Your driveway works really hard against the challenges it faces every day in Bethesda, Maryland. The surface material may deteriorate over time due to erosion, significant vehicle weight, weather, excessive ice melt products, or oil leaks. Age, cracks, stains, potholes, poor drainage, and other factors all combine to create a worn-out-looking driveway that will probably ruin your home’s curb appeal. And as winter approaches, now is the time to prepare your driveway for the upcoming snow removal season!
Would your driveway only need a fix, or does it require a complete replacement? In this post, we’ll go over several telltale indicators that your driveway requires some TLC as well as your alternatives for enhancing both its use and aesthetics.
Should I replace or repair my driveway in Bethesda, MD?
The majority of homeowners would do everything possible to delay rebuilding a complete driveway since the price will be high. Repairing your current driveway may be sufficient in certain situations, but in others, a new driveway must be installed. Here are some things to think about:
Driveway drainage problems
Water won’t have a big impact on a well-built driveway with a sound surface. However, you may have drainage problems if you see precipitation gathering in certain spots or flowing down the center of your driveway. If the issue is not fixed, it may degrade certain driveway surfaces and cause further cracking and even potholes.
Depending on the material of construction, there may be options to fix drainage problems without completely replacing the pavement. This can include changing drainage pipework, adding curbing, and putting strip drains.
However, you could need to entirely rebuild the driveway in order to fix the harm already done and enhance the drainage and leveling of the driveway in order to ensure the integrity of such brand-new surface. Once excessive water erodes the area under your driveway by seeping into cracks, it can become impossible to fix the driveway without removing it and rebuilding the base.
Nature of existing driveway material
The present material must also be taken into account when deciding whether to rebuild or repair your driveway. Repairing certain surfaces is simpler than others. For natural cobblestones, for instance, just a few of the cracked pavers may need to be placed. Contrarily, concrete will need to be resurfaced or resealed in order to conceal the patches. Asphalt is another common driveway material that can be patched, caulked and sealed for longevity up to a certain point.
It’s important to think about how your driveway’s material will hold up over time. After a few years, certain materials may start to seem aged just from frequent sun exposure eroding the color and continual traffic. While the longevity and use of your driveway may not be affected, the overall appearance of your home will. If so, think about selecting a driveway surface that will age well and naturally hide signs of wear and strain.
Driveway cracking
Visible cracks in your driveway are an indication that the surface is deteriorating underneath and requires repair to prevent greater, more costly problems from developing. In general, you may avoid fixing the surface if somehow the cracks are smaller than a quarter-inch in width. The driveway’s surface may then be completely refinished or sealed to give it a consistent look.
Repairing is only a Band-Aid for cracks bigger than a quarter inch. Large fractures indicate serious problems because they enable water to sneak in even after a repair operation. If you live somewhere that experiences cold temperatures, this is more problematic since underneath water thawing and freezing cause more harm. In this case, it is advised that you completely replace your driveway’s surface after rebuilding the foundation under it.
Age of Driveway
Many driveway pavements aren’t intended to withstand high pressures continuously, especially in a climate like Bethesda, MS. A concrete drive usually has to be replaced after 25 years as well as an asphalt surface after 20 years. A driveway that is getting close to this vintage is not seen to be a prudent investment when repairing.
Even if your driveway is in good shape, many older driveways might benefit from an upgrade, just as a house benefits from upgrades. Simply said, a worn-out driveway may not look well with your recently refurbished home’s aesthetics. In addition to enhancing your home’s exterior appeal, replacing an old surface with a contemporary, new material with a long life would be likely to raise the value of your home.
Signs to replace the driveway, rather than repair
A new driveway requires a significant expenditure and is a major decision. It is only recommended to completely replace your driveway in the event that your driveway has any of the following:
- Numerous potholes: If your driveway has a lot of potholes that really are large enough to threaten the foundation, it probably needs to be replaced. They will collect water, cause more damage, and be expensive to fix separately.
- Spiderweb cracks: If your driveway has a large number of interconnected, scale-like cracks that cover most of the surface, it’s probably time to replace your driveway.
- Older than 20 years old: A 20-year-old concrete pavement that is beginning to show indications of deterioration should be entirely replaced.
- Drainage problems: To avoid further property damage, you need to take immediate action if your driveway or the area surrounding it isn’t draining correctly and is sending water toward your home’s foundation.
Signs to repair your driveway
Trying to determine if your driveway can benefit from repairs instead of having to replace it? Make arrangements for repairing, fixing, or resurfacing your driveway if you start seeing changes in it. It might be wiser to simply repair your driveway rather than replace it if your driveway has any of the following:
- Smaller cracks: Cracks that are less than a quarter of an inch thick should be fixed to prevent them from spreading. The likelihood of a fracture developing into a problem increases if freezes but also expands in it.
- One pothole: One pothole may be readily repaired, and if done promptly enough, fixes can stop more harm.
- Sunken sections: You may level off any parts of your driveway that have sunk below the level of your garage by patching them up. Alternatively, if the driveway is concrete, you can contact an expert to do mudjacking to raise that sunken section of concrete.
- Edges that are crumbling: If the edges of the asphalt driveway are crumbling, it is likely that the edges were just too thin to start with. To stop more damage, think about adding more edging.
Don’t be alarmed if your driveway has lost some of its original hue. Even if it’s an indication of aging, you may still not have to replace it. If your pavement is made of concrete, you may restore the color by sealing any fractures. If your driveway is showing wear signs but is less approximately 10 years old, make repairs to prolong its life. If you are considering WHEN to repair your driveway, we recommend doing it before winter hits so the surface is as smooth as possible for plowing. Plowing, freezing and thawing can make small problems into big ones, so take action before it gets more expensive for you.