How to repair cracked concrete driveway?

[davedave]

Hi, I have some long cracks in my driveway - are these suitable to fix myself and if so what products? Or would I be better paying someone to do the job?

[ankittvarshney]

Hi Team, can you please guide if I can just pour expanding cement dry in these cracks after clean and spray water to harden it would be a good solution rather using the betta

 

crack filler

[Dave-1]

Good morning @ankittvarshney 

I would not pour anything expanding cement into that crack. It looks like a very fine crack and I would use the Gripset Betta 1L Concrete Crack Filler  if you really want to repair the issue.

Personally I would clean it and then keep an eye on the crack. Adding anything to it will make it stand out more so, I am not sure where your crack is but think cleaning, repainting and feathering in the new colour to old colour may be a better way to go. Cracks do tend to expand and shrink with seasons and also rainfall. Unless water is entering, I would take a less intrusive option.

Dave

[ankittvarshney]

Thanks @Dave-1 it’s my concrete driveway. The crack is about to reach the slab on both sides. I have added few more pics if you can guide what is the best as I don’t want to make this a big problem in the future

  

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @ankittvarshney 

Concrete slabs develop cracks for various reasons and here are some that I know of (there are probarlly more but its a start)

- Thickness is to thin of the slab.

- No soil compaction before the concrete was poured.

- Water undermining

- Too heavy a weight on the driveway (Mostly unlikely)

- Tree roots

- No reo in concrete 

From your photos of the existing crack I do not think its warranted to try anything major. There isnt a lot you can do repair wise to stop it cracking more. You can seal it using the product I mentioned before but it will not hold the concrete together.

You can install expansion joints to allow the concrete to flex itself without further cracking (in a bad situation which you dont have) These are anything form a cut with a conctrete saw across the slab or something wider and then filling the cut with a felxible compound.

I have cracks at least 5 times thicker then yours on my driverway, probarlly due to trees, water and age. They do not worry me as the concrete is still flat, hasnt lifted or become uneven anywhere. 

So it comes down to how much effort to go through for the crack you have and your concerms. I would say wait and see if there are more responses/ideas on how to go forward. I will tag a few others for some ideas.  @Nailbag, @AlanM52 and @Noyade .

Dave

[JacobZ]

Hi @ankittvarshney,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

It's fantastic to see @Dave-1 has already jumped in with some great advice.

Cracking in wide concrete slabs is pretty much an inevitabilty and it is why control joints are cut into concrete. Control joints are designed to manage where cracks appear, but they can’t stop them entirely. These cracks are a normal part of concrete’s behaviour and don’t necessarily indicate poor quality or structural problems.

I'd simply fill the cracks with Gripset Betta 1L Concrete Crack Filler to carry out an aesthetic repair.

You should monitor the cracking to see if things worsen, but at this point, I wouldn't worry about it. It all looks pretty normal to me.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[AlanM52]

CC: @ankittvarshney,

Hi ankittvarshney,

Here is one area of our driveway.

Concrete was poured in 1971 and I can't recall when the cracks started to appear but since then I have ignored all the passing comments 🙂

As @Dave-1 mentioned I would wait and see...

Some people find that really annoying and to provide some relief (fine cracks) In my brickie crate is a tomato squeeze bottle filled with plain cement and a small paint brush. Puff in... brush in, be tidy use minimum amount and then carefully vac both sides. Leave for the weather to settle-in and wherever needed may need a top-up.

Cheers

[Nailbag]

Hi @ankittvarshney 

I’ve been holding off responding to show a near 60yr experienced concreter the photos. In his opinion there is no long term repair. The cracks have formed essentially from incomplete or improper preparation which could be from a number of factors which @Dave-1 mentioned. The other two are underground water or tree root issues. 

As the cracks are substantial the chances of a successful repair is minimal. The choices remaining are temporary cosmetic repairs such as what @JacobZ  and @AlanM52 suggested or pull it up and start fresh unfortunately. 

Nailbag

[ankittvarshney]

Thanks @AlanM52 . Do you suggest plain cement as above or https://www.bunnings.com.au/earl-s-1kg-concremate-expanding-cement_p0960537. .. . TIA

[AlanM52]

Hi @ankittvarshney,

https://www.bunnings.com.au/dingo-grey-cement-3kg_p0760514

Cheers

[Katie6025]

@ankittvarshney 

I've just started crack repair and using Dap crack filler a type of polysand. Just pour then spray with water. You'd need to order online as Bunnings don't sell it. Otherwise your looking at grinding out the crack and using something like betta crack filler, but I didn't love this product. It didnt sink in that well to the cracks.

Actually I'm loving Earl's expanding cement, in goes in runny and fills all the gaps and has excellent grip. But it's not flexible so will need to see how it holds up. You also may want to diamond cup grind it afterwards to smooth it down. It's quite hard though.