Concrete is a fantastic material for a driveway, but even the strongest, most resilient materials may degrade over time and require replacing or repairing. If you have a concrete driveway that’s seen better days, don’t worry, the EasyMix team is here to help you make a decision about how to proceed!
Why has my concrete driveway deteriorated?
As we just mentioned, all materials will ultimately start to deteriorate over time given the chance, but if you feel as though your driveway started to go a little early, there are a number of reasons why this could be the case:
- Your concrete was laid or compacted poorly
- The mix used for your driveway wasn’t the right mix for the job
- Your driveway has been exposed to particularly severe or volatile weather conditions
While the final point isn’t something you can do anything about (unless you plan on moving somewhere a bit more mild), the first two you can rectify in the future by always choosing a reputable concrete supplier to carry out any jobs you have. EasyMix is one of the highest rated concrete suppliers in London, so if you need a team that you can rely on, you know who to call!
Repair, resurface, or replace – which one should I choose?
- Repairing your concrete driveway: If your driveway only has a few cracks or holes in, particularly cracks or holes that are less than around a quarter of an inch wide, then a repair might well be the best option for you. The best thing about patching these holes with concrete is the task itself is relatively simple and cost-effective. However, you can’t always guarantee that the patches will end up the same colour as the original concrete, so if you have a lot of cracks, you might want to consider something else.
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- Resurfacing your concrete driveway: If you have cracks or holes in your driveway that are particularly unsightly or wider than a quarter of an inch, then you might want to consider resurfacing it. One of the key benefits of this is you will get a nice even aesthetic with a uniform colour, without the headache of completely replacing it. You can even opt for decorative finishes such as stamping or colouring to really take it to the next level.
- Replacing your concrete driveway: So you have some pretty large cracks and holes in your concrete driveway. You might just be tempted to resurface it and leave it there, but if the problems are a little more deep set, then resurfacing will only be a temporary solution. For example, if there are roots growing under the concrete which are causing it to lift, or if there are leaky or broken pipes under there, then this is something that will require the driveway to be completely replaced in order to have the problem solved for good. Resurfacing might seem like the most attractive option at the time, but remember that it might be worth investigating what the source of the problem really is, so you can make a truly safe decision.
EasyMix Concrete is London’s favourite concrete supplier. We’ve been supplying high-quality volumetric and ready mix concrete to the region for years, so if you think you need some help fixing your concrete driveway, you can rely on the skills and experience of our team each and every time. Contact us today for more information.