Concrete Driveway Repair: Dealing with 4 Types of Concrete Damage

A closeup of several large concrete driveway cracks. — *An older concrete driveway that desperately needs crack sealer for concrete.*

Maybe when you were a kid, the cracks in the driveway were a source of inspiration for games. Like the triangle-shaped cracked area was first base for kickball. And that big crack near the road was second base, etc.... The cracks were glorious, even inspirational back then.

But as we become homeowners, cracked or damaged concrete isn’t as magical anymore. In fact, every time you see those cracks now, you sigh and think about how to fix cracks in concrete and get rid of those eyesores before they become even more embarrassing. Or more expensive to fix.

In this post, we’re going to cover:

4 main types of concrete driveway damage you may see
Why it’s important to fix concrete issues sooner rather than later
5 common causes of concrete driveway damage
3 concrete maintenance tips
5 kinds of concrete repair methods you can use to fix your driveway.

Looking for asphalt driveway contractors near you in Columbia, SC?

Dreaming about concrete driveway repair in Columbia, SC? We can help.

Whether you need concrete repair work or driveway installation, we’re happy to give you a FREE estimate for the work you’d like to have done on your driveway.

Just call us at 803-521-4978 or email us at bootsonenterprises@gmail.com.

At Boots On Enterprises, we’ll take care of your driveway repair issues right away.

We service the Lexington, Irmo, Ballentine, Chapin, West Columbia, Cayce, and greater Columbia, SC area.

A very cracked and crumbling concrete driveway. — *A closeup of an extensively cracked and crumbling concrete driveway that needs repair or replacement right away.*

4 main types of concrete damage:

Concrete is one of the most durable paving materials on earth. It’s incredibly strong, holding up under all kinds of weather conditions. That’s why it is used in so many types of construction like buildings, foundations, sidewalks, driveways, pool decks, and roads.

But concrete is not invincible, unfortunately. Over time, concrete can become damaged in a variety of ways.

Here are some of the most common types of concrete driveway damage that we see as concrete driveway contractors in South Carolina:

Cracked concrete

This is the most common type of concrete problem we see. From hairline cracks to gaping cracks, we receive a lot of calls for filling cracks in concrete.

Crumbling concrete

This happens when concrete starts out with cracking, but eventually many chunks break off and the integrity of that section, or the whole concrete slab, may begin to be compromised.

Root damage

Tree roots are notorious for causing cracks and uneven concrete, especially on sidewalks. But if you have a tree close to your concrete driveway, it can cause problems there, too.

Uneven concrete

This can be caused by tree roots or shifting/eroding soil underneath, and causes one section of concrete to rise up above another at a seam or crack.

Why fix a damaged concrete driveway?

Is driveway damage something you can just ignore? A lot of people hope that the beginning stages of concrete damage they see on their driveways will not get worse.

Unfortunately, the way pavement works is that once it begins to be compromised, the damage spreads and worsens if it isn’t repaired right away.

What happens if you don’t fix the cracks in your driveway?

You may not think a few cracks are a big deal. And, in the beginning, it may not matter too much. The issue is, if you don’t nip those cracks in the bud, they can grow and allow a lot more damage to build up and create bigger headaches for you in the future.

Small cracks are much easier and less expensive to fix than bigger cracks or more serious damage.

What happens if you don’t fix uneven concrete?

Uneven concrete can be a tripping hazard and, if it’s bad enough, can even cause vehicle damage. Another problem with uneven concrete is that plants and trees can start to grow in the gap and cause even more damage.

Many times, uneven concrete is caused by tree roots below the sidewalk or driveway and those tree roots need to be cut out. Other times, the soil below the concrete has eroded away and there is nothing supporting a sunken section of concrete.

This can be dangerous to drive on. Depending on how severe the issue is, the concrete may give out beneath the weight of a vehicle.

What happens if you let a concrete driveway disintegrate?

Disintegrating concrete is not only unsightly, but it may also not be strong enough to withstand vehicle weight and traffic. Over time, the structural integrity may become so compromised that it could be dangerous to drive on.

Not only is disintegrated concrete ugly, it hurts your property value and curb appeal terribly.

