Is It Better to Repair or Replace Your Concrete?
Concrete is the most popular material for driveways and walkways. It is strong, durable, and requires little maintenance. But like most materials, it wears down over time. When homeowners see signs of cracking and sinking in their driveways or walkways, they might think it's time to replace them, but that's not always the case. Concrete repair is a great way to revitalize your slabs. But how do you know if you should be repairing or replacing it? Let's dive in.
First things first: Why does concrete fail?
To know if you need to repair or replace your concrete, you need to first understand what exactly is damaging your concrete. There are three big reasons most concrete fails.
1) Changing temperatures
Concrete's number one enemy is the weather. Temperature changes can cause concrete to expand and contract. In warm weather, concrete expands, and when it cools, it shrinks.
When concrete contracts, the joints and cracks widen, collecting pebbles, sand, and other debris. And then, once it gets warm and the concrete expands, it grows in size.
2) Poor soil conditions
Land developers and builders moved the soil on your property to prepare the site for construction. This created an additional top layer of fill soil. Your concrete slabs were then poured over these areas of fill. And that fill, even if it was compacted very well, is not as stable as the native soils below.
When fill soils consolidate and settle, voids form under the concrete slab. Eventually, that slab cracks and falls into the void.
3) Water
Concrete is a giant sponge. When it rains, concrete's pores absorb every ounce of water. And when the sun comes out, the water evaporates. This constant absorption and evaporation cycle causes spider-cracking at the concrete's surface.
It's a common myth that salt deteriorates concrete. But it's not the salt. Instead, it's the premature freezing and thawing that causes water to re-freeze and cause damage.
Option #1: Repairing your concrete
In the last ten years, concrete repair has kind of had a bad rap, with most people preferring to replace their concrete over repairing it. But with new technology and better systems in place, repairing your concrete is now more common. It is less invasive, more affordable, and quicker than total replacement.
The process:
Repairing your concrete is quick and straightforward nowadays, but it didn't used to be.
In the past. mudjacking was the only method to repair concrete. It involved mixing soil with concrete and creating a "mud" that's injected under the concrete slabs to lift and level them to their original placement.
It was a messy, chaotic, left-injection holes, and unfortunately failed to address the actual cause of the damage: the soil not being appropriately compacted.
PolyLevel is the new way
PolyLevel is a newer system that uses a two-part polyurethane polymer to fill voids and lift concrete slabs to their original position. It is injected through a pencil eraser-sized hole and expands into a structural foam that compacts the soil. It is quick, noninvasive, aesthetically pleasing, requires little clean-up, and doesn't retain moisture.
PolyLevel solves the underlying problem of poor soil compaction. It's inserted beneath sinking, cracked concrete through tiny ports. Then, it flows like water to fill even the most minor cracks and crevices in the soil. The PolyLevel foam then expands and hardens, lifting the slab and compressing the surrounding soil.
The best part about PolyLevel is the installation process is extremely fast. The material itself also cures in 15-20 minutes, so the surface can be used within the same day.
When it makes sense to repair:
Here are some reasons to repair your concrete over total replacement
- Cracks: Cracks in concrete can be caused by freeze-thaw cycles, poor construction, and age. NexusPro is easily used to fill and seal cracks and control joints.
- Settled and unlevel slabs: Settled concrete is most likely occurring because of poor soil conditions. Settled concrete can be a huge safety issue and tripping hazard. Luckily these are easily fixed with PolyLevel
- Sunken steps: Front stoops and concrete steps sink and settle over time. Unfortunately, they can be leveled, filled, and sealed to prolong their life
Why would you repair concrete?
There are several reasons why repairing concrete makes more sense than replacing it entirely.
- Safety is a huge one. We've all tripped or seen a loved one trip. Tripping hazards are especially dangerous for small children and older people, so it's a huge motivator to get it repaired.
- It is more affordable than replacing.
- Your slab will only get worse with time. Concrete problems don't go away; they just get worse.
- Looking to sell your home? A concrete repair is like a facelift for your house and instantly increases your home value and curb appeal.
- Believe it or not, your settling concrete can affect your home and cause structural and water damage. Structures connected to the slab may crack and settle as well. That includes your home's foundation, doors, and windows.
Option 2: Replacing your concrete
A concrete replacement refers to removing the entire slab, and then replacing it with a new one. The process of replacing your concrete is disruptive, long, and inconvenient. Which is why we always try to repair when we can. But sometimes, the damage is too much, and replacement is more cost-effective.
The process:
To replace concrete, the first thing that needs to happen is the removal of the existing concrete. Which is usually done by jackhammering the slab into tiny pieces. Unfortunately, this means a lot of dust, dirt, noise, and heavy equipment on your property. And a dumpster to place the pieces of concrete in.
The next step is preparing the base with new soil and pouring the new slab, often involving delivery trucks and heavy concrete bags.
After that, there's a curing process where you have to wait before you put any weight on it. New concrete takes about 24-48 hours to dry, but it has a 28-day curing period. Meaning that you have to wait about a month before you can even park your car on your new driveway or walk on your new sidewalk.
As you can see, replacing your concrete is not easy or painless. It's disruptive, expensive, and requires a lot of labor, time, and materials. But sometimes, it's necessary.
When it makes sense to replace:
Here are some reasons to replace your concrete instead of repairing it.
- If your concrete is older than 30 years: Concrete that experiences a lot of wear and tear (like sidewalks and driveways) has a lifespan of about 25-30 years. Repairing does help prolong the concrete's life cycle. But suppose your concrete is already up there in age and not looking so good. In that case, a full replacement might be the better option and even a good investment in your property.
- Deep cracks and large potholes: The rule of thumb is that if your concrete is sinking more than 8", it makes more sense to replace it.
- Poorly installed base: Sometimes your concrete issues come down to how it was installed, and no amount of repairs can solve that problem.
Other factors to consider
Ask yourself the following questions if you are still on the fence:
How much time do you have?
Replacing concrete can take over a week to complete, plus there's a 28-day period where you can't put any weight on your new slab. Whereas repairing can be done in a single day and used immediately after.
What's your budget?
Repairs are, hands-down, more affordable than a full replacement. But don't forget to consider how old your concrete is. If it's older, and you choose to repair over replace, you might be repairing it annually. In that case, replacement might be a more cost-effective and a better long-term solution.
Not sure what's best for you?
The best advice we can give you is to reach out to a concrete professional. Having a knowledgeable company walk you through the process is key to knowing all of your options and reaching the best solution for you and your concrete. If you are interested in learning more about your concrete repair options, you can visit us online or call us at 1-934-201-5848 to schedule your free estimate!
