Repair makes sense when the slab is sound and the cause of the damage can be stopped. Replacement makes sense when the slab is broken up, the base has failed or a repair would cost close to a new slab. The situations below are ones customers bring to us. The dollar amounts in them are the customers' own figures, not our prices.
Can cracked concrete be repaired or does it have to be replaced?
Cracked concrete can be repaired when the cracks are few, the pieces are still level with each other and the slab does not rock. It should be replaced when it is in many pieces, when sections have dropped or tilted, or when the surface is failing all over. Age matters less than people think. A sound slab of forty years is worth repairing and a broken one of ten is not.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace?
It is cheaper to repair today in almost every case. Whether it is cheaper over ten years depends on how long the repair lasts. A rough rule: if a lasting repair costs less than about half of a replacement and the slab is otherwise sound, repair. If you would be paying for a second repair within a few years, replacement is usually the better use of the money.
My driveway is 20 years old, one section by the garage has sunk, and I was quoted $9,000 to replace all of it. Do I have to?
Probably not. One sunken section beside the garage usually means the fill along the foundation settled or a downspout washed it out. The other sections may be fine. Ask for two more prices: one to lift that section and one to replace only that section. The national range for leveling is $700 to $5,000 for a typical job, well under $9,000. Replacing everything is reasonable only if the rest of the driveway is also cracked and uneven.
I can repair for $7,000 or replace for $14,000, and I plan to sell in two or three years. Which makes sense?
The difference is $7,000, so the question is whether a buyer would pay $7,000 more for a new driveway. Usually a buyer wants a driveway that is safe, level and tidy, and does not pay a premium for new. If the $7,000 repair gives you that, and it will still look right in three years, repair is the sensible choice. If the repair would leave an obvious patchwork that an inspector will flag, get a third quote before spending either amount.
I have a few long cracks and I am selling the house. Repair, replace or leave it?
If the cracks are tight and level, clean and seal them and leave it at that. Buyers and inspectors expect some cracking in an older driveway. If a crack has a raised lip that someone could trip on, grind or fix that spot, because it will come up in an inspection. Replacing a whole driveway just for selling the house rarely pays for itself.
One contractor says tear it out and another says pour a new layer on top. Who is right?
It depends on the slab underneath. A new layer works over old concrete that is solid and not moving, and where the extra height causes no problem at doors, the garage and the street. If the old slab is cracked through, rocking or sinking, a new layer will crack in the same places. Ask the second contractor how thick the layer will be, how it will be bonded or separated, and what happens at the edges. If the answers are vague, removal is the safer plan.
My driveway is 30 years old with root cracks and I have a tight budget. Can I grind and patch?
Yes, as a holding repair. On a tight budget, grinding the raised edges and sealing the cracks makes the driveway safer and keeps water out for a modest cost. Be clear about what it is: the roots are still there and the slab will keep moving. A middle path is to replace only the one or two worst panels now and do the rest when the money is there. Before any roots are cut, find out whose tree it is, since trees in the City right-of-way are protected in Savannah.
I have many small cracks but nothing has sunk. Is sealing or resurfacing enough?
Often, yes. Where there are many fine cracks and no sinking, sealing or resurfacing is enough if the surface is still hard. Fine surface cracking that looks like a map is mostly cosmetic. Sealing keeps water out, and a resurfacer gives an even new face if you want one. If the surface is soft or dusty, or the cracks are opening, a coating will not hold and you should ask for a closer look.
When is replacement clearly the right call?
- The slab is broken into many pieces or rocks under a car.
- Water runs toward the house and the slope cannot be corrected any other way.
- The base has washed out over a wide area.
- The slab is too thin for what now parks on it, such as a boat trailer or a work truck.
- A repair quote is close to the cost of a new slab.
Only a site visit gives a real price for your property. Estimates are free and come with a written quote. Call (912) 214-3834 or text us a photo of the area.