How to Repair Cracks in Concrete Driveways – Best Crack Fillers
Repairing cracks in your concrete driveway allows you to preserve its lifespan and enjoy a smooth driving experience. It also protects your driveway against absorbing moisture and expanding its damage. You can fix the cracks if your concrete driveway still has some solid foundation. Rather than getting professionals to rip out the entire driveway, repairing and resurfacing will help you save costs, energy, and time.
Concrete driveway cracks develop due to extreme weather conditions, heavy traffic, elevated surfaces, bad placement procedures, a bad subgrade, or a wrong concrete mix. Concrete patching compound is ideal for filling and sealing large cracks in concrete. Most patching products require water before being applied with a trowel. They can be textured and smoothed to fit in with the environment and have a grout-like texture.
Despite being a sturdy material, concrete driveways degrade and get cracks over time. In this article, our team of experts explains how to repair cracks in the concrete driveway and the best repair products to promote sustainability and improve your driveway’s value. If you need to fill cracks in your concrete, this article is for you!
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Should cracks in driveways be repaired?
Different paving materials have an expected lifespan, and no matter how solid they are, they will eventually deteriorate or crack when they start to age. Taking immediate action when your driveway starts to crack will help preserve its lifespan. Cracks in driveways should be repaired as soon as possible to stop them from expanding and absorbing moisture. There are many benefits of repairing your concrete driveways, some of these include the following;
Prolongs lifespan
Concrete driveway repair will extend your driveway lifespan. It will strengthen your driveway. Concrete has proven to withstand pressure but can deteriorate without proper sealing and maintenance.
It is Cost Effective
Most people frown at repairing their driveway cracks because they believe it is expensive. Well, fixing one crack isn’t as expensive as fixing two, and fixing two cracks won’t cost as much as fixing more or completely replacing your driveway. The earlier you decide to fix your concrete driveway cracks, the better it will be. The concrete driveway repair cost is way cheaper than replacing the entire driveway.
Concrete Driveway Repair Increases the beauty of your driveway
The beauty of a home doesn’t end indoors. It starts from your driveway and extends all the way. When your guest drives in and sees all the cracks, they can judge the credibility of your business or your ability to care for your home. Don’t leave cracks behind when you can fix the cracks in your driveways immediately.
Driveway repair protects you from injury
Our driveway is one of the most used areas of our homes and businesses. It’s where we park our cars and sometimes even spend a long time relaxing. For some, their driveways are their safest haven and even their creative zone. You will want to be safe when driving in, driving out, or walking in. Fixing your driveway cracks will prevent you from injuries and accidents. It will also protect your automobiles.
Concrete driveway repair improves the value of your building
If you ever want to sell your property, a good driveway will boost its price and add value to your home. Your driveway should be one area you should pay attention to and ensure it stays great at all times.
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Can cracks in concrete driveways be repaired?
You can always repair and resurface your concrete driveway when you find any damaged parts. A DIY concrete repair might look a bit tough, but it’s always fun to do alone or with your family. When you pay careful attention and do the right things, you will have a perfect area. We do not always advise replacing the entire area as it may cost you so much. However, resurfacing or repairing the area will save you and your guest from injuries. It will also protect your automobiles from any form of driveway accidents.
Cracks can be caused by freezing and thawing, tree root growth, year expansion, heavyweight, and traffic. This article will show you how to repair your driveway cracks all by yourself and if you need a professional assistant, we will be here to guide you through it.
How to Repair Cracks in Concrete Driveway – What is the best way?
Installation of concrete on your driveway will help you save replacement costs, and it will also last a long time; however, when it starts to wear out, you will need to fix and repair the damaged part. Below are some easy steps that will guide you through the process.
Step one
The first step to repairing your concrete driveway cracks is to choose the repair products you will need to use. People always find this process to be a bit confusing as they have to decide on which product is the best for their concrete pavement. Options for concrete fillers include latex, epoxy compounds, and mortar mixes.
