Does Your Driveway Need a Simple Repair or a Full Replacement?

Repairing your driveway and replacing your driveway are two very different jobs with two very different costs. If your driveway is looking a little worse for wear, how do you know when you should do a simple repair or when to throw in the towel and replace the whole thing? For smaller fixes such as cracks, potholes, and minor drainage issues, you can most likely get away with a simple repair. However, depending on the age of your driveway and the materials it is made out of, you may need to replace the entire thing.

When can you get away with simply repairing your driveway?

Here are some things to look out for that may indicate that repairing your driveway is possible:

• Cracks: Visible cracks in your driveway are a sign that the surface is failing. The general rule for cracks in your driveway is if the cracks are less than a quarter-inch wide, you can get away with simply repairing the surface. Repairing small cracks as soon as possible is crucial to avoid bigger, more expensive issues that might arise in the future. Depending on the size and number of cracks, you may decide to reseal or refinish the entire surface, but you typically do not need to replace the entire driveway.
• Potholes: It is crucial to repair potholes as soon as you notice them forming in your driveway. Potholes can lead to larger areas of surface failure and can threaten damage to your vehicles. Like all other minor driveway issues, fixing them as soon as possible is the best way to prevent them from turning into bigger, more expensive repairs. Once potholes become an inch wide or larger, it is best to hire a professional landscaping team to repair them.
• Drainage issues: If you are noticing rainwater pooling in certain areas of your driveway, you are likely experiencing drainage issues. Depending on what your driveway is made out of, you may be able to make small repairs such as installing strip drains, adding curbing, or replacing drainage piping. However, it is important to repair minor drainage issues as soon as possible because they can cause the surface of your driveway to weaken, leading to cracking and potholes.

When should you call it quits and replace your driveway?

Here are some things to consider that may indicate you should replace your driveway:

• Materials: Depending on what materials your driveway is made out of, you may be forced to replace the entire thing, even if there are only small repairs needed. For example, some materials are easier to repair than others; if your driveway is constructed out of natural stone, you may only need to replace a few pavers that have cracked. If your driveway is made out of concrete, however, a full replacement will most likely be necessary in order to fix its entire structural integrity.
• Age: Most driveways will require a replacement eventually. This is because many driveway surfaces are not designed to withstand extreme pressures forever. An asphalt driveway typically needs to be replaced after about 20 years; a concrete driveway typically needs to be replaced after about 25 years. Also, if you renovate your home, its clean, modern appearance may not match that of your older driveway. You may choose to replace your entire driveway simply so the aesthetic appeals of your renovated home and driveway can make visual sense together.

Give us a call today to have a beautiful new driveway installed on your property!

At Bloom’n Gardens Landscape, we offer full driveway installations, so you can reap the functional and aesthetic benefits that a new driveway provides. We offer this service to residential and commercial property owners in the Atlanta, GA area, including Buckhead, and Smyrna. Give us a call at (404) 314-1474 to schedule a consultation today!