Having Your Driveway Repaired

There are two ways to fix damage to your driveway: the quick fix, and the fix that lasts. In other words, the bandage or the cure. Whether you have a concrete or asphalt driveway, a driveway will inevitably sort of wear out with time and weather. Cracks and holes will appear, even leading to splinter cracks. Indentations will result from weathering and erosion that will leave the once smooth surface lumpy and uneven. A common “remedy” to missing asphalt or concrete, whether it be a hole, crack, or indentation, is sealer. But, as CertaPro Painters franchise owner Dan Mahaney explains, sealer just covers the problem area, and without real repair, the problem will return before you know it.

Calling in the Pros

Your driveway is serious business, it needs to be in good shape. Minor flaws can lead to major flaws and that can lead to issues such as flat tires. If you live in an area with bad winters, you really need a surface that’s in good shape so you can trust your car will make it out of the driveway in snow and ice. So, when your driveway has developed some wear and tear, it really ends up being more cost effective and much safer to call in a professional and have real repair work done.

To start, make sure you do your own survey of the driveway, and take note of all the spots that have damage. Then you can contact your painting contractor, who will also often cover driveway repair. They will send out an estimator to look at your driveway and evaluate the level of work needed. Having done your own sort of inspection, you will be able to make sure the estimator notes every crack and flaw. Your estimator will then provide you with a proposal and description of work.

Your painting contractor will actually fill every crack or hole with asphalt or concrete filler, which is formulated to get rid of any spaces and create a smooth surface again. That way, instead of just covering the driveway, you are actually having it return to its original, like-new state. It will be a smooth and safe surface again, and one that will now take years to develop problems again, as opposed to a sealer that really won’t prevent new problems, or the recurrence of the same problem spots. Of course, after the filler has been applied, the painter will apply the sealer, since it is still necessary. A sealer is a strong and important tool for driveway repair, but it should not be the only tool. The sealant will lock everything in to place and hold it.

Who should have their driveway professionally repaired?

If the cracks or flaws on your driveway are so hairline you barely notice them, then having a painting company come in just for that is probably a waste of time and money. For that level of damage, a sealant will do the trick. Anything more significant warrants professional techniques and tools, commercial strength applicators, fillers, and sealants. That way you can rest easy your driveway is top condition again.

What are the benefits?

Instead of covering damage, the damage is eliminated. It is as if your driveway has just been built. It is a new surface that will look good and last without flaw for quite some time, with a strong repair combination of both filler and sealant. If you’re concerned about price, consider the fact that if you do this yourself, you will still have to buy fillers, sealants, applicators, and maybe a manual. Well, maybe not the manual, but still, it’s not cheap. A good idea is to have this done when you are receiving other services from your painting contractor, so you can have everything included in one price and timeline.

What are the risks?

The risks really only appear when you do this yourself. You may buy the wrong filler, you may skip the filler and just seal over the flaws, and all in all this could lead to the driveway cracking again in a short time. Letting your painter handle the job leads to a solid, trustworthy repair.