Signs You Should Replace Your Concrete Driveway In Lakeside Ca
Concrete driveways can add character and value to the exterior of your home. Unfortunately, concrete is a very porous material and therefore cracks can become common. While small cracks in concrete may not seem like an issue, if left alone they will only get larger and deepen over time.
Reasons For Cracks In Concrete
When concrete begins to crack it will likely be due to one or more of the following reasons:
- Concrete driveway is old and has now reached the end of its lifespan (this will typically start to show within 10 years)
- Concrete driveway was not installed correctly or has an underlying problem like settlement, poor drainage, improper preparation, etc.
- Concrete was not properly cleaned before it began use. This includes allowing oil and other chemicals to be absorbed into concrete before it was laid as a driveway.
- Concrete driveways that sit directly on the ground and not on a concrete base or strip will crack more frequently than those installed correctly.
It Begins To Show Cracking Signs
If your concrete driveway is beginning to show signs of cracking then you should begin looking into replacing it as soon as possible. Cracks as small as 1/8″ wide can begin to allow water to seep through concrete and work its way under the concrete slabs. If left alone, this will only cause your concrete driveway to shift, separate and crack more frequently.
Replace Concrete Slabs And Concrete Base
A single concrete driveway slab should be replaced every 10 years. If you received a low quote on concrete driveway replacement it could be because the concrete driveways were not installed correctly or there are underlying problems present (like settlement, etc). Before you receive quotes you should make sure that concrete contractors will remove concrete up to 4″ deep. If concrete removal stops at 2″, then concrete contractors will only replace concrete slabs and not the concrete base or strip underneath concrete slabs – this is when concrete can begin to shift.
Double-Shifted Concrete
If concrete contractors are not removing concrete up to 4″ deep, they will likely try to sell you on double-sifting concrete driveways instead of replacing the concrete base or strip under concrete driveways. Double-sifted concrete driveways require that concrete be sifted 2 times and the concrete particles that are too large to be back-filled. If concrete is not properly sorted and does not meet compaction levels, it will settle over time and also begin to shift.
Epoxy Seal Coats Do Not Solve Problems
If concrete contractors suggest an epoxy seal coat instead of concrete driveway replacement then you should request a quote for concrete driveway replacement. Epoxy seal coats do not solve concrete driveway problems (they temporarily hide them) and should not be suggested as a concrete driveway replacement solution.
Once concrete driveways are installed, companies should follow-up annually to determine if your concrete driveway is settling or shifting. This will prevent future cracking, which can lead to costly repairs later on.
Conclusion
If you can see that concrete is not properly installed, concrete particles are shifting or concrete slabs are cracking then concrete driveways should be replaced. If concrete driveways are not replaced when conditions present themselves, the problems will only get worse over time. For our services contact our professionals from Concrete Contractor Lakeside Ca at (619) 678-0052.
