How to Repair Cracks and Resurface a Concrete Driveway
Concrete and Masonry, Video by Danny Lipford
Most driveways and patios develop a crack or two in the concrete over the years. These can be caused by everything from tree roots and movement of the soil to freezing and thawing cycles in the winter. Rather than breaking up the slab and pouring a new one, you might want to consider repairing it using a concrete resurfacer.
Start by using a pressure washer to remove any mold, mildew, and dirt. After wetting down the slab, a special masonry cleaning solution is added to the reservoir on the pressure washer and sprayed on the surface.
Once the cleaner has been applied, a high pressure nozzle is attached to the washer and the surface is thoroughly cleaned. Be sure to clean out the cracks out as well, removing any dirt or loose concrete so the patching material will adhere to the concrete.
Next, mix up enough Quikrete® Concrete Resurfacer with water in a five-gallon bucket to fill the cracks.
A mixing paddle chucked in a ½” drill makes preparing the patching material easy.
Make the mixture a thick consistency, and pour in on the cracks.
Use a flat edge trowel to force the mixture deep into the cracks.
Then smooth out the surface.
After allowing the material to dry overnight, a much thinner batch of resurfacer is mixed up. Before applying it, wet the concrete down to prevent it from drying out too quickly.
Once everything is ready, the resurfacer is spread on the slab using a rubber squeegee. Getting a nice even coat without lap mark can take a bit of practice.
When the resurfacer starts to set up, a broom with an extended handle can be used to give the fresh concrete surface texture and prevent it from becoming slippery when wet.
The resurfacer can handle foot traffic after it has set up for about six hours, and cars can drive on it once it has cured for 24 hours. It really made this patio look new again with a whole lot less work than pouring a new slab.
25 Comments on “How to Repair Cracks and Resurface a Concrete Driveway”
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April 6th, 2008 at 06:37
YOUR ANSWER TO WHAT HARD WATER WAS, O.K.,BUT
HOW A WATER SOFENER WORKED,UNTRUTHFUL. THE WATER IS NOT FILTERED THRU SALT TABLETS, IF IT WERE IT WOULD BE FAR SALTIER THAN THE OCEAN AND KILL YOU.
BACK-FLUSHING WITH SALT WATER FLUSHES OUT THE HARD MINERALS AND RE-IONIZES THE FILTER MATERIAL TO ATTRACT THE CALCIUM & MAGNEZIUM.
April 28th, 2008 at 12:21
HOW I FIX POP CORN CEILING?
June 4th, 2008 at 10:44
I have areas of concrete garage floor which has settled up to 2 inches in places and is also cracked. Is there a product I can purchase to bring the floor level and at the same time repair cracks?
June 16th, 2008 at 14:11
Our concrete driveway is in need of repair and some damaged areas are wider than what could be termed a “cracks” — more like a shallow hole and the gravel that lies just under the cement surface is exposed. Can we still use the procedures for “cracked” concrete or do we need to remove large sections of concrete and start from scratch.
Ben Erickson Says:June 19th, 2008 at 15:46
Hi Cecelia,
I’d fill larger holes with a standard concrete mix, troweling it level with the surface. Once it’s set, you could go over the entire area with resurfacer if you wanted it to all have the same texture and color.
June 21st, 2008 at 12:40
I see a crack down the center of my garage floor which shows a line of water and another wet line across my garage floor (which in concrete). How can I fix this problem. This is the first time I’ve ever seen this wetness after a wind driven rain storm.
Thank you.
Lorraine
August 17th, 2008 at 09:27
Just looked over repairing cracks in a concrete driveway. Thanks!!! I was afraid I would have to live with these because I couldn’t afford to replace the driveway.
Danny, you and your show are truly consumer advocates!
Willie
September 30th, 2008 at 18:59
Danny, we have a wall builtin oven and cannot grow the space. Is there any place we can find a 23 or 24W by 25H (greatest length we can go) oven? Help us please since we have no other way to go.
Thanks.
Lin
October 4th, 2008 at 12:28
I have large cracks in my driveway. Can I use just use the quikrete to fill the crack,without resurfing the whole slab? Will it expand with the winter frosts? thank you john
October 24th, 2008 at 00:18
Last year I hired workers to pour a concrete patio, which bumped up to an existing sidewalk. I questioned them as to whether they should breakup the sidewalk and they said, not necessary. Now I have a huge crack in the patio which follows the line of the sidewalk. Is there anything I can do other than start over?
