When you arrive home every day, what do you see? Are you happy with your home’s first impression, or could it use some improvement? If your answer is the latter, it’s time to take a hard look at your curb appeal, and your driveway and front walkway is a great place to start. After all, it’s not only important to “wow” your neighbors and guests, but you should “wow” yourself, as well, making that arrival home even more sweet.
Fix it up
Replacing a driveway is costly, and may not be your ideal solution. In the Triangle area, most driveways are concrete, and fortunately, there are several options for cleaning and repairing concrete that you can look to for a boost in your curb appeal.
Replacing a driveway is costly, and may not be your ideal solution. In the Triangle area, most driveways are concrete, and fortunately, there are several options for cleaning and repairing concrete that you can look to for a boost in your curb appeal.
Discolored or dirty concrete
When concrete is dirty or discolored, homeowners often turn to pressure washing, unaware of the damage they could be doing to their slab. “Pressure washing concrete is more difficult than it looks,” explains Chris Miller with Renew Crew of the Triangle. “Incorrect spraying can leave pockmarks and dangerous cracks, which invite additional stains and outside elements that weaken concrete. If pressure washing is done without precision and attention, it’s easy to chip away cement and damage its integrity. While it might look good at first, fissures and splits made during a pressure wash can cause vegetation to grow through and cause bigger cracks.” Instead, Miller uses a three-step modified-pressure process to both clean and seal the concrete. The process is void of caustic acids and damaging pressure levels, and finishes with a polymer sealant that keeps the concrete looking newer longer. He notes that he not only cleans and seals full driveways, but also works on smaller projects, like oil stains in concrete driveways.
When concrete is dirty or discolored, homeowners often turn to pressure washing, unaware of the damage they could be doing to their slab. “Pressure washing concrete is more difficult than it looks,” explains Chris Miller with Renew Crew of the Triangle. “Incorrect spraying can leave pockmarks and dangerous cracks, which invite additional stains and outside elements that weaken concrete. If pressure washing is done without precision and attention, it’s easy to chip away cement and damage its integrity. While it might look good at first, fissures and splits made during a pressure wash can cause vegetation to grow through and cause bigger cracks.” Instead, Miller uses a three-step modified-pressure process to both clean and seal the concrete. The process is void of caustic acids and damaging pressure levels, and finishes with a polymer sealant that keeps the concrete looking newer longer. He notes that he not only cleans and seals full driveways, but also works on smaller projects, like oil stains in concrete driveways.
Cracked or crumbling concrete
There are two repairs that can be performed on damaged concrete. “If the driveway is broken into small pieces, that section of concrete would need to be replaced,” says Will Hooton with ExactJack Inc.“However, if your concrete has cracked in the joint or has settled or become unlevel, polyurethane foam lifting is an inexpensive way to repair, thus saving the driveway.” He explains that this process involves an injection of polymer, which can repair cracks and raise unlevel slabs. “Repairs are non-invasive, immediate and permanent,” he adds.
There are two repairs that can be performed on damaged concrete. “If the driveway is broken into small pieces, that section of concrete would need to be replaced,” says Will Hooton with ExactJack Inc.“However, if your concrete has cracked in the joint or has settled or become unlevel, polyurethane foam lifting is an inexpensive way to repair, thus saving the driveway.” He explains that this process involves an injection of polymer, which can repair cracks and raise unlevel slabs. “Repairs are non-invasive, immediate and permanent,” he adds.
Tips to Prevent Cracks
• Ensure trees aren’t planted too close to the driveway, as tree roots can raise and crack the structure.
• Maintain proper drainage around your driveway—water management is vital to slab stability
• Ensure the driveway has proper backfill to prevent erosion, which causes slab instability
• Fill cracked joints with proper concrete caulking to prevent erosion in the substrate
• Avoid parking oversized commercial vehicles in the driveway—this is a common cause of cracked concrete driveways
—Will Hooton, ExactJack Inc.
• Ensure trees aren’t planted too close to the driveway, as tree roots can raise and crack the structure.
• Maintain proper drainage around your driveway—water management is vital to slab stability
• Ensure the driveway has proper backfill to prevent erosion, which causes slab instability
• Fill cracked joints with proper concrete caulking to prevent erosion in the substrate
• Avoid parking oversized commercial vehicles in the driveway—this is a common cause of cracked concrete driveways
—Will Hooton, ExactJack Inc.
Paving the wayConcrete is a common and functional driveway material, but if you’re looking for more of a “wow” factor, pavers are the material for you. “Interlocking pavers were invented by the Dutch after World War II, when brick, their traditional paving material, was in short supply,” says Daniel Godfrey with Outdoor Patio Pros. “Billions of chunky blocks found their way onto European roads, and many of the originals are still in good shape, despite 50 years of traffic. It’s little surprise, then, why we offer our customers a lifetime warranty on pavers—they make the perfect driveway material.” Godfrey is especially excited about Eagle Bay Pavers and Eco Bay Permeable Pavers, which offer a myriad of style and color choices, and actually have UV protection built into the paver. “The Eagle Bay collection can satisfy your design aesthetics, along with your desire to limit your footprint—the permeable pavers significantly help filter contaminants in the groundwater, and reduce runoff. This is a win-win for homeowners,” he says.
If you’re not able to afford a full driveway replacement, adding pavers in certain sections of the driveway or as an outline along the sides of concrete can also enhance the driveway’s aesthetic.
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