Concrete is an extremely durable material and is used in various areas in and around your home. It has most likely been used for the foundation, driveway, porch or even the patio. Although the composition of concrete has not changed much in the last 20 years, the repair products have. Polymers help create a strong structure and bond between new and old concrete, acrylics add strength, and attractive finishes disguise patches and other repairs.
Not only can concrete surfaces be filled, levelled, jazzed up and reinforced without spending the time and money to replace old concrete, but surface treatment can make the surfaces look as good, if not better, than new. Over time, if left unattended by owners, minor damage will lead to more significant problems. Those problems can include widening cracks, crumbling concrete, and that can lead to the need to resurface the concrete driveway, repair it, or complete a replacement. If you want to resurface your concrete driveway, many consider the "middle ground" of taking care of your driveway.
The first step is to treat minor cracks using the best concrete driveway patch. Or, if there is too much damage and crumbling, you may need to weigh the pros and cons of concrete resurfacing vs. replacement. Replacement is beneficial because it helps you understand the benefits of each.
Before considering any concrete driveway repair or resurfacing, think about its age. If you are working with a concrete driveway that is twenty to twenty-five years old or older, you will benefit from replacement. The main reason is that you are likely dealing with a lot of age patching and previous rejuvenation. If you want to change the material of your carriageway, then it is a consideration why a replacement is the best option.
If you are dealing with deep cracks, potholes and sunken areas that you could address with resurfacing, think about what new material as an alternative. Would you be happier with an asphalt carriageway? Before making this decision, weigh the pros and cons of resurfacing. Think about how long you plan to live in your home. Do you want to continue using a concrete driveway because you are happy with that material, or do you think a replacement driveway with asphalt is a better option? Research the longevity of asphalt compared to concrete renewal, as well as the cost of asphalt replacement.
This information will help you determine which is the best long-term option. Most jobs require a second, and sometimes a third, coat of resurfacing. The finish will be fairly smooth, so you can add texture to the final coat by brushing it on with a broom while it is still slightly damp. With any concrete repair, take this lesson to heart and you'll be off to a good start.
First find out what has caused the damage, make the necessary preparations to remove unusable concrete and contamination, and then install a repair designed to solve the problem. The worst thing you can do is make a repair that won't last. Someone once told me that more than 50 percent of concrete repairs fail again within two years. That is not a track record that inspires confidence.
Many roadway surfaces are not designed to withstand extreme stresses forever. Typically, you will need to replace an asphalt roadway after 20 years and a concrete roadway after 25 years. Repairing a roadway approaching this age is not considered a wise investment. It's a project that almost anyone can tackle, and it's much more affordable than replacing the concrete slab.
Concrete is a porous material, which means that over the course of its life it begins to deteriorate due to its structure. So it's natural to want to know that you can count on Liftech's polyurethane concrete levelling or foundation repair solutions to last for the long term. Situations may arise where you may wonder if you should resurface your concrete driveway or complete concrete driveway repair.