November 4th, 2008 at 11:17
Danny – I have a concrete driveway that has an exposed aggregate finsh. Cracks have developed and I would like to fill them without covering the entire surface as shown in your video.
Thanks for your help
November 8th, 2008 at 22:01
What do you do about concrete floor inside the garage that over time has become pitted in small areas and foams during the winter months. How do you fix?
January 9th, 2009 at 09:09
I have a concrete driveway that has a California style to it, when it snows the smooth part of the design gets very slippery, what can I do to prevent this. I would like to take care of the driveway come Spring. Is there some kind of compound that could be mixed and brushed on, like a sand mixture or something to that effect. Thank you.
January 29th, 2009 at 17:39
I have several small cracks and indenations in my garage floor cracks appox. 1/4″ wide by 4″ deep, same thing in my drive way across my driveway appox.feet from street you can see the gravel, any suggestions or help. THANK YOU
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:44
I have a crack in my concrete wall in my basement of my house. It is approx. 12 inches from the floor of the basement. Orginally thought I didn’t have my roof gutter drains far enough from the house. I did the extend down spout away from house. Thought this was solutions until this winter we discover more water on floor in basement. Then we removed wallboard in basement and found this leak in concrete wall. Can this fixed without digging up ground on the outside of the house. Can you help? Is there any responibility for contractor? House is 15 years old.
February 6th, 2009 at 14:33
I had a new concrete driveway poured about a month ago. I had decorative diamond shaped pattern,trowel cut into the driveway. The finishers made all the lines deep, like control joints, and many of them have large cracks inside, from uneven smoothing / back smoothing, with the V-tool, which caused some of the concrete to lift within the joints. I want to fill the internal cracks within the joints. What should I use?
March 11th, 2009 at 11:05
Our patio is made with exposed aggregate concrete. We would like to cover with stone tiles, but how do we prep the existing concrete? I assume it will have to be leveled, but I’m not sure what route to go with this.
May 15th, 2009 at 09:17
I used the driveway coating on my concrete drive and it came out in uneven grey colors. Can you tell what can I do to make it a uniform color.
Thank you,
Bob
June 20th, 2009 at 11:57
my house is about 7 years old and now there is a big hole underneath my drive way this came as a result of my house settling down because my house was build on a basement slab and now rain has continue to wash the dirt that was use to fill the driveway.the hole is so big that from one end you can see thru the other end.how do i fix this mess
July 31st, 2009 at 16:25
I have a long concrete drive way, but it is section out
10″X16” the drive way starts to sink down about 1 inch lower than the other section. I called one small drive way repair company over to do estimate, they said they are able to level by jack up lower section and then pour down more dirt and concrete…. Is it possible to do this or better bust off this section and redo new concrete??
August 21st, 2009 at 20:32
My concrete driveway has 4″-5″ cracks where I am constantly sweeping the stones out. There is an area that is approx. 1 foot square that has no concrete remaining at all, just dirt. Also halfways down the driveway, just past the main sidewalk that has sunk in the middle, about 1 foot area.
I understand the cracks can be repaired, but what about the other problems.
Please advise.
October 5th, 2009 at 00:02
Danny
I just had a concrete pad poured for my garage 24 X 29
the guys were paid but upon inspection the pad is very rough and when i drive on it pebbles keep braking loose
leaving little holes an ongoing problem will resurfacing help me
November 19th, 2009 at 16:35
hello..i got a concrete driveway put in last year..am not happy with the finsh..what you think i should put on it to get a better finsh..but i dont want it any higher…hope you can help…thank you..paul
December 3rd, 2009 at 16:18
I have a sloping concrete driveway that has a large (up to 3/4″) crack the entire width. I can see inside with a flashlight that it’s almost a foot deep in parts (rain has been slowly washing out from under it), and up to five or six inches wide (the cavity).
1) What can I use to fill in such a large cavity (expanding foam?), and then,
2) what topping-off patching should I use (to finish it off)?
Thanks very much
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:30
I have a garage floor that needs something easy and reasonable to put down on the floor. please advise me. thank you cathy haggquist