How to Choose Materials for a Driveway Repair
Unfortunately, road crews do not maintain our driveways; we must maintain them ourselves. If your driveway has sustained damage or has just been neglected, you need to obtain the correct repair materials to make sure the repairs last longer than a few weeks. In the case of severe damage, you may need to contact a professional for assistance.
- Examine your driveway carefully to determine what types of repairs are needed. Make notes on a piece of paper with the location and type of problem. Cracks in your driveway need different types of repair materials than holes, for example.
- Find crack sealants, which are available in tubes or as pourable liquids, to use in cracks. Large cracks or cracks that end with a hole may need stronger materials to repair. Fill in the crack and allow the sealant to dry according to the directions on the package.
- Use a patch mix for holes and large cracks. Different types of patch mix are available for the various materials your driveway may be made of. If your driveway is concrete, look for a concrete patch kit. Mix the patch according to the package directions and apply the mixture to the hole.
- Find a sealer to apply to the entire driveway. Use this sealant only after all of your repairs are made and the repair materials have cured according to the manufacturer's instructions. The sealant helps to keep the repair materials in place and also serves as a protectant for the unrepaired portion of the driveway. Some sealants are recommended to be reapplied after a certain amount of time, so make sure you understand how the product is intended to be used before applying it.