What You Need to Upgrade or Repair Your Driveway

Is your driveway starting to show its age? Maybe it has cracks, holes, stains, or other signs of wear and tear. Your driveway is a part of the exterior of your home, meaning it can be a contributing factor to the curb appeal of your property. It’s one of the first things people notice when looking at your home, and that can be a benefit or a detractor depending on the state it’s in. Not to mention how holes, cracks, or stains make your driveway cumbersome to drive on or get work done on it. All of these are reasons for why it’s important to repair or renew your driveway when signs of age start to show. Below are some tips for getting started.

Repairing a Driveway

You can repair cracks of any size in your driveway with asphalt or concrete, depending on which material your driveway is made from, or you can incorporate special materials meant for simply patching the worst areas. These other options for concrete include crack filler and sealer products, which are common, and they get the job done efficiently for cracks up to 3/8 of an inch wide.

Photo by Martone Remodeling

When it comes to deeper cracks and large holes in your concrete driveway, it is best to first fill them with gravel and then pour in some concrete. After that, you can use a magnesium float and finish it with a broom so your patch is smoothed into the existing material. For extra protection, you can seal it with a half and half mix of mineral spirits and linseed oil to keep water out.

When repairing an asphalt driveway, remove the debris from cracks with a hose and spray them with weed killer. Fill your cracks with sand within ¼ of an inch of the surface and then coat them with asphalt. Be sure that the outside temperature is at least 60°F so it will properly cure.

Refinishing your Driveway

When working with concrete, you must first break up the entire existing slab before resurfacing your driveway. It cannot be poured on top reliably, so a new slab must be formed. However, asphalt only requires a new base and a new finish coat to be added on top of the existing driveway. Just remember that garages and doorways may require a bit of excavation before the refinishing so the surface doesn’t become too thick, sticking doors shut.

Photo by Schafer Construction, Inc.

Upgrading your Driveway

Instead of just plain ole concrete, you can mix it up by using stamped and colored concrete that looks just like various stones, or try concrete colored by acid-staining or added pigments. To spice up your asphalt, you can use pattern stamped varieties, acrylic coloring, or chip seal with gravel added for texture.

Photo by Driveway Plus & Design

If you are looking for something completely different from what you had, consider crushed stones from a stone gravel supplier such as limestone, granite, and shale. It is affordable and long-lasting, and they come in a myriad of colors. Or, if you want something classy and old-fashioned, try cobblestone, which comes in several patterns and shapes. The best part is that the material can last up to a century without any retouching.

In conclusion, there are many ways to repair or refresh your driveway. After all, you want your home to have maximum curb appeal. You also want a safe place to park your car and for your kids to play, so consider an upgrade today.