We all know that driveways are essential to the operation of a property’s infrastructure, as well as being a great way to make an attractive entrance and exit to your home or business. However, driveways can become stained and cracked over time, rendering them less than user-friendly.
Driveway Repair Options
Before you start any driveway repair work, the very first step is to identify what caused the damage to your driveway, and then decide the most effective driveway repair process for fixing the problem (more on that in future articles). Some of the main causes of cracked and damaged driveways are shifting and settling earth, water from rainstorms, excessive weight, and poor driveway foundation and base installation.
Depending on your budget and the condition of your concrete or asphalt driveway, your choices for driveway repair range from a basic color enhancement with stain or a complete asphalt or concrete resurfacing with an attractive decorative overlay.
One inexpensive option for repairing cracks in concrete or asphalt is to simply sand down the problem areas. This option requires little preparation time and offers many different styles and colors of finish. Two methods are used for sanding: one smooth and another coarser grain. Both methods work well for small cracks, up to a few inches in width. Be aware that very coarse sandpaper will cause your driveway to become especially slippery.
Another method for filling small cracks – it may be possible to fill it with epoxy or paint, and then sand down the excess once it has dried.
Large cracks in asphalt or concrete driveways are a bit trickier to solve. However, if the crack is larger, or perhaps is spreading, it would be better to have it professionally repaired. It may initially cost a bit more, but it could end up costing you much less in the long run because a professional driveway repair will last for many years, and you won’t have to replace the deteriorated portion of your driveway with a brand new one. It makes sense to repair small cracks as soon as you can to avoid the need for a full driveway replacement.
Concrete driveway repairs are a bit more challenging when it comes to cracks because they are subject to any sort of movement.
Driveway repair professionals know how to treat cracks to prevent them from spreading, and how to resolve the problem if they do spread.
Professional asphalt and concrete companies also know how to treat oil stains that occur on driveways. Oil stains cause many people to spend hundreds of dollars to have these spills cleaned up because the stains are particularly difficult to remove. However, if the stain is only in a couple of small areas, then it is often possible to remove them by simply scrubbing the area with a degreasing detergent.
Blacktop driveways are an excellent choice for those who are interested in DIY driveway repairs. Since blacktop driveway treatments are simply a sheet of black asphalt, they are completely waterproof, and can often harsh climates and heavy rain with no problems at all. Blacktop driveways are also extremely durable, which makes them an excellent choice for both commercial and residential use. There are plenty of companies out there that specialize in this type of installation, so it won’t take you long to find one that can get the job done right. A repair like this will increase the value of your home, which is always a good reason to make sure that it is done and maintained expertly.
A-Hole Paving is one of the top driveway repair companies in the Nashville area. We serve all of Nashville and the surrounding areas.
Call us today for a site inspection and driveway repair quote.
PHONE: 615-604-2125
EMAIL: macoftn@gmail.com
ADDRESS: 4530 Old Hickory Blvd Nashville, TN 37218