Is your concrete driveway dragging the curb appeal of your home into the gutter? It is amazing how much this simple surface can affect the appearance and resale potential of your property. If you feel let down by how your driveway looks, you can choose to repair or replace your concrete driveway. Read on to learn which of these options is right for you.
Why a concrete driveway surface breaks down
You can typically expect a well-constructed concrete driveway to last between 20 and 40 years. But extending its life and getting the most value out of this surface requires some maintenance. After all, your driveway is under a lot of ongoing daily pressure.
Vehicle traffic and parked cars put a lot of weight on your driveway. This surface performs this duty without looking like it is under pressure. But along with weather, erosion, tree roots and oil leaks, this burden is a lot to bear. Soon, you notice cracks, potholes, drainage problems, stains and other signs of age that make your entire home façade look shabby.
Should you repair or replace this worn out surface? That is a good question. While it is one best answered by your Raleigh, NC area concrete driveway contractor, we have some helpful information, here.
Signs you should repair or replace your concrete driveway
Some of the key signs indicating you should repair or replace your concrete driveway include:
- Cracks
- Drainage problems
- Potholes
- Stains
- Worn out or weathered appearance
- Uneven surfaces
Deciding to repair or replace your concrete driveway
Most people want to put off replacing their driveway, for as long as possible. This can cost you a lot of money. But in many cases, the investment pays off for decades. Still, if you prefer to repair your existing concrete driveway, your concrete driveway contractor can help. In fact, resurfacing a concrete driveway offers a lot of options like getting a new driveway installed, such as through stamped concrete, colors, patterns, textures and finishes.
So how do you know whether to repair or replace your concrete driveway? Consider some of these points, below:
Surface cracking
If your existing driveway has obvious cracks, this surface is no longer performing as it should. You must do something about the cracking or you will face bigger issues soon. For cracks under 1/4-inch wide, you can choose to repair your concrete driveway. But for cracks larger than 1/4-inch, it is time to replace.
If you try to repair a driveway with substantial cracks over 1/4-inch wide, you will only continue to face these problems. Large cracks are where water seeps into the concrete. Repairing the surface will not keep this water out. Because Raleigh often experiences below-freezing weather in winter, the seeping water freezes and causes even more destruction deep in the pavement. For large cracks, you really have little choice but to replace your concrete driveway.
Drainage problems
When you have your concrete driveway professionally designed and installed by an expert concrete contractor, you do not have to worry about drainage. But a poorly constructed driveway can have water pooling or draining problems. This is the case if you notice puddles on your pavement surface after rain or washing your car. You can also possibly notice water that runs across or down your driveway, causing problems for your landscaping or other areas.
Drainage problems eventually cause potholes and cracks in the surface, while degrading the overall structure of your driveway. Your concrete contractor can offer advice regarding your particular drainage issues and whether to repair or replace your concrete. They can possibly install strip drains, replace drain pipes or add curbing to help with drainage, too.
Driveway age
Your driveway age is another factor affecting whether you can repair or replace your concrete surface. Most concrete driveways are built to last about three decades. You can expect your properly designed one to stay in good shape for 20 to 40 years. As it ages toward its lifetime limit it is generally better to replace a driveway, instead of trying to repair it.
If your driveway is 25 or more years old, repairing it will provide no real value. But if it is younger and looks tired or ugly, think about resurfacing. Your concrete contractor can lay a new surface on top of the old one, if the structure of your driveway is sound. They can provide a smooth standard light gray surface, colored or polished concrete, or stamped concrete. Stamped concrete gives you many options for patterns, textures, finishes and colors.
Resurfacing an old driveway immediately gives your home's curb appeal a boost. Of course, the same is true with a newly installed driveway, too.
Call the experts to know whether to repair or replace your concrete driveway
TrulyHome Concrete has provided Raleigh, North Carolina area residents with concrete driveway repair and replacement services for years. You only need to check out our online reviews to see how hard we work to make our customers happy. If you have questions about whether to repair or replace your concrete driveway, schedule a consultation with us today. We will provide a free quote and help you understand your driveway design options. Call TrulyHome Concrete at (919)-591-8993, email us at trulyhomenc@gmail.com or fill out our simple online form for a prompt reply.