A concrete sidewalk that is separating and cracking due to tree roots below. — *An uneven concrete sidewalk due to tree roots beneath lifting up and separating the slabs.*

5 causes of concrete driveway damage:

Concrete is very sturdy. But over time, forces of nature can wreak some havoc. Especially if little issues are allowed to fester and get out of control.

Here are some of the biggest causes of driveway damage we see.

Plant damage

Plants growing into cracks

When you get cracks in the surface of your driveway pavement, you will inevitably start to have grass, weeds, and even trees begin to grow in your driveway. Young saplings can cause a lot of damage if they are allowed to continue to grow.

Tree roots

Even if your driveway is perfect and has no cracks, if there are large trees nearby, the tree roots can grow and may eventually cause the driveway to crack or lift up as they try to rise above the soil under your concrete.

Weathering

Weather can do a number on concrete integrity over many years. Here are the biggest weather-related concrete issues we see.

Extreme temperature changes

Whether it’s high temperatures in the summer or sub-zero temperatures in the winter, extreme temperatures cause concrete to contract and expand. This can cause cracking.

Even though we don’t have the harsh winters that many places do farther north, we do still get below freezing and that can create problems eventually. Especially, as we’ll see in a minute, if there is ice involved.

UV exposure

Even sun exposure can eventually cause oxidative stress to concrete and contribute to surface deterioration and dustiness. Again, this happens over time, not overnight.

Water damage

When water ponds on your driveway or creates large streams during a heavy rainfall, it can seep through the little cracks in your concrete and begin to wash the soil out from underneath.

Drainage problems contribute greatly to water damage for a concrete driveway. So it’s a fantastic idea to have a driveway drain included during your driveway installation if there will be any drainage issues.

Ice

Thankfully, we don’t get too much ice damage here in South Carolina. But we do experience temperatures below freezing. Why is that a big deal? Well, when water gets into unprotected/unsealed concrete and then freezes, it expands. The pressure from the force of expanding ice can trigger cracking and other deterioration in a driveway.

Heavy loads

Concrete is meant to handle a certain amount of pressure. If you have a residential driveway but have a lot of heavy commercial trucks in and out frequently, your driveway may not be able to handle that level of pressure. And you may see cracking or potholes.

Uneven settling

If the soil shifts below a concrete slab, it’s possible to experience cracking or lifting. While concrete is strong, it depends on having an even soil surface below to maintain its strength. If soil erosion takes place below the slab, the concrete may not be able to withstand normal traffic pressures.

Earthquakes

One issue that we don’t think about relating to concrete in South Carolina is earthquakes. But if an earthquake is strong enough, that can certainly cause significant cracking in concrete, or upheaval of concrete slabs and uneven settling.

Earthquakes have become a little more of a popular topic in Columbia, SC with the earthquake swarms we experienced in 2022.

Whatever the cause of driveway damage, even something as crazy as an earthquake, an experienced concrete contractor can help.

A wide concrete driveway leading to a beautiful stucco and stone home at twilight. — *A concrete driveway with a slight slope leads to a beautifully landscaped luxury home at twilig*ht.

3 concrete driveway maintenance tips:

A concrete driveway is a big investment that you want to keep for as many decades as possible. What can you do to protect your investment and extend its life?

We highly recommend regular concrete maintenance and repair can stop little issues in their tracks and give you more time, preventing problems from getting worse. The last thing we want you to have to deal with is a stressful and sudden need to replace your driveway before you are ready to.

Apply concrete sealant when needed

Concrete driveway sealing can help to make it waterproof. If you can prevent water from getting into or under the concrete, that will go a long way to making your concrete last as long as possible.

Consider re-sealing your concrete every few years to keep it ship shape. If you notice early signs of wear and tear, go ahead and call a concrete driveway contractor near you for help.

Keep your concrete driveway clean

Sweeping off the debris with a push broom and powerwashing your concrete driveway now and then can go a long way to keeping your driveway in great shape. Remove oil spills quickly to avoid discoloration. Only use gentle cleaning products to avoid damaging your driveway.

If that is too much time/effort for you to do on your own, give us a call. We powerwash driveways in the Columbia, SC area. (We also help with yard cleanup. You may want to have it all done at one time.)

Avoid de-icing chemicals on your concrete

In South Carolina, this isn’t as big of an issue as other places. For the most part, if we use anything, it’s sand. Which is fine. As is gravel.

