Concrete Driveway Repair: When to DIY and When to Call a Professional
When it comes to concrete driveway repair, you should never procrastinate. Problems will often get bigger if you wait. Handy homeowners can do some of these repairs themselves unless they are too widespread or due to major structural issues. Here are the most common concrete driveway repairs.
Performing Minor DIY Repairs
Temporary fix for cracks
Isolated cracks in a driveway will often only need minor filling work. Concrete caulk is an excellent temporary fix to keep a minor crack from spreading. It is a particularly good idea in the winter when the conditions are not ideal for concrete work, however, water will slip into a crack, freeze and expand when the crack is not filled.
More permanent repair
For a more permanent repair, chisel out a gap that is bigger at the top than the bottom, this will prevent the filler from pushing upwards. Put some latex bonding glue in to fill the gap with a patching compound. When dealing with deep cracks, you may want to fill the gap with some sand to block water out.
Deal with frost heave
Frost heave can create more work, however, it is still a straightforward DIY job for homeowners. In winter climates, the expanding frozen soil will often push up concrete. Remove the areas that have popped out and either repair or replace the subbase.
Fill small holes
Cut straight edges then fill it with vinyl-reinforced patching compound in layers and wait approximately 30 minutes between each layer. The top layer needs to be slightly higher than the surface, and remember to feather the edges beyond the hole.
For information pertaining to the concrete driveway repair services and products that H&M Concrete has to offer you, please do not hesitate to dial this number (361) 208-0315 now, or within our working hours, we are based in the Robstown, TX area.