What to Do If Your Driveway Is Beginning to Crack

It’s a nightmare for every homeowner. You pull into your driveway one day after work and see a small crack that wasn’t there last week. You might even ignore it for a month or two but you start to notice that it’s getting bigger and bigger. Are you going to need to replace your entire exposed aggregate driveway?

Concrete is incredibly durable, but it does wear over time. Concrete also has a material inside it called aggregate, which is simply a fancy name for gravel. Exposed aggregate is often there for visual appeal, especially when the aggregate is decorative. There are many aggregate suppliers that can help find the right type of material for your project.

Decorative, exposed aggregate is just as strong as traditional, but it’s more colourful, creating an artistic appeal. However, when this cracks, such as in a driveway, patching it takes a bit more thought and planning. You can’t just fill in the concrete crack as you would in a sidewalk or plain grey driveway. The aggregate on the surface has to be matched with the new compound by replacing the cracked, lost material in a way that blends perfectly.

The first step is to have the surface swept clean of any loose material. This is best done with a stiff broom that will remove all dirt, debris, and pieces of old concrete. Then, a small nylon brush should be taken to the inside of the crack where plenty more dirt and debris have probably settled. Then, a crack chaser blade needs to be used to even out the edges of the crack, creating a level base. The crack should be rinsed out and dried completely.

Next, the sides and bottom of the crack need an epoxy adhesive applied in a light layer. It should be sticky without being wet before putting in any new material. Then, you’ll add resin and pour the new, matching aggregate on top into the patch. Add more epoxy on top to seal it. After 24 hours, a sealant should be sprayed.

Conclusion

A crack in your driveway doesn’t have to be the end of the world. If you hire a professional to fix your exposed aggregate driveway, the process will be quick and easy and you’ll have a driveway that’s as good as new.