Driveway Repair - Cheap or Financial Genius

[upupandaway]

I will start by saying I have a rather large concrete driveway. The concrete is very pitted on top. I'm assuming this is a mixture of road salt and maybe even the size of the aggregate when it was originally poured. The driveway does not have cracks and the slabs are not heaving and uneven. The only negatives in it's current condition are aesthetics and its more difficult for the kiddos to roller blade or skate on parts of it. DW thinks maybe we should replace it. I on the other hand (being the frugal person I am) assume that every year I don't spend upwards of 10K replacing a still functioning slab of rock is another year of my money chugging away in the market.

I should say after years of relationship/marriage work this is not a big disagreement for us at this juncture. I'm just curious am I.....

A. Being a cheapskate
B. A financial genius

 

[Aerides]

aesthetics

Driveways are a bigger deal because they are front entry, curb appeal stuff. You don't (or you wife doesn't) want to drive home every day and see an eyesore.

And my-money-is-earning is not a good reason, because that would work to never spend anything, which is not the point of money.

But is it that bad? Pics please!

 

[SnowballCamper]

No reason to fix what isn't broken. https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/garage-floor-resurfacing-fix-a-pitted-garage-floor/

 

[NW-Bound]

... The concrete is very pitted on top. I'm assuming this is a mixture of road salt and maybe even the size of the aggregate when it was originally poured. The driveway does not have cracks and the slabs are not heaving and uneven. The only negatives in it's current condition are aesthetics and its more difficult for the kiddos to roller blade or skate on parts of it. DW thinks maybe we should replace it...

Instead of jackhammering the whole driveway then pouring a new slab, how about just resurfacing it?

On the Web, it is said that if the old slab is structurally sound, a new coating can be put over it. I wonder if they have a special type of cement that will bond well for this repair. A talk to a specialist will tell you more.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire23]

If you want to be a cheapskate financial genius:

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-resurface-a-concrete-driveway/

There's even a video at the end.

 

[RobbieB]

I would repair a cracked and heaved driveway, in fact I just did. But surface wear?

Nah. Wait till it cracks -

 

[upupandaway]

I will certainly upload pictures as soon as I can. I had a concrete contractor come out and I asked about resurfacing. He said that after a few years they almost always start to chip away. He cited the chemical process of concrete when it cures and not being able to get adhesion from the new to the old material. Digging around on the internet I found similar sentiment but I would love to hear if anyone hear has has a different experience.

I do like the thought that you can use "My money is not earning" excuse for any reason not to spend money. I think that was a fair assessment.

 

[Dash man]

I will certainly upload pictures as soon as I can. I had a concrete contractor come out and I asked about resurfacing. He said that after a few years they almost always start to chip away. He cited the chemical process of concrete when it cures and not being able to get adhesion from the new to the old material. Digging around on the internet I found similar sentiment but I would love to hear if anyone hear has has a different experience.

I do like the thought that you can use "My money is not earning" excuse for any reason not to spend money. I think that was a fair assessment.

A few years ago we bought a Jersey Shore home that had been remodeled, but they didn’t replace the driveway that was crumbling. I think these flippers were tight for money, so we budgeted $10k to replace the driveway and some of the sidewalks. It cost us $6k. But if they had replaced it themselves they would have sold the place a lot sooner for much more than we paid them.

 

[skyking1]

Get a quote for asphalt pavement while you are pondering things.

 

[RetireeRobert]

Get a quote for asphalt pavement while you are pondering things.

Besides asphalt, also get a quote for brick or paver stones.

 

[triangle]

I have not researched this specific topic but my understanding from the climate alarmists is that concrete production is one of the most impactful things. Taking lots of energy to produce. My neighborhood is old enough that one or two neighbors have replaced their driveways in the past 6 months, taking out the old concrete and pouring new slabs. Assuming the old concrete is recycled I imagine the environmental impact is minimized, but it is still concerning to me on some level that a lot of effort is being put into something that is mostly cosmetic. As it is not like the existing driveways did not function properly.

My driveway has a few cracks and is not in the best of shape but I have no plans to fix it anytime soon. Maybe it will become an issue whenever the house needs to be sold.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

I have not researched this specific topic but my understanding from the climate alarmists is that concrete production is one of the most impactful things. Taking lots of energy to produce.

