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How To Fix Cracks in Your Driveway: A Step-by-Step Guide
Let’s be honest! Cracks in your driveway do not look good and we have them in almost every single driveway here in Phoenix, Arizona. Even if you have just a small crack, it can have a big impact on the overall look of your home and its value. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to fix cracks in your driveway. Depending on the severity of the crack, there are some DIY fixes that you may be able to do yourself. Other times, you’ll need to hire an experienced contractor who knows how to repair driveways correctly. Whether you opt for DIY or professional services, here is everything you need to know about fixing cracks in your driveway…
Why do driveways crack?
There are a multitude of different things that can cause your driveway to crack in Phoenix and most of them are out of your control. Some examples would be settling, weight, tree root growth and probably the most impactful in Arizona would be the heat expansion. Driveways are often built with concrete that contains Portland cement as the main binder. When the cement mix dries, it shrinks, leaving tiny cracks in the surface. With regular usage, concrete surfaces often crack — sidewalks and driveways are no exception.
How to fix small cracks in your driveway
In most areas of the country people fix cracks in their driveway. For some reason in Phoenix, we don’t. However, fixing cracks in your driveway or sidewalks is not a complicated task and it should be done to prevent further damage. It also looks much better. Small cracks in your driveway can be fixed with a latex crack sealant. This is a two-step process that involves first cleaning the cracks with a wire brush to remove any loose particles. We use pressure washing at Az Pressure Wash and Windows. Then, apply the crack sealant to help prevent future cracks. After applying the crack sealant, you’ll need to let it dry and then you can seal it with a sealer. The sealer is a water-based paint that works as a protective shield against further damage. Some crack sealing products come with a built-in sealer, so make sure to read the directions carefully before applying.
DIY driveway patching fix
If your crack is deep enough and wide enough, you can fix it by pouring a driveway patching compound into the crack and tamping it down with a broom. Once the compound dries, you can paint the patch so that it blends with the rest of your driveway. To make sure this patch lasts, try to fill the crack with a compound that has high-quality Portland cement as an ingredient. Make sure you level off the surface after applying the compound and let it dry before using the driveway again.
Professional driveway repair
If you have a large crack in your driveway or you simply do not want to do this yourself, you may want to consider hiring Az Pressure Wash and Windows. For a driveway repair, we will start by pressure washing the concrete. We want to make sure the crack is clean so the compound adheres and we also want to remove any loose particles on the inside. We make any necessary adjustments to the surrounding concrete to make sure everything is level. We are going to enclose the cracks with a concrete filler and then follow it up with sealing everything off by applying a concrete sealant.
Cracks in your driveway can be unsightly and make your home feel unkempt. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to fix cracks in your driveway. Whether you opt for DIY or professional services, make sure to hire experienced contractors who know how to repair driveways correctly.