Having a patio can be a great addition to your home. However, when it starts to crack, it can really detract from the look of your home. The same thing goes for your driveway. If you’re starting to notice cracking, it’s best to follow the steps above to get it remedied sooner rather than later.
Start by Cleaning out Loose Debris
Unfortunately, many homeowners skip over this step and end up shortening the lifespan of their repair job. The first step that you want to take is to clean all of the loose debris out of the crack. Take a stiff-bristled brush and brush out all the excess debris in the crack. This will ensure that you have a clean surface to work with and that you can identify the actual extent of the damage to your driveway or patio.
Photo by Houston Concrete Staining
Measure the Depth of the Crack
It’s not uncommon for cracks to naturally occur in concrete due to the freezing and thawing cycle of the outdoors. While most small cracks can be easily patched, larger ones may require the expertise of a concrete company to remedy. A good rule of thumb is to measure the depth of the crack. If the crack is under one-quarter of an inch wide, then there likely isn’t any sort of underlying damage to your driveway or patio.
Get the Right Patch Product
If you head out to your local hardware store, there will be a variety of products available to fill in your crack. You’ll want to take some time and identify the right product for your surface. Depending on the material that you’re working with, you’ll need a patch product that is intended to work on that specific material. In addition, patches come in several different colors so that you can find one which blends with your existing patio or driveway material.
Photo by Houston Concrete Staining
Give It Time to Dry
One of the worst things you can do is use the driveway or patio area shortly after filling in the crack. You want to ensure that you’re giving it the proper time to dry to guarantee that the filler will last. There are some rapid-set compounds available at the hardware store that can speed up the drying time.
Photo by Concrete Repair Specialist
Repairing cracks in your driveway or patio should be on the top of your priority list. When you can catch them before they get too wide, you can easily repair them yourself. Just be sure to follow the tips above to ensure that your repair job turns out great.