Driveway Maintenance: Repair, Resurface or Replace?

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Whether we admit it or not, driveways are essential in every property. For one, they elevate the appearance of any residential space by what is known as “curb appeal”. Moreover, driveways also sets your guests’ expectations of you and your home. But far more than its aesthetic purposes, driveways serve a lot of functionality, whether as a passageway to your garage, a parking space, or an area for your kids to play hopscotch and bike around, it’s a feature that you use on a daily basis.

Now, maintaining a driveway is a whole lot different thing as installing a new one. And we know how expensive these repairs can get, and it’s probably the reason why you’ve been thinking about it for several days or weeks now but couldn’t decide on what course of action to take. So, to help you finally bring your driveway back to its shining glory, here are the things that you should consider to help you decide whether you should repair, resurface, or install a new one. 

 

• How old is your driveway?

 

The first thing to ask yourself is, “How long have you been using this driveway?” If the answer is more than 20 years, the next question is what is your driveway made of and when did you last repair it? 

Now, if you have an asphalt or a concrete driveway, these materials would usually last you for about 15 to 20 years depending on how you take care of it. And after say, two decades of service, you’ll really start to see the changes in appearance and durability. The cracks would be more prominent and the weathering has become more visible. A concrete driveway could last you for more than 20 years, but asphalt has a shorter lifespan. 

If it has reached its 20-year mark, it’s probably time to put your old driveway to rest. The age of the driveway is a critical factor in determining whether you should repair or replace your existing pavement. If you think about it, it’s actually pretty straightforward. An old and worn out driveway would already need a lot of repairs that patching it up is merely a temporary solution. 

 

• What material does your driveway have?

 

Different materials have different lifespans so it also depends on the existing material that your driveway has. While the average lifespan of asphalt is at 15 – 20 years, a solid and good quality concrete has a life expectancy of 25 – 50 years. Natural paving stones, on the other hand can withstand the test of time even with little maintenance, and it can last for as long as a hundred years. 

 

• How many repairs have you done in the past?

 

Patches over patches over patches of minor repairs are not only unsightly but these could also make your driveway uneven. If you’ve been patching your pavement over and over again, it’s time to check the condition of your driveway. Is the base still intact and stable? If yes, a resurfacing would be a good option. Regardless, these patches are not only costly, but they are also going to cost you more in the long run. 

When should you repair?

• Minor Cracks

Minor crevasses on your driveway can still easily be fixed by using liquid crack-fillers. However, this is only advisable for small-scale cracking. Alligator cracks, on the other hand, are a whole nother level and should be dealt with differently. Nonetheless, any homeowner should pay proper attention to even small fissures as it could lead to further cracking once water seeps through the gaps.

• Natural Weathering

Over time, your driveway will lose its midnight black color due to natural wear and tear. When this happens, you can opt for a simple asphalt driveway repair and begin resealing the pavement again. This will serve as an additional layer for your driveway to protect it against natural weathering so that it doesn’t get  brittle and faded so quickly. 

When should you resurface?

• Prominent Alligator Cracks

Resurfacing is done when the foundational gravel of your asphalt driveway is still structurally sound and can still withstand several more years without collapsing. Normally, driveway resurfacing is preferred by homeowners who want to give their pavement a brand new look without the cost of a full replacement. 

On the contrary, resurfacing your driveway with an unstable base will be a waste of time and money as you would still have to replace the whole thing or else, you’ll be spending more on unnecessary repairs after repairs.

Is it time for a replacement?

• Way Past its Life Expectancy 

Experts say that an asphalt driveway can last for about 15-20 years and after that, it will begin to lose its structural value. So, if you’ve had the same pavement for 15 years now, it’s definitely time to put it to rest and have yourself a brand new one. Otherwise, the repairs wouldn’t really hold up for long so it’s best to restructure the whole thing. 

• Drainage Issue

Drainage issues can happen if your contractor failed to properly plan and install your driveway or you overlooked that the water coming from your yard is actually draining towards your driveway. Drainage issues are detrimental to any driveway because water can pool to specific areas of your pavement causing some parts to sink. Eventually, it will create larger potholes and the water collecting on those surfaces would percolate through the openings thereby damaging your substructure. 

Hence, to avoid this problem, make sure that your asphalt is slightly sloped to allow water to naturally flow away from the asphalt surface. 

• Base failure

Like in any structure, the most important critical part is the base. Base failure can be a result of a poorly installed driveway, soil erosion or a heavily damaged surface where excessive water has already penetrated through the cracks hence, disintegrating the aggregates in the sub-base. 

In any case, if you’ve diagnosed a base failure, the only solution you have left is to completely remove the damaged driveway and install a new one.