Repair or replace concrete on driveway?

Submitted by RepresentativeYak806 t3_126pvvr in DIY

I have a section of my driveway, 1/3 of it, that is in need of repair or replacement. My goal is to get it level enough to play basketball on, I'm not looking for perfection or aesthetics.

The largest crack is about 3" deep, as seen in the photo. The area here is about 4' x 4'. I'm wondering if this is too deep to be repaired with filler, or if it needs to be resurfaced. I am fairly handy, but have never repaired concrete or done any concrete work.

EDIT: I should add, the other 2/3 of the driveway is OK with no cracks, it's just this section that's bad.

https://preview.redd.it/up4t8ly87wqa1.jpg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=a132ca314dd44173620805245dd7258aabdc0ebd

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Comments

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LilyWhitesN17 t1_jea98xh wrote

You cannot repair that. Brushed concrete runs about $4 per square foot, and then factor in a cost for removing the old concrete.

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1968camaro t1_jea847h wrote

You live where it freezes? Replace it, fixes will not work.

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SirIsaacGnuton t1_jeat1m3 wrote

That looks to be 2" thick. You should have 4" for cars.

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Cruentusa t1_jeb35u6 wrote

And probably a good bit of draining rock beneat the concrete to limit the damage from freezing soil.

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alr126 t1_jebqvu6 wrote

What is the depth of the rock bed? 6", 8"?

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windy496 t1_jebbw2x wrote

We used 6" thick with the proper amount of rebar. This was 30 years ago and only have a few hairline cracks. This was for a parking pad.

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SirIsaacGnuton t1_jebfei1 wrote

I've seen 4" recommended for cars and 5" for heavier vehicles. Obviously other factors go into the design and the local construction companies know what works for the area. When you had it done was that the only option or could you have gone thinner?

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windy496 t1_jebh0id wrote

The contractor who did the job was a neighbour. He built my double garage 2 or 3 years before and wanted to bring the pad up to the same level as the garage floor. He said that it would stand up better to frost. Canadian prairie winters. The important part was the rebar. He laid the proper amount of rebar and I got the job of tying them together with the wire twisty things with the hooked tool. He was one hell of a contractor.

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swissarmychainsaw t1_jeadxsn wrote

Man, I'd replace the WHOLE THING not just this third. You'll be much happier with it.
Also, why did it fail like this? Tree roots? Bad drainage?

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RepresentativeYak806 OP t1_jeahmr9 wrote

A combination of both those things + age, I think. The tree has since been removed. Looking like replacement might be the way to go, but $$$....Thanks for the reply.

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swissarmychainsaw t1_jec1i7f wrote

Yes it's big money. Wait until you see how expensive it is to throw old concrete away!

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combatwombat007 t1_jed38aw wrote

It's cheap where I am (PNW). $20/yd to dispose. They grind it up into recycled road base and resell it for $30/yd.

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very_humble t1_jeabte3 wrote

Yeah if you want to play basketball on it, replacement is your only real option

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Rick_e_bobby t1_jebc2ie wrote

If you want to fix it every year they just patch on top of it, if you want to fix it once, remove and replace, have to fix the base and drainage or it will just keep cracking

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Popeye_01 t1_jeap28a wrote

Get rid of the whole thing

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alr126 t1_jebqq41 wrote

Replace, because of that dip, any repairs will be short lived.

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alr126 t1_jebr3fm wrote

All that old driveway needs to be removed, the bed will all be releveled, new bed of stone, etc.

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starholme t1_jeb8o3k wrote

Not going to last, as mentioned by other commenters, but if you just want a fix for a year or two:

Rent a pressure washer, clean off the surface, all the cracks.

Make sure the surface is damp. Mix up a bag of ready to mix concrete, pour it on, level/spread it (screeding) with a 2x4. A large drywall trowel or something similar can be used to get a nicer finish.

About a $15 'fix'. And as the others say, in a couple years it will probably break apart.

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yottyboy t1_jecffwt wrote

This is why concrete sucks. To keep it from cracking you need a ton of rebar and have it like 6 inches thick. So yeah replace it with a 6 inch slab with tons of rebar.

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lakechapinguy t1_jecsy0x wrote

That is "not a crack". That is cracked and sunken concrete. Top coating will not be a viable solution. If you were to remove the "triangular" sunken area and replaced it somewhat on the same level as the area outside the triangular sunken area you will have about 20+ bags 60 lb. of concrete to mix and that is a lot. If the sunken part is thicker than 4 inches you just add more and more concrete mix and more and more labor. You need to decide to spend money on a patch that will always look like a patch or go all the way, which can be costly.

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80MonkeyMan t1_jed2vwd wrote

Is there a way to layer it with tiles or something similar?

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