Your concrete driveway is more than just a practical access point for vehicles. It’s a significant aspect of your home in terms of aesthetic, investment and even in ensuring property value longevity.
Despite the hardiness and long-wearing nature of concrete compared to other construction materials, it is still susceptible to signs of wear, tear and damage. Some repair work concrete driveway repair work is relatively minor, while other work can be significant especially in cases of severe structural problems.
Using Concrete for your Driveway
Concrete is generally considered to be one of the best materials for use in driveways. Why? Its highly versatile nature, combined with its customisability, makes it a relatively cost-effective, safe and practical option.
Common Signs of a Concrete Driveway Needing Repair
1. Cracks
Don’t worry! You don’t need to replace your concrete driveway at the first sign of a crack. Hairline cracks are mostly and typically harmless. If the crack worsens over time, or was large to begin with however, it may indicate more significant damage that should be addressed sooner rather than later.
2. Potholes
Potholes are no one’s friend. While they may be annoying and damaging for you and your vehicle, they can also be more seriously damaging for your concrete driveway. Most potholes occur when water seeps into cracks in the concrete itself and then freezes. The concrete then expands to breaking point and, you guessed it, breaks apart.
3.Uneven Surfaces
Most people think of concrete as smooth, which would be an understandable expectation. Nevertheless, concrete driveways can develop an uneven surface due to improper installation, settling of the ground or poor drainage. In addition to tripping hazards and vehicle damage, it can also lead to further and more extensive problems down the line.
4.Sunken Slabs
If the concrete slabs of your driveway begin to sink lower than the surrounding area it could indicate issues with soil erosion, poor drainage, or excessive weight from vehicles. Sunken slabs should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent the damage and consequential repair work from becoming more extensive.
5. Discolouration
Discoloured concrete driveways or even fading can occur from general wear and tear. However, it can also be caused by the use of damaging and harsh cleaning materials or through long-term water damage. To be safe rather than sorry, it’s better to have your driveway checked out as soon as possible if you notice any change to its colour.
What can cause damage to a concrete driveway?
There are actually a few different potential factors that could lead to concrete driveways being damaged.
Excess weight
Excessively heavy roads, such as delivery trucks and similar vehicles can put stress on the concrete and either cause it to sink, crack or both.
Harsh weather
Weather conditions fluctuate but the more extreme the conditions the more likely it is that damage could occur. Freezing or overly hot temperatures can cause the concrete to contract or expand respectively which could then cause cracks or damage.
Water infiltration
Water and moisture is one of the most common reasons for concrete being damaged. Whether the water seeps into the cracks and joints and then freezes, or improper drainage and landscaping causes erosion of the surrounding area, there are numerous ways in which a driveway can be susceptible to damage from water infiltration.
Chemical exposure
Harsh chemicals, including even some cleaning detergents, can cause damage to your concrete driveway. The chemicals can cause deterioration or, in a better case scenario, just discolouration or staining.
Tree roots
Tree roots can and do grow underneath a driveway and exert a tremendous amount of pressure on the concrete slabs above. This can cause those slabs to lift and often even crack.
Settling soil
If the soil that lies underneath the concrete driveway settles unevenly, the driveway could be compromised and over time either crack, sink or both.
Risks of Not Repairing a Concrete Driveway
As we have mentioned, not all damage to a concrete driveway represents structural problems or poses a serious safety risk. However, getting your concrete repaired can help prevent further risks.
For one thing, further damage is likely to occur as the issue compounds. The more extensive the damage, the more costly the repair. Similarly, as the issue gets worse the safety hazard will increase and likelihood of other property damage occurring as a result increases as well. Additionally, a damaged driveway can actually detract from the overall appearance of your home or building and thus affect its value in the market significantly.
How to Get a Concrete Driveway Repair
Remedial builders, like our team at BIM Sydney, offer extensive concrete repair work to fix driveways and the like.
If you notice that your driveway is exhibiting any of the signs above, we recommend contacting a member of our team. We’ll come out to assess the extent of the damage and identify the underlying cause. From there, we can draw up a detailed and clear plan for repair including a cost estimate.
Should you decide to opt for the repair work, we’ll schedule that with you at a convenient time that works for both parties. Simple as that.
Need a concrete driveway repaired? Get a quote today
At BIM Sydney we’ve seen all sorts of repair work for concrete driveways. Our team is made up of experts in identifying structural problems and proposing affordable solutions with minimal hassle.
