If your driveway is in need of a little TLC, now that the weather is warming up, it’s a perfect time to patch it up. You definitely want to patch driveway cracks because it will slow deterioration and keep moisture out. When moisture gets into your driveway it can cause expansion and contraction that works away at the concrete, further damaging it. Patching the cracks before they become a huge problem will give your driveway many more years of usefulness and will save you the time and money of a massive driveway overhaul. When you are getting ready to patch your driveway you should begin by finding and eliminating the origin of the problem. The most common causes of driveway cracks are roots and water. Once you are able to find and eliminate the source problem, it is time to prep the cracks. If there is grass or weeds growing up between the cracks in your driveway you should kill them with a strong herbicide and give them time to die. Make sure to kill them at the roots. Afterward, or if you don’t have plants, chisel off any loose pieces of concrete and use a wire brush to loosen debris. What you need to do is create a clean, solid surface so that the patching material will bind well. Once you’ve chiseled and brushed, use compressed air or a shop vac to clean all the dust, stones, etc. out of the crack. If your cracks are small, about a half inch in width or less, there are several easy options for sealing them, including concrete sealer, pourable concrete, and textured caulk. Just make sure you choose a product that will flex with the movement of the driveway, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions completely. For cracks that are wider than a ½ inch you need to chisel out a piece of the driveway under the crack so that the bottom portion of the crack is wider than the surface crack. This will keep the patching material stable so that it will stay fixed even with the expansion and contraction that concrete undergoes. Whatever option you use to seal the cracks, again, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and be sure to work in multiple steps of about ¼ inch of depth at a time to ensure that proper drying and shrinkage takes place so that the seal will hold tight. When you are finished patching your cracks be sure to blend the sealer with the surrounding area with a brush or broom to form a good seal.
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.