Is the condition of your driveway a little worse for wear?
Your driveway surface works hard against the pressures it faces every day. Your surface material may deteriorate over time due to erosion, significant vehicle weight, the elements, and oil leaks. Age, cracks, stains, potholes, poor drainage, and other factors all combine to create a worn-out-looking driveway that will probably ruin your home’s curb appeal.
But does your driveway just require a fix or does it require a complete replacement? See this post, we’ll go over several telltale indicators that your driveway needs some TLC as well as your alternatives for enhancing both its usability and aesthetics.
Key indicators that your driveway needs to be repaired or replaced
Some of the primary indications that your driveway needs to be repaired or replaced are:
Potholes
Drainage issues
Cracks
Weathered appearance
Driveway replacement versus repair
The majority of homeowners will do anything to delay replacing a complete driveway because the price might be high. Repairing your current driveway may be sufficient in certain situations, but in others, a new driveway must be installed. Here are some things to think about:
Cracking
Visible cracks in your driveway are an indication that the surface is deteriorating and needs repair to prevent bigger, more expensive problems from developing. In general, you can avoid fixing the surface if the cracks are smaller than a quarter-inch broad. The driveway’s surface can then be completely refinished or sealed to give it a uniform appearance.
Repairing is merely a Band-Aid for cracks bigger than a quarter-inch. Large fractures indicate serious problems because they allow water to sneak in even after a repair job. If you live somewhere that experiences freezing temperatures, this is especially problematic because underneath water freezing and thawing causes more harm. In this scenario, replacing your driveway surface entirely is recommended.
Existing material
The present material must also be taken into account when deciding whether to rebuild or repair your driveway. Repairing some surfaces is simpler than others. For natural cobblestones, for instance, only a few of the cracked pavers may need to be placed. Contrarily, concrete will need to be resurfaced or resealed in order to conceal the patches.
It’s important to think about how your driveway’s material will hold up over time. After a few years, some materials will start to look aged just from frequent sun exposure eroding the color and constant traffic. While the durability and usability of your driveway may not be affected, the overall appearance of your property will. If so, think about selecting a driveway material that will age well and naturally hide signs of wear and strain.
Drainage issues
Water won’t have a big impact on a well-built driveway with a sound surface. However, you may have drainage problems if you see precipitation gathering in certain spots or running down the middle of your driveway. If the issue is not fixed, it may degrade some driveway surfaces and cause more cracking or even potholes.
Depending on the material of your current driveway, there may be options to fix drainage problems without completely replacing the pavement. This can entail changing drainage pipework, adding curbing, or installing strip drains.
However, you could need to entirely rebuild the driveway in order to fix the harm already done and enhance the drainage and leveling of the driveway in order to preserve the integrity of the brand-new surface.
Age
Many driveway surfaces aren’t made to withstand high pressures continuously. A concrete drive needs to be replaced after 25 years and an asphalt drive after 20 years. A driveway that is getting close to this age is not thought to be a prudent investment.
Even if your driveway is in good shape, many older driveways could use an upgrade, just as a home benefits from upgrades. Simply said, a worn-out driveway might not look good with your recently refurbished home’s aesthetics. In addition to enhancing your home’s exterior appeal, replacing an old surface with a contemporary, new material with a long lifespan would probably raise the value of your property.