Driveway repair

[nine4gmc]

Hey guys, new topic today that I've been meaning to post. We moved in a house a few months back and the driveway is a mess. It is all cracked and broken at the joints. The first pic is the really bad one but you can see the others are getting bad too. If it was one section, between joints, it probably wouldn't be as bad but both sides of the joint are broken and sinking. We don't have money to just call a driveway crew to come bust up all this driveway and pour a new one, that's out so any ideas on how we can DIY fix this or band-aid it up until we can save to have it fixed? I'm mechanically inclined but never actually did any concrete work.

The really bad one spans two seams, right side of one section and left side of the other, any suggestions from the experts? It actually spans three seams but the back two are severe, that front left side is just cracked but not sinking yet.

 

[G McKay]

That looks pretty bad. So, you have two choices: (1) jack hammer it up and redo it. Or (2), blacktop over it and let it go.

 

[AP514]

+ 1 for blacktop over it

 

[G McKay]

Plus, you don't have to pay taxes on a blacktop driveway.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Okay maybe an expert will say this is a crazy idea

Pull out the concrete in the worst areas trying not to disturb the "good" parts. Set up a form (2x4) for the straight edge. Add sand and compact to make the base level. Rent a mixer and mix and pour your own.

I don't kow how important it is to cut straight line and use expansion strips between the old and new.

This is a lot of work for a 2 man crew. A 4 man crew would be better.

 

[CNGsaves]

Temporarily, I'd just fill in bad spots with sand and gravel.

If you don't mind strange shapes, just rent concrete saw and cut out bad sections. They look small enough that you won't need any break lines cut back in when finished.

This would get you by and this effort would not be wasted if you ultimately blacktopped over later, as you'd want a good solid base everywhere.

Maybe a big GJ "reward party" where you offer up Crown-top Craftsman items, small Snappy tool box, C-man block grinder, etc. for lucky winners plus plenty beer and pizza for fellow GJer's !!

 

[Cato]

I don't think it looks that bad - it has character! Is it affecting your vehicles?

Otherwise, you should just save up and get it done correctly.

 

[mikec35]

You should start using the neighbors driveway, it looks better. Seriously, if the problem areas weren't so widespread I'd say cut out the worst and build your own forms and pour new concrete as suggested. That's so much, I'd blacktop it. Expense to remove broken concrete alone would be astronomical.