Have you ever wondered about a service known as concrete resurfacing? This service is perfect for many forms of concrete hardscape, including driveways. The purpose of this article is to explain the amazing benefits of this service and provide a brief overview of when it is necessary.
What Is Concrete Resurfacing?
Concrete resurfacing involves creating a brand-new surface for your concrete that eliminates blemishes and creates a smooth finish. Resurfacing is an option in many cases and as you’ll see in the next section, it has various benefits.
The Benefits of Concrete Resurfacing for Your Driveway
There are at least five benefits to choosing resurfacing for your driveway:
- Greater Durability
- Improved Aesthetics
- Lengthened Longevity
- Quick Process
- Affordable Compared to Alternatives
The purpose of this article is to explain those benefits in greater depth. When you are done reading, you’ll be better prepared to know whether this service is the right choice for you.
Greater Durability
Increased durability is one of the most tremendous benefits of hiring someone to resurface your driveway. After spending on a resurfacing service, you can expect your driveway to be more resilient to wear and tear.
Improved Aesthetics
Resurfacing can dramatically improve the appearance of your driveway, especially if your driveway is old, has cracks, experienced spalling, or has encountered any other common concrete issue. Once resurfacing is complete, your driveway will look as good as it did after installation. This aesthetic improvement can boost property values as well.
Lengthened Longevity
If you want your driveway to last several more decades, resurfacing is the way. The durability that resurfacing provides allows your driveway to last longer than it otherwise would. That increased longevity also means you’ll need to spend less time and money on future driveway repairs or replacements.
Quick Process
One aspect of concrete resurfacing that many appreciate is that it is swift. Rather than waiting several weeks for this service to unfold, you can expect your resurfaced driveway to be ready within the same day that the service took place. Occasionally, resurfacing material will be dry in just a few hours.
Affordable Compared to Alternatives
There are many other repair and replacement options for concrete. However, nearly all of them are more expensive than resurfacing. As such, resurfacing proves to be one of the most affordable ways to restore your concrete driveway’s function and beauty.
Signs Your Driveway Needs Resurfacing
The sections above explain the top benefits of concrete resurfacing, but before you choose this service, you must know the signs that your driveway needs it. Below are a few of the most common indicators that your driveway would benefit from resurfacing:
- Cracks
- Spalling
- Discoloration
- Drainage issues
- Small potholes
If you notice any signs in the list above, it’s reasonable to assume that your driveway could benefit from some repair. The best way to know if resurfacing is the right way to go is to contact a local concrete expert you trust.
The Concrete Resurfacing Process
Let’s cover a brief outline of what takes place during the concrete resurfacing process. Below are the general steps that a concrete professional will take when completing this type of project for you:
- Clean the concrete: Before doing anything else, it is crucial to clean the concrete driveway as the first step of this process. Cleaning removes loose dirt, dust, and debris and allows the resurfacer material to adhere to the concrete.
- Protect expansion joints: Expansion joints play a critical role in the functionality of your concrete, and filling them with resurfacing material is a mistake. Blocking the joints with weather stripping is one way to prevent resurfacing material from pouring into the joints.
- Patch small holes and spalling: Patch any small holes or spalling areas before applying the resurfacer material. A simple concrete mixture works well for patching and allows your driveway to be level before adding the resurfacer material.
- Apply the resurfacer material: The next step is to mix the resurfacer material and pour it directly onto the concrete.
- Spread the resurfacer material: After pouring the material onto the driveway, it is time to spread it evenly to cover all areas of the driveway’s surface.
- Create texture on the surface: Before the material dries, it is helpful to drag a broom over the surface gently. This action provides a tactile texture to the surface, prevents slipping, and makes for a uniform appearance.
- Allow the material to dry: The final step is to allow the resurfacer material to dry. Once it is dry, your driveway will be ready for use and look better than ever before.
Can You Do DIY Concrete Resurfacing?
After learning the apparent simplicity of the concrete resurfacing process, you may feel tempted to perform this project independently. However, while it is possible to resurface a driveway via a DIY approach, we cannot recommend this strategy.
There are many ways in which a driveway resurfacing project can go wrong. These errors can make issues more significant than the ones you started with. Since that’s the case, hiring a professional to resurface your driveway for you is always best. An experienced professional will know how to complete this project safely and successfully on the first attempt.
Other Concrete Repair Options
Before we conclude, it’s helpful to note that resurfacing is not your only concrete repair option. Instead, there are several other options you should know about. Below are some examples:
- Concrete leveling via polyjacking
- Patching small holes and cracks with cement
- Full or partial driveway replacement
Resurfacing and each of the options above are useful in different situations. Each of these repair options has pros and cons that your concrete contractor can explain.
Hire a Concrete Expert
Concrete resurfacing and repairs are best left to the professionals. If you live in Eastern North Carolina and need assistance with your concrete driveway, contact Regional Foundation & Crawl Space Repair. We have experience providing concrete repair and many other construction services, and we would love to hear from you.
