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7 Signs it's Time for Driveway Renovation

Do you know if it is time to replace your concrete driveway? There are a few things you can look for to see if it needs to be replaced.
Concrete driveways usually last around 30 years in Plano. There are, however, many things that can affect how long it lasts. This includes things like the weather and the concrete mix. Make sure you take care of your driveway by doing things like keeping it clean and free of debris.

Although the life span of a surface is unpredictable, you might find yourself wondering if it’s time to replace your concrete driveway. Here are three of the signs that indicate it’s time to replace your concrete driveway.

1. Trouble with Drainage

If your driveway is causing drainage problems, you should take care of the situation as soon as possible. Drainage issues can be a nuisance, but the damage can be severe if water pools or runs toward your house. There may be a considerable problem when water isn’t leaving your driveway from the gutter.

If your driveway is damaged by water, it will need to be rebuilt. You may adjust with drainage ditches, french drains, and other methods. If your driveway does not slope at least 2 percent away from your home, any effort you make is simply plastering over a gaping wound. Replacing your driveway appears to be expensive, but it will cost much more later if there are underlying issues.

2. Big Cracks

Cracks can form on many different driveway surfaces because of weather, temperature, or surface settling. Minor fractures may be filled or sealed. However, resurfacing cannot mend long, comprehensive, and deep fissures.

There is no one answer to how deep, long, or comprehensive a crack in the concrete can be before it needs repairing. It all depends on the current condition of the concrete surface its exposure to weather elements. Ultimately, it is up to your local Plano concrete contractor to make that call.

If a contractor says that the fractures in your driveway are beyond repair, you will need to replace the driveway entirely. If you do not replace the driveway, the fractures will spread and eventually cause your concrete surface to collapse or become a tripping danger.

3. Color Changes

Concrete changes color over time. If your driveway doesn’t look the same as it used to, that’s just a sign of age. There’s nothing wrong with a driveway that is starting to fade. However, if you want it to look new again or want a new look altogether, you can seal it.

It would help fill in any small cracks before you seal your concrete. You can use a sealer to make it look like it did before. If you want a new color, you can use a tinted sealer to get the color you want.

4. Potholes

The last sign that your concrete driveway is failing is pitting or potholes. Pitting and potholes can form for several reasons, including damage from hail storms, heavy cars or trucks parked on the driveway, deicing salt eating away at the concrete, or the concrete naturally deteriorating over time.

Pits and potholes can wreak havoc on your concrete surface. The spaces might allow water to settle on the surface and make it damp. They can weaken the earth beneath your pavement. This might cause your pavement to sink or collapse.

Potholes and pitting can both be fixed. On the other hand, Repairs are only temporary and may only last a short time. As such, when there are pitting or potholes on your concrete driveway, replacing it is your best option.

5. Edge Breakage

When a driveway is built, the edges are not always thick enough. The dirt around the edges may erode gradually. When this occurs, the concrete’s edges might start to crumble. It’s easy to add little new concrete and repair the crumbling edges without conducting a complete replacement.

6. Is it necessary to replace my driveway before putting it up for sale?

If you need to sell your house quickly, replacing the driveway rather than repairing it is a better option. You won’t get back the same amount of money that you invested in it, but a new driveway will make your property appear more appealing than a patched and cracked one. This may scare away potential buyers. A contractor in Plano can keep this from happening.

7. Sinking Concrete

If your concrete driveway is sinking, it might be time to replace it. Concrete driveways often sink because of drainage problems.

Your driveway is sloped to allow water from rain to fall downslope and into gutters or the street. However, if there are cracks, holes, bumps, or incorrect grading, water may not drain away from the concrete. Instead, it may flow through to the concrete’s foundation, causing erosion of that structure’s foundation.

Concrete can sink, which means it needs something to be put below the surface to help raise it. This is often costly and not very effective. If your concrete surface is old or in bad condition, it is a good idea to have a Plano contractor replace it instead.