A well-maintained driveway serves both function and style. Keeping up with the repairs, filling cracks, lifting sunken slabs, and sealing your concrete driveway helps to preserve your property’s structural integrity and appearance.
Repairing and resurfacing are great options for improving the look of your driveway, but when it’s time for a replacement, what are your best choices? Contact Driveway Repair Charleston SC now!
A crack in the driveway is unsightly and may indicate a larger problem with your soil or foundation. This is why it’s important to address cracks as soon as they appear. The longer you wait, the worse they’ll get and the more expensive it will be to repair them.
Asphalt and concrete driveways can crack for a number of reasons. Poor site preparation, for example, can lead to early cracking, as can water in the base layer and improper curing. Oftentimes, the concrete or asphalt isn’t properly compacted before it’s laid. This allows the ground beneath to shift and cause cracking over time.
Weather can also play a role in asphalt cracks, especially in climates with freeze, thaw, and refreeze cycles. Moisture gets into the cracks, expands, and then erodes the surface of the driveway.
Other causes of cracks in your driveway include the weight of vehicles (especially large trucks and buses), improper placement of control joints, and poor construction. If you notice a sagging section of your driveway, it’s likely due to poor construction and is a good candidate for replacement.
If you see a crack in your driveway, you should first clean the area thoroughly to prevent dirt and other debris from getting into the cracked areas. Afterwards, use a crack filler to fix the area. For smaller cracks, a rubberized asphalt-emulsion crack filler is best. This type of filler has self-leveling properties and can be applied with a caulking gun. For larger cracks, a polyurethane or acrylic crack filler will work best.
Once the cracks have been filled, you should let them set for a few hours before driving on the driveway again. If the cracks aren’t fixed quickly, they will widen and can create trip hazards for pedestrians. Larger cracks are also a safety risk for people who use wheelchairs or walkers because they can catch on them and pull them away from the surface of the driveway.
A well-maintained, crack-free driveway not only increases curb appeal, but it also adds to your home’s value. If your driveway is in disrepair, reach out to us today to schedule an inspection. Our specialized concrete lifting methods can stabilize and restore your driveway to its original condition.
Potholes
Potholes in your driveway aren’t just unsightly, they can damage vehicles and create a tripping hazard for anyone who ventures over them. It’s important to identify potholes and fix them as soon as possible before they get bigger and cause more damage. The sooner you do this, the easier it will be to repair the damage and prevent further deterioration of your driveway.
Pothole formation starts with water seepage in an unprotected area of your asphalt pavement. Over time, the water erodes the surface, leaving an unsaturated area beneath. During the winter, this area freezes and expands, which causes the asphalt to crack. Then, as the snow melts and rain falls, the water seeps through the cracked areas of your driveway and creates a pothole.
To remove and repair potholes, start by using a shovel to dig out the old, damaged sections of your driveway. Dig until you reach stable subsoil and then clear out any rotting debris or other foreign matter that may have contributed to the pothole’s formation. Then, if your driveway is gravel, fill the pothole with coarse gravel up to three inches below the existing driveway level. Compact the gravel with a steel tamper or a wooden 4×4 (or a homemade substitute, such as a nail on the end of a four-foot long 2×4).
If your driveway is blacktop, use a high-performance blacktop repair mix that includes stone and an asphalt binder to fill the pothole. Add the material in 2- to 4-inch layers, and compact each layer with a hand tamper. Be sure to smooth out each layer before you compact it. Finally, run a car across the repaired area to further compact and help it settle.
If you’re planning to make driveway repairs, renting the right equipment can save you a lot of work and money. Renting tools like a power washer and a paver compactor can make your job much easier, while a material lift can help you transport heavy materials from the truck to the pothole site. At Tri-Rent-All, we can help you find the rental equipment that’s right for your job.
Weeds
Weeds that grow in the cracks of your driveway are not only unsightly but they can also damage the surface of your concrete. They will eventually expand the cracks and cause them to become worse, requiring costly repairs down the road. Regular maintenance will keep your driveway free of weeds and prevent new ones from growing.
There are several natural methods that you can use to kill and remove weeds from your driveway. These methods, from the direct application of household ingredients like boiling water and vinegar to the mindful use of salt-based solutions, offer an eco-friendly alternative to chemical weed killers.
The most effective way to remove weeds is to pull them by hand, making sure to get all the roots. This is easiest after rainfall or the use of a garden hose has softened the fill dirt in the cracks and underlying soil that hold the roots. This method is not foolproof and will require repeated treatments.
Another option is to use a propane torch to incinerate the weeds. This works best on annual weeds that complete their life cycle within one year, as well as on grass-like weeds such as nutsedge and quackgrass. Many manufacturers now offer long-handled weed torches specifically designed for this purpose. This is an extremely effective technique, but it can be dangerous if not used properly and requires proper safety equipment to avoid burns and other potential side effects.
There are also chemical weed killers that you can buy at big box stores that will quickly kill and prevent new weeds for several months after treatment. These products are absorbed into the weeds through their leaves or roots and work from the inside out to destroy them. These are more effective for larger weeds and are often combined with a physical removal method to achieve the most thorough results. You should be aware that these chemicals can harm surrounding plants, pets and people if not applied carefully, so be very careful when using them in your yard. They may also pose a health risk if eaten by animals and children.
Sediment
Sediment is dirt, sand and other solid material that moves from one place to another through wind or water erosion. When it rains, sediment washes off rooftops and driveways and travels downhill to stream banks or storm drains. It can also detach from construction sites, yards and other locations where loose soil is not secured. Sediment that washes into waterways can pollute the water with mud, sand and organic debris.
Sediment can also settle into a creek bed, causing flooding and silt buildup that affects habitats for aquatic organisms. Biological impairments may occur as a result of sediment pollution, or as a secondary consequence of other stressors, such as exposure to toxic substances, low dissolved oxygen levels and flows that dislodge organisms from substrates.
Oil stains are unsightly on concrete and asphalt drives, and can create a slippery surface that poses a safety hazard for pedestrians and vehicles. Oil spills should be addressed as soon as they occur, and can often be eliminated with a quick cleanup using absorbent materials such as non-clumping kitty litter. Regular scrubbing with household products, such as powdered laundry detergent or baking soda can also help.
Stains from rust, automotive fluids and paint are less permanent, but can be stubborn to remove. Scrubbing with household products, such as powdered detergent or white vinegar can sometimes eliminate them completely. If a stain remains, a commercial rust remover, such as Iron OUT, can be used on the affected area to reduce its appearance.
Large rocks, logs or other obstructions in the natural path of stormwater flow generate high velocities and cause erosion around their edges, which can leave behind a coating of sediment on your driveway. It is best to correct the source of the sediment as close to your property as possible. If the problem is on a neighboring property, try talking with them to see if you can work together on yard erosion control measures. If you’re unable to solve the issue yourself, contact a local landscaper or conservation authority for assistance.