Concrete Repair

[Halm]

We seem to have a lot of folks with a lot of homerepair experiences so I thought I would throw this one out for comments.

My house has a 50+ year old concrete driveway. It probably needs to be replaced but I am just not ready to spend that kind of money. The picture below is of the worst section just outside the under the house garage.

Can an old broken driveway be patched and hold up for a couple of years, or is it really a waste of time and money?

[jabb]

That is pretty bad lots of cracks not much to bound too.
If you decide to try and patch use Hydraulic cement for this repair

http://www.askthebuilder.com/B119_Hydraulic_Cement.shtml

[myamoto1]

just make sure no kids write their name in it when you're done...

[MotoSook]

I would replace that. You can do most of your own work, if not all. Rent jack hammer, saw if you need to cut, get rid of old concrete (might have to hire this out unless you have a local dump), frame it using the void left by the old concrete,'add gravel if needed, call concrete company and have it delivered....get some rubber boots and tools.

[MotoSook]

I should add that I had a 12x8 pad placed infront of my garage for $800.

Concrete isn't that expensive.

[RWebb]

my bet is the gravel pad was inadequate, if so you need to excavate & haul, then add crushed rock and pour the slab

[javadog]

Not only is it a waste of time and money, but it can make an ugly driveway stand out even more.

My MIL had this problem and decided to have hers patched. I tried to warn her...

JR

[drcoastline]

Trying to repair that damage is an absolute watse of money and time. Anything you do will make it worse. From the looks of it although cracked and unsightly it is still in tact and not a hazard. If you only need a few years leave it alone.

If you feel you must do something go get one of those garage epoxy kits and put a layer on. It won't do much but it will seal the surface of the concrete and slow further water intrusion.

It lasted 50 years you can't ask for much more then that.

[A930Rocket]

There's no way to patch that IMHO. As suggested, bust it out and replace it. Use 1/4's for forms and pour against your existing concrete. Use a 1/2" back against hard surfaces to help with expansion and contraction (at the brick). Most concrete co's have a minimum amount of concrete they'll ship, unles you can piggy back on someone else. I use 65 SF per yard (although a SY should yield 81 SF). Call around and get minimum delivery and pricing.

Don't even try to Sakrete it and don't fill the wheelbarrow up with concrete. You'll pop a cod trying to lift it. If you have access to a Bobcat or what I call a Georgia Buggy, it will be a lifesaver.

[HardDrive]

Stick a fork in it, its done.

Have you gotten quotes? Concrete work is typically not too expensive.

[RWebb]

also, if it is buildable (legally) then think about pouring a buildable slab

- get a permit for the build from the city & take pics

[Halm]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Have you gotten quotes? Concrete work is typically not too expensive.

Not really. A realtor buddy said he thought $8-10k for the entire driveway, and that is what I want to dodge for a couple more years.

[rfuerst911sc]

Can blacktop be applied over concrete ? Might be a cheaper short term fix ?

[Evans, Marv]

Unless you have a huge driveway, there's no way it'll cost $8K-$10K. It should run somewhere in the range of $4.50 to $5.00 per square foot. Just do the math. Also, like some others have said, no way would I bother wasting money to patch that. If money is an issue at this point, just leave it until you've saved up enough to do it. Any money you spend fiddling with it will be money down the drain. That includes the garage floor covering kits too. They are meant to cover a structurally good surface.

[dondarnell]

Flat work in good weather should not exceed $3k a square ft. might be tad more to remove the old stuff. That concrete is beyond repair. Way beyond repair.