OT: Driveway Repair

[HuskerO]

I should probably start thinking about getting my driveway repaired. I have bunch of cracks and now I'm starting to get small chunks taken out. I'd like to do it myself, but it's a 3-car driveway so I know it will take me forever.

Also I want it done right as I have 0 experience with concrete or sealing and I don't want to be that house where I tried DIY and everything looks like complete crap.

I guess my questions are; if I did this myself what kind of sealant should I use OR if I had a professional do it which company would you recomment?

TIA

 

[swissticuffs]

The guy who owns the company below is worth contacting....he does lifting and repair work. I think you'll find his estimate reasonable.
https://www.facebook.com/Precision-Concrete-Lifting-1572993456333154/?fref=ts

 

[grayhairedfreak]

I'm looking for concrete repair/leveling as well...thanks for the tip.

 

[BigRedBugeaters]

If you are tearing out and replacing you don't need to seal new concrete. Concrete leveling or jacking is just a temporary fix. It will settle again

 

[schuele]

I'm kind of a die-hard do-it-yourselfer. But if you have zero experience with concrete, replacing a driveway probably isn't a good first project

If you are interested in doing your own concrete projects, I would start with something smaller that's foot traffic only.

 

[otismotis08]

I'm kind of a die-hard do-it-yourselfer. But if you have zero experience with concrete, replacing a driveway probably isn't a good first project

If you are interested in doing your own concrete projects, I would start with something smaller that's foot traffic only.

If it's your first time, you will learn a whole lot for the next time. Start small.

 

[4norsemen]

Thanks. I need same. lots of little chunks gone . Bad snow salt. Need about 100' front sidewalk as well

 

[HuskerO]

Let me clarify; if I did the work myself I would be filling in the cracks only. I wouldn't be tearing anything up or pouring new concrete.

I've walked by some driveways where the homeowners tried filling in the driveway cracks themselves and it looks like complete crap. I don't want that to be my driveway too. So are those driveways crap because the homeowners didn't take their time, didn't prep, used the wrong filler, etc?

I just want it done right if I do it myself, but with my job my time is very valuable so I may come out better if I have a professional do it. All depends on the cost of course.

 

[TheBeav815]

If you're just going to fill cracks have somebody put tar down. Even that is just buying you some time. You've got a mutually exclusive set of goals...you want it to look good, but you don't want to spend money on a professional job. Believe me, I sympathize, but I could take you on a tour of crappy-looking DIY jobs around my house that by the end I was like, "I'd be happier right now if I had spent the money."

You might check into whether you can put asphalt over the top of it, should be cheaper. It will get very hot though so if you have kids or dogs running around on it, it gets hot enough to cause burns in the summer.

 

[HuskerO]

@TheBeav815 Thanks. Probably won't do asphalt because of the reasons you listed (kid, dog, etc).

I don't mind paying the money to have it done right. Every DIY project is different in terms of difficulty. If it costs me $2,500 to have a professional do it, but I can do it and do it well for $1,000 then I'm going to do it myself. But if I'm only going to save $500 - $1,000 then I may have a professional do it.

My issue is that I've never done this kind of work before so I don't know the level of difficulty and I don't what the best product would be (I'm basically asking if anyone has ever done this before and if it was worth them doing it themselves). Lastly I've head of The Driveway Company and I know they do great work, but if I can find another business to do just as good of a job for less $$$ then why not. I just don't know many crack sealing (no homo) companies.

 

[TheBeav815]

@TheBeav815 Thanks. Probably won't do asphalt because of the reasons you listed (kid, dog, etc).

I don't mind paying the money to have it done right. Every DIY project is different in terms of difficulty. If it costs me $2,500 to have a professional do it, but I can do it and do it well for $1,000 then I'm going to do it myself. But if I'm only going to save $500 - $1,000 then I may have a professional do it.

My issue is that I've never done this kind of work before so I don't know the level of difficulty and I don't what the best product would be (I'm basically asking if anyone has ever done this before and if it was worth them doing it themselves). Lastly I've head of The Driveway Company and I know they do great work, but if I can find another business to do just as good of a job for less $$$ then why not. I just don't know many crack sealing (no homo) companies.

Companies that do brick work would know. The guy who did the brick and pavement on my parents' house in the 90s was name Mike Wiese (sp?) but I don't know if he's still around or not.

 

[wkato]

Sikaflex for cracks and expansion joints sealing. Ensure joints and cracks are filled within a .25" of concrete surface since the sealer is self leveling. To fill cracks and joints prior to sealing use foam tubing or playground sand. Lay a bead over the filler and let dry. To give it that concrete look, cover wet sealer in white playground sand and let dry.

 

[HuskerinSFSD]

Sikaflex for cracks and expansion joints sealing. Ensure joints and cracks are filled within a .25" of concrete surface since the sealer is self leveling. To fill cracks and joints prior to sealing use foam tubing or playground sand. Lay a bead over the filler and let dry. To give it that concrete look, cover wet sealer in white playground sand and let dry.

I have tried both kinds of crack sealer on mine and self leveling is the way to go. I also agree on filling behind or it will just keep seaping into the crack. No way to stop it looking like you sealed a crack but it may keep it from getting worse. Thanks for the tip on playground sand.

 

[wkato]

Playground sand is cheap by the bag at Walmart. I'd fill the cracks and expansion joints to the top and the broom it to a near perfect .25" below surface. If the sand keep flowing into voids, pour more in till it stops.

 

[BigRedBugeaters]

If you have a 2 car drive way there is no way you would be able to do it alone. It is alot of work and will look like crap if you have never finished concrete before