7 Signs Your Concrete Driveway Needs to Be Replaced, Not Just Repaired

Every concrete driveway cracks eventually, and most cracks are nothing to worry about. The hard part is knowing when patching stops making sense and the driveway actually needs to come out. If you have been staring at your driveway wondering whether to repair it or replace it, these are the signs we look for when we walk a driveway in the Denver metro.

Some of them can be fixed with a sealer or a small repair. Others mean the problem is underneath the slab, and no patch on the surface is going to last.

1. Cracks That Are Wide, Growing or Uneven

Thin hairline cracks are normal. Concrete shrinks as it cures, and control joints are there to make sure most of that cracking happens in straight lines where it does not matter. A crack becomes a warning sign when it is wider than about a quarter inch, when it keeps getting longer every winter, or when one side of the crack sits higher than the other. Those cracks usually mean the base under the slab has moved, and filling them only hides the problem for a season or two.

A web of cracks across a whole panel, sometimes called alligator cracking, is another sign the slab has lost its support. Proper reinforcement holds cracked pieces together and level, which is why we wrote about strengthening products in concrete.

2. Sunken or Heaved Panels

If a section of your driveway has dropped below the garage floor or the sidewalk, or has pushed up and created a lip you trip over, the soil underneath has settled or swelled. Much of the Denver metro sits on clay soil that expands when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries, so this is one of the most common problems we see.

One sunken panel on an otherwise solid driveway can sometimes be lifted. But if several panels have moved, or the same panel has sunk again after being raised, replacement with a properly compacted base is usually the better long-term fix. We compare the two options in concrete replacement vs. mud jacking in Colorado.

3. Flaking, Pitting and Spalling

When the smooth top layer of the driveway starts peeling off in patches and exposing the stone underneath, that is called scaling or spalling. In Colorado the usual cause is de-icing salt, especially the magnesium chloride that rides home on your tires all winter, combined with constant freezing and thawing.

A few small spots can be slowed down with a penetrating salt protector. Once spalling covers large areas of the driveway, the surface cannot be restored, and resurfacing is often only a short-term fix in our climate. Read magnesium chloride and your concrete driveway and the benefits of using a salt protector on your driveway to learn how to protect the concrete you have.

4. Water Pooling or Running Toward the House

A driveway should shed water away from your garage and foundation. If puddles sit on the slab after a storm, or water runs toward the house instead of the street, the driveway has either settled or was never graded correctly. Standing water speeds up freeze-thaw damage, and water against the foundation can cause much bigger problems than a cracked driveway. Correcting the slope usually means tearing out and re-pouring the affected sections.

5. Crumbling Edges and Broken Corners

Edges and corners take the most abuse, especially where tires roll off the side or where the driveway meets the street. When edges crumble and corners break off, it usually means the concrete was poured too thin or without enough support at the edges. Patching an edge rarely lasts, because the patch has the same lack of support underneath.

6. Repairs That Keep Failing

If you have filled the same cracks every spring, had a section lifted more than once, or have a driveway that is now more patch than original concrete, you are paying for repairs that are not solving anything. At some point the money spent on yearly fixes would have been better spent on a new driveway built on a solid base. Our post on the benefits of concrete driveway replacement walks through what you get for that investment.

7. The Driveway No Longer Fits Your Life

Sometimes the concrete is fine but the driveway is not. It is too narrow for the vehicles you own now, there is nowhere to park a trailer, or it looks tired next to a house you are getting ready to sell. Replacement is the cheapest time to widen, add a walkway or upgrade the look with a stamped border. If you are thinking about resale, read boost your home's value with new concrete, and for decorative ideas see popular residential concrete projects in Colorado.

What Can Usually Be Repaired

Not every problem calls for a new driveway. These can often be handled without replacement:

• Hairline shrinkage cracks that are not growing or uneven
• Light surface wear that can be protected with a salt protector or sealer
• A single settled panel on an otherwise sound driveway
• Minor chips that are not spreading

If It Is Time to Replace

A replacement driveway should be built to handle Colorado winters, not just look good on day one. That means a compacted base, reinforcement, properly placed control joints, good drainage, and a strong mix. We explain why we pour a stronger mix than most in why we use 4,500 PSI concrete instead of 4,000 PSI.

Thinking about breaking out the old driveway yourself to save money? Read should I tear out my own concrete or hire a professional first. When you start collecting bids, our tips for choosing your concrete provider will help you compare them line by line. And for quick answers on cost, thickness, cure times and winter pours, see Denver concrete questions answered.