Fix Spalling Concrete Driveway

Very fine surface cracks or crazing occur when a concrete driveway dries too fast.

Fix spalling concrete driveway.

Think of this as just applying stucco to the concrete. You just mix up some sand a little hydrated lime and portland cement and. Remove the loose and damaged concrete. Over the course of a winter or over the course of years as the internal pressure rises and falls it stresses the surface layer of the concrete which leads to spalling.

Smooth the patched area by grinding or using a rubbing stone. Plywood strips 1x2 furring strips 2x4 leveling board concrete nails type 1 portland cement wooden stakes. A good quality sealer designed for use on exterior concrete will help minimize water saturation and protect against salt damage. When the spalling damage is shallower than 1 3 of the concrete s thickness the concrete usually can receive a surface repair.

Have your concrete resurfaced with an overlay. If the rest of the concrete is sound and the surface is primarily smooth fix the crazing by applying a resurfacing product. With this spalling concrete repair method you would actually pour a thin topping right on top of your existing driveway. If your concrete is spalling these are the repair options.

Required materials for this project 1 2 in. These fine surface cracks are often cosmetic and not signs of serious structural damage. Patch the spalled area with a color matching compound. Patch the deep areas 1 8 or more with the resurfacing material first and let dry.

This is probably the most common method used to repair spalled concrete driveways and probably the most cost effective as well. If the damage is greater than 1 3 of the depth steel bars may need to be installed and a full depth restoration may be required. Clean the concrete by pressure washing or grinding it. Deeply spalled concrete can be repaired with a concrete overlay.

The basic steps to repair spalled concrete are. Even with a good sealer the concrete itself remains the most important component in avoiding spalling see the correct concrete driveway mix. Spalling concrete repair method 3 concrete overlay. Rip out and replace the entire slab.

Spalled concrete may be caused by any of the following. A bad concrete mix. They usually appear soon after it s poured.