However, chemical de-icers and salt can damage the surface of your concrete and cause deterioration of the surface of your concrete - like scaling or even spalling.

Scaling is the flaking or peeling of the surface of your concrete in certain areas. And spalling starts as little pits and then goes beyond surface flaking to more large-scale flaking that exposes the interior of the concrete to weather and further damage. Not good.

A big driveway crack in concrete with grass growing out of it. — *A crack in a concrete driveway with grass growing in it like this is a sign it’s time to call for cracked concrete repair before it gets worse.*

5 types of concrete driveway repair:

For different types of concrete problems, there are different solutions. Here are some of the most common repair methods for concrete that we use for our clients.

Concrete crack repair

Fixing cracks in concrete is one of our most common concrete repair jobs. What we like to do is actually make the cracks a bit wider than they already are by grinding them down. Then we make sure to get the concrete crack filler way down into the concrete, not just on the surface. This makes the grout material be able to bond better and completely fix concrete cracks.

We find that Quickcrete crack filler is a great choice in most cases when we repair cracks in concrete.

If the cracks are bad enough, the driveway may require concrete resurfacing, as well.

Fixing uneven pavement

Wondering how to fix an uneven concrete slab? This is generally a job for professional driveway contractors. Most DIYers don’t have the tools needed to correct a significantly uneven pavement surface.

We like to grind down the part of the concrete slab that has lifted up if possible to make an even surface. If there is too much upheaval, we may have to replace the slab(s) involved.

If there are large tree roots underneath, we will cut, remove, and treat those so that they are no longer a problem. If the issue is uneven soil beneath the slab, we will fill it in and properly prepare the base layer for a new concrete slab.

Black colored driveway sealant being applied to an old concrete driveway with cobblestone stamping. — *Colored driveway sealant being painted onto an old stamped concrete driveway.*

Driveway sealant/driveway sealcoating (seal coating)

Sealcoating a driveway provides weather resistance and protection from staining, oil, and household chemicals. It doesn’t fix cracks in concrete. So this is actually a preventative maintenance type of thing to prevent needing repairs later.

There are plenty of different options for concrete sealers for driveways. Most repel water much like when you spray Rain-X on your car’s windshield and the water beads up. But you can get a lot more involved and go for a wet look, dust reduction, mildew/stain repellant, or even color enhancement.

Some concrete driveway sealers can be applied as DIY projects. But some types of concrete driveway sealer require a professional application and special tools.

Concrete driveway coatings can protect your investment from damage, prevent cracking, and make your driveway more beautiful.

Once you already have a lot of cracks or damage to the top layer of your concrete, we’d want to talk about resurfacing your driveway not just applying a sealcoat.

An area of a concrete driveway is being replaced near the road and a concrete worker is smoothing out the surface layer. — *A new concrete slab is being installed between a sidewalk and road to replace an old damaged section of concrete.*

Patching a concrete driveway

Patching concrete for a small area can often be done with concrete filler for cracks (depending on the situation) or concrete patching compound.

Once an area of concern gets large enough, concrete patching just isn’t enough. Sometimes, there are so many large cracks or potholes that an entire section of a concrete driveway must be either resurfaced or replaced. For significant issues, that’s our go-to treatment.

Trusted, local concrete contractors for driveways can tell you if repairing your driveway with a concrete patch is a good idea and how long they think it would last vs. whether you may need to resurface or replace a section of your driveway.

Concrete resurfacing

Sometimes, when there is a lot of damage on the surface of concrete or there are a lot of cracks, we can fill the cracks and then cover over the driveway by resurfacing the concrete.

Resurfacing concrete involves cleaning the existing concrete to get rid of any debris. Then we repair any cracks or holes to make a smooth surface for the new finish. Once the existing driveway is ready, we pour a new cement layer with special bonding agents over the existing layer of concrete to make a beautiful, new driveway surface.

A Boots On Enterprises truck near a concrete driveway with repaired cracks. — *One of our Boots On Enterprise trucks after a concrete crack repair job in Columbia, SC.*

Ready to look into concrete driveway repair or need a new concrete driveway in Columbia SC?

For driveway repair in Columbia SC, we can help at Boots On Enterprises.

Whether you need repair work, resurfacing, replacement, or concrete driveway installation, we’re happy to give you a FREE estimate for the work you’d like to have done on your driveway.