Tips For Resurfacing A Cracked Concrete Driveway

Are you looking to place your home on the market or just tired of the disdain that your cracked concrete driveway is putting of your homes curb appeal? Well, we urge that you don’t rush to the nearest concrete contractor in hopes of replacing the entire driveway as that process can cost you thousands of dollars, weeks of time and an endless supply of loud construction to wake you up nice and early every morning. However, there is a way that you can save your concrete without all the hassle and planning that comes with replacing your concrete and the best part is, you may be able to do it yourself! The process we are going to be covering today is known as concrete resurfacing and we have a few tips to make the process as easy as possible for you! So, let’s get started!

The first step of any concrete resurfacing project is to make sure that your driveway is as clean as possible. If your concrete isn’t clean, you can experience delamination, clumpy materials or a more complicated installation process. Thankfully, getting your concrete driveway as clean as possible is easy in this day and age. With a quick rental of a 3500 PSI pressure washer, your concrete can get clean in a blink of an eye. If you want to make sure that your concrete is as clean as can be, we recommend using a mixture of water and Simple Green with a brush to scrub down the driveway and a quick rinse off thereafter. Always make sure to thoroughly clean the cracks in your driveway, as well as even the slightest bit of loose material, can bring your crack back to life. After you give your driveway some time to dry, we can get into the next step of the process.

When it comes to mixing your resurfacer, always make sure to follow the directions on the packaging for the thickness you require, length and quantity of cracks, and the type of concrete that you are resurfacing. But, to make sure that your resurfacing project goes as smooth as possible, there are some tips to ensure that your material is the best it can possibly be. For mixing, we don’t care what the material says, never mix the mud by hand. Always use an electric power drill equipped with a concrete paddle to achieve the best consistency while also making sure that there are no clumps of dry material that will ruin your finish during application. Also, never eyeball the water or concrete bonding adhesive that you use to mix the material. Using more water than required will make the material too soupy and hard to apply while not enough water will make the material hard to apply but also take more to coat your entire driveway, resulting in an inflated material price. However, thicker material can be helpful when filling thicker and deeper cracks.

When it comes to applying the resurfacing agent, make sure to have the proper tools on hand to get the job done faster and even save your back some aching at the day. To coat and entire driveway, we recommend the use of a squeegee to apply that thin coat of material that you need. By using a squeegee, you can take your time focusing on each slab independently without having to get down on your hands and knees with a trowel. However, make sure to have a concrete groover on hand to make sure your expansion joints look as neat as possible for a more professional finish. Remember, take your time! Only mix up enough material for each portion of your concrete to give yourself peace of mind of not wasting additional material trying to rush the project along.

If you have taken your time and followed a few of the tips and tricks that we have outlined for you, you will be on your way to restoring the curb appeal of your home. The uniform finish of a resurfaced concrete driveway can do wonders for your homes value and its appeal on the market. But, if you want to make sure that the process is as streamlined as possible and you enjoy spending the weekend with your family, use a professional contractor. Along with pulling the weight off your shoulders, most of the time contractors offer a warranty on their work, giving you an added peace of mind in case something happens. No matter which path you go down, we wish you the best of luck on all of your home improvement projects to come!