Step Two
Clean the cracked surface and ensure it is void of debris, plant, or object. Knock away any loose concrete and ensure your chip the cracked surface until you get an even plane. You can use a pressure washer to clean your driveway and every crack thoroughly. Ensure to remove mold, mildew, and dirt before you proceed.
Step Three
Pour and fill your desired concrete filler on the crack. Another alternative is to mix concrete with water into a thick consistency or paste. You can now use this paste to fill up every crack and damaged area.
Step Four
Smoothen the surface gently. Push the concrete mix or filler into the cracks using a flat-edge trowel. Don’t forget to use the trowel to remove excess concrete or filler from the areas. Smooth to patch and ensure all the areas are leveled.
Step Five
Allow to dry or let your filler cure as directed by the manufacturer of the fillers you purchase.
Step Six
To further protect your driveway from more damage, you can decide to seal the entire pavement or resurface the driveway with a mixture of cement and water. Spread, resurface and work it over with a squeegee until the driveway is completely coated. Use a broom with an extended handle over your resurfaced driveway; this will prevent your resurfaced driveway from becoming slippery.
Step Seven
The finishing step is to allow your driveway to dry for at least six hours before you drive or part on it.
Now that you know how to repair cracks in concrete driveway, we can have a look at the best products to fill in cracks.
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- How long before you can drive on a sealed driveway?
- Gravel Driveway on a Slope
- New Asphalt Driveway Issues
What are the best products to fill in cracks in a concrete driveway?
We understand how difficult it is for you to decide how to repair cracks in your concrete driveway and which protection is the best. However, there are several factors to consider before choosing a filler. Factors like the cracks’ size, the slab’s direction, and the type of foundation all affect the choice and type of filler to be used.
PC product 22 oz. PC -Xtreme Joint and Crack Fill
This concrete filler is used for patching cracks and holes. It’s best used to permanently bond concrete together. It doesn’t wear down over time and has no harsh fumes during or after application.
Rust-Oleum 24 oz. Concrete Patch and Repair Kit
If you have a crack that’s not so deep, Rust-Oleum will bond the concrete together and prevent the cracks from widening. It is fast drying, stable, and resists shrinking and cracking over time.
PC products 102 oz. Concrete Repair and Anchor Epoxy
Concrete repair and anchor epoxy gel have great strength and a big heat deflection temperature of 134°F. This anchor epoxy is your best solution for cracks caused by free-thaw cycles, wet holes, and traffic at elevated temperatures. For permanent concrete repairs, this is the best filler you need.
Crack-Stix – 125 ft. Medium Gray Permanent Concrete Joint and Crack Filler
This filler keeps your concrete smooth and even. Crack-Stix is applied with a hand-held touch, producing heat that allows it to bond to the sidewalls of the damaged areas. Another advantage of concrete joint and crack filler is that it expands and contracts with weather to keep your concrete driveway safe.
Quikrete 40 lb. Vinyl Concrete Patch Repair
Vinyl concrete patch repair is used to smooth repair around thin, cracked areas. It is made of a special blend of fine sand, resin, and Portland cement. Vinyl concrete patch repair has very strong adhesive properties.
See More:
- How to Remove Oil Stains from an Asphalt Driveway
- When Should you Replace Asphalt Driveway
- Driveway Paving Cost Calculator
Conclusion
Now that you have found a way to repair and resurface your concrete driveway, it’s time to get to work. If you find any of these steps very complicated or are unsure about doing it yourself, we advise you to seek a professional to fix your driveway. If your driveway is always cracking, you must check for any underlying structural problems, especially if you have noticed any elevated area around cracks.
Further Reading
If you already have pavement made of asphalt and are looking for pointers for maintaining and fixing your floor’s cracks, this article might be less useful. We also have an easy-to-read and informative guide on mending the cracks on your asphalt driveway. Click here and get that driveway fixed before it becomes a bigger headache.