Blacktop seems the other popular option, and that's probably worse environmentally.

Either is bad from a water runoff perspective.

If people really worried about that, gravel would be more prevalent, but weeds and clearing snow are a definite problem. The appearance is an acquired taste.

Says the oddball neighbor with the only gravel driveway.

 

[pacergal]

How old are the kids that roller blade/skate? How much would it cost for emergency care if they fell and broke a bone or some teeth? (and how would you feel then?)
Or what about the risk if someone other than your kids tripped or fell and got injured?

Is the damage that serious? If so, I would replace it.

 

[pb4uski]

I will start by saying I have a rather large concrete driveway. The concrete is very pitted on top. I'm assuming this is a mixture of road salt and maybe even the size of the aggregate when it was originally poured. The driveway does not have cracks and the slabs are not heaving and uneven. The only negatives in it's current condition are aesthetics and its more difficult for the kiddos to roller blade or skate on parts of it. DW thinks maybe we should replace it. I on the other hand (being the frugal person I am) assume that every year I don't spend upwards of 10K replacing a still functioning slab of rock is another year of my money chugging away in the market.

I should say after years of relationship/marriage work this is not a big disagreement for us at this juncture. I'm just curious am I.....

A. Being a cheapskate
B. A financial genius

How large is this driveway? Is the adjacent lawn even with, above or below the surfact of the driveway?

I would lean towards resurfacing it or even paving over it if the slabs are structurally sound.

 

[arbeadub]

The cause of the pitting or spalling should be determined. Failure of the surface could be from the aggregate used when it was poured and may continue after a refinish. I would find out about what similar age concrete is holding up.

 

[skipro33]

A cheapskate. A genus would recognize the improvement in property value.
I'm replacing my driveway. It's 98 feet long, 16' wide at the narrow end and 23' wide at the wide end. Cost is $11,000 and includes color mix in the concrete and pavers for the boarder and expansion lines. For me personally, I saved my money to spend on projects exactly like this. My guess is that the driveway will increase my net worth, not reduce it. Money should also bring you pleasure to you and/or your family. This certainly does and I imagine your wife and kids would agree a resurfaced driveway would do the same with them. Open those purse strings Mr. Scrooge!

 

[NW-Bound]

A cheapskate. A genus would recognize the improvement in property value.
I'm replacing my driveway. It's 98 feet long, 16' wide at the narrow end and 23' wide at the wide end. Cost is $11,000 and includes color mix in the concrete and pavers for the boarder and expansion lines...

Wow, $11K is cheap for something like the above, if it also includes the removal of the old driveway.

 

[Music Lover]

If people really worried about that, gravel would be more prevalent, but weeds and clearing snow are a definite problem. The appearance is an acquired taste.

Says the oddball neighbor with the only gravel driveway.

Limestone gravel isn't attractive. Black granite can be nice which is what we're upgrading to this summer. Our driveway is 100' long and 40' wide at its widest so concrete or paver stones is far too much money to consider. I'd rather spend the money on other things. Plus I'd hate to drop all that money on a driveway just to have a delivery driver leak oil on it.

Good quality landscape cloth (not the cheap stuff) helps, as well as Roundup or similar once a year or so.

Regarding snow clearing, I just drive over the first few inches of snowfall to pack it down, then it's easy to shovel going forward.

 

[RetireBy90]

Besides asphalt, also get a quote for brick or paver stones.

Get a quote for asphalt pavement while you are pondering things.

Maybe also for yellow bricks

Sorry, couldn’t resist

 

[spncity]

I have such positive memories of skating on our driveway when we were kids. It was a house my parents built with my grandpa’s help and certain parts contracted out. Our driveway was the widest, smoothest one on our street and the neighbor kids came to our place to skate and trike and bike (with training wheels). Good times.

 

[Bamaman]

Instead of jackhammering the whole driveway then pouring a new slab, how about just resurfacing it?

On the Web, it is said that if the old slab is structurally sound, a new coating can be put over it. I wonder if they have a special type of cement that will bond well for this repair. A talk to a specialist will tell you more.

He's right about resurfacing. They can pour a thin concrete substance that's self leveling over the old concrete.

If you went with new concrete, expect to pay $6 a square foot--not including the cost of demolition, digging up and disposing of the old concrete.