How to Know It’s Time to Replace Your Driveway

Do you have a beautiful home? If so, you may love showing it off to friends, family, and everyone who passes buy. Unfortunately, if your driveway is in disrepair, it can take a toll on your home’s curb appeal. Even though driveways are designed to last for decades, eventually, they will have to be replaced. Knowing when it’s time to replace your driveway is key.

The Presence of Cracks in the Surface

If you have owned a home for any length of time, you have probably have to call a garage door repair service in Kansas City, but have you looked at the surface of your driveway recently – really looked at it? Even if you walk on it daily, you may not take time to inspect its condition. Now is the time to do so.

Are there cracks starting to form? If so, this is a sign of a problem. Many substances, including de-icing salt, oil, gas, and other chemicals, can penetrate the surface of your driveway and make these cracks worse. With the freezing temperatures in winter, your driveway has likely been damaged by the freeze and thaw cycle, too.

While it is possible to repair smaller cracks, if the cracks become too long, deep, or wide, it is a sign of more serious problems. When this happens, the best course of action will be complete driveway replacement.

The Presence of Potholes

Even though cracks in your driveway’s surface are unsightly, a pothole can be problematic for your vehicle. If you happen to hit a pothole in your driveway, it may cause damage to the suspension or tires.

A pothole will form when the ground that is under your driveway begins to expand or contract. As time passes, the material used for your driveway will begin to weaken. Eventually, the pieces will crumble or crack away, which is what creates the pothole.

Similar to cracks, smaller potholes may be able to be repaired. However, even filling the pothole will not solve the issue if the ground under the driveway is still expanding and contracting. The best solution for this problem is to replace the driveway completely.

Issues with Drainage

If your driveway is in good condition, water is not going to be much of an issue. However, if you don’t have a Kansas city yard drainage solution and there are drainage problems, serious damage may appear. A sloped or uneven driveway may have water running down the center or even pooling in the middle. This will cause the driveway to weaken in areas where the water accumulates, which will cause even more potholes and cracks.

In some situations, adding inlets or cubing to help direct the water away from the driveway will work. However, it may also be necessary to replace the driveway entirely.

If you decide that replacing your driveway is the best option, be sure to find the right contractor for the job. Contact Johnson Concrete today!