Repairing Cracks in Concrete Driveways

Concrete driveways are very durable, and are the preferred choice of many homeowners. They do have their drawbacks, however. At some point, most driveways will develop a crack or two. To take care of your investment, some simple repair work can easily be accomplished by the average homeowner. Cracks in concrete occur for a number of reasons. One of the most common, unfortunately, is improper installation. A proper concrete pour should be outfitted with wire mesh and stabilizing rod called rebar. Unfortunately for the homeowner, you can’t go back in time to improve your driveway; you’ll need to work with what you have. Concrete that lacks the proper internal support can easily move once fractured. Also common for many areas of the country is movement of the ground. This can occur from shifting patterns of hot and cold, or wet and dry. Now that you understand some of the common causes, it’s important to understand the urgency of repair. Once a crack occurs, it is now susceptible to the elements. As rain penetrates the fracture, it can wash out supporting material such as dirt or sand. In cold climates it gets even worse. As water fills the void, and freezes, it forces the fracture wider and wider. Before we determine the method of repair, we’ll need to determine the severity of the damage.

Fine surface cracks

Very fine surface cracks are just the beginning. Without quick and proper care, they can quickly escalate. If the fracture is approximately 1/8″ or narrower, repair is best accomplished with a pre-mixed liquid filler. Most home centers carry bottles of liquid filler. Simply shake well, and slowly pour into the open fracture. This will seal the opening, and prevent the elements from entering.

Medium cracks

Medium fractures from 1/8″ to approximately 1/4″ can also be repaired with liquid filler. Also found in your home center is round foam cord. It usually comes in a few diameters. Choose one that is just a little wider than the crack width. Push into the void until you are about Ã?½” from the surface. This will help take up some of the volume. From there, fill with the liquid patch to perform your repair.

Large cracks

Any cracks over 1/2″ inch will require a more extensive repair. Unfortunately, it’s not just a matter of pouring in a little fresh concrete. New concrete does not bond well to old concrete. As a result, your repair will only last for a short time. A product that I have used in the past with excellent results comes from a company called Abatron. They offer ordering directly via their website, and were a pleasure to deal with. The product that I used is called AbocreteâÂ?¢, and is an epoxy base filler. This material not only fills the void, but also makes a bond to the existing concrete. Depending on the extent of the repair required, various quantity kits are available for purchase. AbocreteâÂ?¢ is supplied in a two part mix, and can also have sand added to help fill larger voids.

With a small amount of work from the average homeowner, the effects of mother nature on your driveway can be minimized with ease. The key is to act quickly before the damage becomes more extensive.