Driveway cracks... fill or not?

[John T]

I have 2 cracks in my driveway that go clear across..

Now that the cold weather is here it seems like they have opened up just a hair.

I’m worried about water getting in there and possibly opening it up even more.

The cracks of been there for a couple years so I’m not sure why am so concerned right now but...

Anyway

What are your thoughts about sealing driveway cracks?

What’s the best stuff to use?
Rubberized goop or a solid hardening material?

And do you think it’s a waste of time to even do it NOW in winter?

Wait till spring?

Like I said it looks like it’s opening up because of the cold.

So maybe if I put some rubberized stuff in there now

In the spring it will just compress and get a little tighter?

Just thinking out loud

Would appreciate any thoughts.
The driveway is probably almost 15 years old.

Very pleased with it otherwise.

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[TommyK]

You want to keep water from infiltrating the base because that will cause frost heaving.

The best option is a hot applied crack sealer but you may have missed the boat as it is usually a seasonal business.

Whatever you can get in there to keep the water out would be beneficial. I know Home Depot sells a rope type crack filler that you melt with a torch. If you go that route get yourself a bag of black beauty to sprinkle on to keep the car tires from picking it up.

 

[rlitman]

Agreed. I've used the rope type. It works great. You stuff it in the crack, and it melts very easily. A heat gun works as well as a torch too. I used grit from my sand blaster to sprinkle on it, because it was black and I had it, but sand would work in a pinch.

Its not that sticky when it cools though, so so long as you don't overfill the crack, I wouldn't expect tires to pick it up. Especially in the winter, and by the spring, it will have plenty of dirt encrusting it.

 

[John T]

Is this the stuff?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Latex-i...iveway-Crack-and-Joint-Filler-35099/100084640

 

[Falcon67]

Fill it with something, cracks are the beginning of the end for an asphalt surface. FWIW, it's been cold here but the county is surfacing roads with hot mix as long as it's above freezing. Appears to be no issue, they are laying 1~2 inches over existing and it's going down smooth.

 

[rlitman]

Is this the stuff?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Latex-i...iveway-Crack-and-Joint-Filler-35099/100084640

Yes.

 

[John T]

Yes.

Cool.

I'll pick some up tommorow after work and light it up.

 

[55chevy]

Do they have it in the stores now? I've only been able to order on line in the past.

 

[sixty4]

Just filled one myself. I used a propane torch to melt it in.

 

[rlitman]

Do they have it in the stores now? I've only been able to order on line in the past.

That's where I've gotten mine. I had to search a bit for it at HD. They had it hidden in an end cap IIRC.

 

[John T]

Do they have it in the stores now? I've only been able to order on line in the past.

website/my local says 3 in store....

find out tomorrow

 

[Bretny]

Sealing it up and useing a weed burner this time of year may help.

 

[John T]

Yeah I might pick up weed burner also
If they have one.

I can’t see using a propane torch

I’ll be there all day


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[mcdye]

What would the best option for concrete driveway cracks. Black lines would stand out like a zebra.

 

[ttpete]

What would the best option for concrete driveway cracks. Black lines would stand out like a zebra.

Self-leveling crack sealer. It's gray and comes in caulking gun cartridges.

 

[rlitman]

Yeah I might pick up weed burner also
If they have one.

I can’t see using a propane torch

I’ll be there all day

No, you won't. It melts about as fast as a birthday candle. It's VERY easy to overdo the heat and start burning the wrapper. As I said above, even a heat gun will activate it.

 

[rlitman]

What would the best option for concrete driveway cracks. Black lines would stand out like a zebra.

Sikaflex SL. You need to make sure the crack is no more than about 1/2" wide, and no more than 1/2" deep (push foam rope in to create a bottom to deeper cracks). Also, either tape the ends or dam them up well, because the SL will slowly run out of them if you don't.

 

[TractorJeff]

John surely you have a Torch on the Weld Truck already?

 

[NickTheGreat]

I've never done it on my driveway, but we use a lot of Vulkem 116 at work. So I'd probably acquire a tube of that. It comes in gray, so it's not that noticeable against concrete.

 

[John T]

Home Creepo had one roll left
The guy said its a “seasonal” item

Works pretty good

Actually on a hot summer day I bet you could smash it into a crack and let it melt on its own ...

No torch
And my plasma cutter didn’t work either so I rednecked my heatgun

Pretty happy for 14 bucks.

Thanks all.

.

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[JimH74]

John T, I have to say I got a chuckle out of your heat gun setup!

 

[rlitman]

Yep, seasonal. I don't think it will melt in the sun, but now you see what I mean about it melting easily. It's like M&Ms.

So did one roll fill yer crack in?

 

[John T]

So did one roll fill yer crack in?

Phil Mc Cracken?

yep...

still got some left... I may do some overlay.... on the hunt for a weed cooker...

nobody sells them locally.

might have to make one...

 

[The_Geologist]

Do you have an HF nearby? They actually sell one.

https://www.harborfreight.com/propane-torch-91033.html

I've never used it, so I can't comment on how good it really is - or isn't.

 

[machsnell]

$41 Have it Monday at your door.

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[Moto]

I tried it with a heat gun and it was slooow going. And that was during the summer. Maybe it was old stock or something.

A weed torch was the ticket for me.

 

[ManOnTheCouch]

Do you have an HF nearby? They actually sell one.

https://www.harborfreight.com/propane-torch-91033.html

I've never used it, so I can't comment on how good it really is - or isn't.

HF weed cooker has worked well for me for the 3-4 years I've owned it.

 

[justinthurn]

I'll just add that in addition to water infiltration, cracks left alone will start to deteriorate the asphalt on both edges. Eventually it will turn into a dip that will continually get worse. Good job filling them in.