If your driveway is suffering from problems such as surface cracks and potholes, you may be thinking about the best course of action. Below is a guide to 3 options you have when your driveway has become damaged. 

Patching

A good short-term solution if the surface of your driveway has become damaged is patching. Patching is highly cost effective, as you only need to purchase enough material to fill the potholes or cracks on your drive. When patching cracks caused by water damage, you should consider using a hydraulic cement, which will help to prevent future water leaks and damage. When patching, it is important that you match the colour of the new material with your existing driveway or you will end up with unsightly spots which do not blend in. You should also keep in mind that patching is only a temporary solution. It is highly likely that a drive which has been patched multiple times will eventually need more extensive work.

Resurfacing

An alternative to patching is resurfacing. During the resurfacing work, a paving contractor will scrape off the top layer of the material, which is currently covering your driveway. Once this layer has been removed, the contractor will relay the surface of the drive. Resurfacing is an excellent choice if the potholes and cracks on your driveway are quite deep. When resurfacing your drive, you should ask the contractor if they can use a polymer modified mortar, which is much more durable when compared to standard paving products. When completed, resurfacing can make your driveway look as good as new. However, you should be aware that resurfacing work is more expensive than patching individual areas. Having said that, resurfacing repairs will last much longer than patching.

Replacement

If your driveway is extremely old or its surface has been damaged right down to the foundations, you may have no other option than to replace it completely. During replacement work, a paving contractor will strip the surface of your drive and then dig up the foundations. The contractor will then start from scratch, rebuilding the foundations and relaying fresh paving material over the top of them. While replacement is the most costly and time-consuming option, it does also provide you with the opportunity to adjust the size, height and the gradient of your driveway. 

If you would like further help or advice about repairing or replacing your driveway, contact a paving contractor today.

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