Some tips on Having a Concrete Driveway Repaired

By Kim Pirman


Usually, those home owners who have concrete driveways are rarely repairing their driveways especially when they are being well maintained. Although you have to know that despite its quality, still there are some reasons wherein repair is needed for concrete highways. Concrete highways are always exposed to the different weather everyday which is why it is one of the primary reasons for its break down over time. At times the repair may be minimal; however there are damages which tear the concrete completely apart making a complete repair very much necessary.

In hiring a contractor

Usually, however the situation may look; homeowners always hire a contractor for the job to be done smoothly and properly. Usually, however the situation may look; homeowners always hire a contractor for the job to be done smoothly and properly. It is most fitting to call the contractor who first installed the driveway as much as possible.References may be asked only when the first to call is not accessible. You can also call the local directory services for a list of contractors within the area. When talking in the phone about the problem, you can get quotes and job references as well. Check with the references always.

Because of the constant changes in the weather, the concrete surfaces tend to expand and concrete will be contracted, which is mainly the reason why there are cracks and chippings which develop over time. Likewise, when the weather is hot, concrete expands, and when the weather is cold, concrete will contract. The minor cracks appear, while those small areas of the concrete surface tend to chip away due to the rapid change of weather from hot to cold, and then exchange right back again. The concrete will be much stressed and develop problems after a certain period of time.

The different major concrete driveway repairs

When the small cracks are not treated as soon as possible, larger cracks will develop making the problem worse. These larger cracks demand a major repair. When there will be buckling of the concrete, then a major repair must also be needed. It is another common cause of major repair. You get to observe that the concrete tends to buckle once the concrete surface sinks beneath the soil. They tend to sink because of the freezing water under the concrete during winter causing the rise up or bulging up. The water under the concrete may cause the soil to sink causing the concrete to form a slight trough. This is usually happening during summer. This trough now is responsible in cracking the concrete from within and causes its strength to diminish. As time passes by, such buckling will shatter the concrete which will cause the small areas of the concrete to form bowls.

What is now the best solution for this? Basically it is best to rip away the old concrete and prepare the ground surface again, preferably with reinforcement like small concrete piles. Through this, the driveway can be still usable.

The different minor concrete driveway repairs

Most often than not, home owners call for minor repair when they see small cracks and chip to the surface of the concrete. No matter how minor it may seem to be, it is very important to be able to fix the problem. Leaving them like this can develop into serious problems which require already major repairs for these concrete highways. The work is plainly simple cementing in the affected area or applying other bonding agents that are available at most hardware stores when it will be a minor repair which will be given to the concrete.




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