Repairing Driveway Cracks

Cracks in your driveway or sidewalk look awful, they are a safety hazard, and can devalue property. It is important to fix a crack as soon as you notice it to prevent it from expanding and destroying the whole section.

Before you get out the repair kit, you should examine the area to find the cause of the crack. It will not do much good to fix a crack if a tree root or puddle of water will continually leave a crack in the same spot. If you can, fix the problem before fixing the crack itself.

If a small crack is not fixed in a timely manner, the changing seasons and stress from usage will most definitely lead to a larger crack which is more difficult and more expensive to fix. Fixing a hairline crack in concrete or asphalt can be done with a sealer or caulk. It will not make the crack invisible, but it will look better and prevent it from expanding further over the winter months.

When a small crack turns into a large one, the process to fix it is more complicated. The crack needs to be properly cleaned (including removing dirt and debris) and the crack needs to be wider at the base and get narrow at the top. If this does not happen naturally, you will need to chisel the under side of the crack. This is done to keep the patching material inside the crack during temperature fluctuations.

A brick paver driveway is easy to fix when it cracks; but a cracked brick can be pried out and replaced. Once the cracked brick is removed and the area is cleaned, sand can be added and pressed into place. The new brick can then be placed on top and sand is used to fill around the sides.

Be proactive with maintenance and repair on your driveway, and you can put off the high cost of replacement for many years.