Concrete, undeniably, remains one of the most hardwearing supplies employed for driveway constructions. The resilience of the concrete coupled with the sturdiness of this dense supply makes it perfect for surfacing exterior spaces. Nevertheless, concrete is not immune to eventual degradation. Fortunately, depending on the extent of the degradation, there are different solutions you can seek to restore the concrete. Here are the different types of repairs that you can seek for your concrete driveway.

1. Recolouring

If your concrete driveway has lost its lustre due to various reasons such as fading or staining, you could look into restoring the appearance of its surface. One of the simplest ways of doing this is through recolouring. Recolouring entails the addition of a fresh coating on the concrete driving. The new coat typically comprises of an acid stain and the surface is subsequently sealed to keep the new colour intact. Recolouring is ideal for concrete that is still structurally sound since you are only addressing the loss of lustre.

2. Patching

When concrete continuously goes through freezing and thawing during the winter, it will eventually develop cracks on the surface. At the onset, the cracks may seem innocuous since they tend to appear tiny. Nonetheless, when the concrete driveway is exposed to snow the ice collects in the cracks, which causes them to expand. Over time, they get wider, and your driveway will steadily look worse for wear. To prevent extensive damage, it is crucial to seek repairs while the cracks are still minor. The best way to deal with them will be via patching, which entails filling the crevices with a filler so that they do not expand any further.

3. Resurfacing

If you are reading this when your concrete driveway has already developed extensive cracking since patching was not performed, then you should consider resurfacing to restore your driveway. Resurfacing entails the complete scaling off the top of the driveway. Once the damaged parts are removed, fresh concrete is laid to create a crack-free surface. Resurfacing should only be done when the driveway is completely free of debris. When the fresh layer cures, the surface is sealed to prevent premature cracking.

4. Foam injection

Concrete driveways that have suffered extensive damage that has led to parts of the surface settling or sinking in will need repairs that are much more intensive. One of the best solutions for this damage is injecting the concrete with polyurethane foam. The foam fills up the empty spaces left by the sunken concrete; therefore, restoring the integrity of the driveway. This type of repair is also ideal if the soil under the driveway has shifted since the foam will act as an added layer of stability.

For more information on concrete driveways, contact your local contractors.