Driveway pitting and chipping

[rmousir]

Hi All,

Long time lurker here. I wanted to ask something.

This past winter appears to have been very hard on my drive way. I don't use salt or anything else on it. It was poured in '99.

It looks like someone took a pick axe to it and starting chipping away. Although I am not happy with it, I don't want it to get worse.

I've never treated or sealed it. I'm guessing that is the maintenance I should have done? If I do this now, will it help?

Thanks
Richard.
Cinci, Oh.

 

[TimothyC]

Look in the bottom of each pop out. Do you find the remains of a piece of aggregate that is a light tan in color? The problem could be an alkali-reactive aggregate. I guess the color might be different from location to location but look for a bit of aggregate in the bottom of each pop out. Not much you can do about that. The aggregates are reacting with the portland cement.

 

[JWVan]

I believe that Tim's response is dead on, you might look around the area you live for similar activity in sidewalks and driveways. Unfortunately, not aware of a fix. In my area, to comes with the territory.

 

[BillK]

I'm guessing that is the maintenance I should have done? If I do this now, will it help?

Thanks
Richard.
Cinci, Oh.

Richard,
I have never done any type of maintenance on a concrete driveway. Mine was poured about the same time and it still looks almost like the day it was finished.
I would bet that it was something that was either in the aggregate like Timothy said or they may have done something when they finished it and it just took this long to start showing up. Is the company that poured it originally still around ? Might be interesting to call them and see what they say

 

[DRP6833]

I am no concrete expert by any means, but I think this also might be a result of the mix not being floated properly. The aggregate isn't deep enough below the surface of the concrete. I have a patio in the house we moved into last year that's doing this same thing.