniques will fill the void under your sunken slabs to raise them back into the proper position. This option will last for years and can cost between 50-75% less than a total replacement.
Lifting the concrete stabilizes the material underneath and provides the structure needed to prevent further settling. Leveling your concrete also improves water drainage and reduces damage from water intrusion. Perhaps the best benefit is the lack of disruption. Foam injections cure in hours rather than days so you can use your driveway the same day the project is completed.
- Seal cracks to keep water out
Don’t ignore those hairline cracks. They may seem harmless but they create pathways for water to enter the subgrade. Once water gets under the concrete or asphalt, damage will increase more rapidly with each freeze-thaw cycle. Water expands as it freezes, and when water expands in a crack, it will start to break up the surrounding material. That’s why you need to seal cracks right away. A good seal also prevents weeds from growing in the cracks. Weeds are the enemy here. Even dandelions can put pressure on the surrounding slabs and contribute to the overall damage.
Crack sealants are extremely cheap at just a few bucks per linear foot compared to the thousands of dollars you’d spend to replace a slab. Although sealing cracks won’t address any structural issues, it will slow down the deterioration.
- Improve drainage
According to the American Society of Civil Engineerspoor drainage is a primary cause of pavement failure. Poor drainage can destroy a driveway fast by causing slabs to sink and creating voids that lead to uneven surfaces.
Standing water weakens materials, erodes the soil, and causes cracking. You can remedy drainage problems by installing channel drains, swales, and adjusting grading if possible. Poor drainage is a problem you can’t afford to ignore because it can impact the foundation under your garage and cause extensive damage that requires fixing more than just your driveway.
- Resurface instead of rebuilding
When surface damage is extensive, but the structure of your driveway is solid, resurfacing might be the best choice. This allows you to restore the function and aesthetics of your driveway without having to replace or repair the slabs.
Resurfacing a driveway adds a new layer of material over the existing driveway to cover the damage and make the surface stronger. This solution can extend the life of your driveway by a decade or more and costs half as much as installing new concrete. However, it’s not recommended if you’re dealing with major structural problems.
- Reinforce the edges of your slabs
The edges of your driveway are most vulnerable to damage because they aren’t supported as well as the rest of the sections. If your edges start to crumble and crack, those cracks can spread and compromise the whole slab. You can solve this problem by having the edges professionally reinforced.
- Fix surface spalling right away
Spalling happens when a concrete surface flakes or chips. This is usually caused by freeze-thaw cycles or de-icing chemicals. It looks ugly but it can also create a trip hazard and damage your tires. Repairing these areas immediately will keep water out and eliminate the hazards.
Fixing problems early protects your property value
When your driveway starts deteriorating, it’s best to fix it right away, whether you invest in a full replacement or choose smaller repairs like lifting, sealing, resurfacing, or improving drainage. Acting fast will restore aesthetics while protecting surrounding structures and preserving property value.