Innovative Driveway Resurfacing Solutions to Protect Your Concrete

Driveways deal with a lot of stress. Heavy use can damage the surface and hurt your home’s curb appeal. Water, ice melt, chemicals, and poor installation can turn a smooth, nice-looking driveway into one with cracks, chips, and flakes. While it may look bad, the bigger problem is that untreated cracks can grow into safety risks or lead to expensive repairs or replacements. The best fix at this point is driveway resurfacing.

Driveway resurfacing is a smart way to fix cracks and extend the life of your concrete. It costs less, takes less time, and is easier than replacing the whole driveway. Plus, it helps stop future cracks and damage.

Our team has over 25 years of experience in concrete repair and coatings. We’re proud to find the right solution for each project. If you’re not sure whether resurfacing or replacement is the best choice for your driveway, we can help. By the end of this blog, you’ll understand what causes driveway cracks, which resurfacing options fit your budget, and what steps to take next.

• Why Driveways Crack and How to Protect Them
• When Should You Be Worried About Driveway Cracks?
• Can You Prevent Driveway Cracks?
• NewCrete: The Cost-Effective Driveway Resurfacing Solution
• Budgeting for Driveway Resurfacing

Why Driveways Crack And How to Protect Them

Almost all driveways crack. Driveways are built with control joints, which are planned cuts in the concrete. These joints guide the concrete to crack in certain spots as it shrinks and settles, making repairs easier.

Sometimes, conditions can make cracking worse and even harm the safety and function of your driveway.

Cracks in your driveway can happen for many reasons. Some you can prevent, and others you can’t. The top layer of your driveway is the hardest but also the most fragile. Chemicals, weather, and pressure can all lead to cracks.

Concrete driveways that aren’t treated or sealed have tiny holes that let liquids seep in and cause damage.

If you live in a cold area, you may deal with freeze-thaw cycles. Water can soak into the concrete and freeze overnight as temperatures drop. When the water freezes and expands, it puts pressure on the concrete, causing cracks, flaking, or chunks to break off.

Clearing snow and ice is a routine part of driveway maintenance. But, the wrong ice melt weakens your driveway with every application. Some ice melts contain calcium chloride or magnesium chloride, which will degrade concrete over time. 

Melt ice safely. Consider using a concrete-safe ice melt product like calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) or sodium acetate (NAAC) to avoid further damage. 

Other chemicals hitting your driveway can cause cracking or deteriorate its structural integrity. Just like how water can seep into the concrete, so can gasoline, oil, or brake fluid. These harsh chemicals can break down the top layer of concrete, leaving it weaker and more susceptible to cracking. 

Stopping spills: If you regularly work on your cars on your driveway or in your garage, clean up all spills quickly with absorbents like cat litter or baking soda or place a tarp or mat underneath your car.    

When Should You Be Worried About Driveway Cracks?

If you are starting to spy cracks forming in your driveway, you don’t necessarily need to jump to repairing them right away. Hairline cracks are normal and generally harmless. Cracks that exceed ⅛” thick (wider than a dime) or those occurring on corners or near edges might need to be evaluated for repair before they cause widespread damage.  

Can You Prevent Driveway Cracks? 

Every driveway is going to crack, but if you want to reinforce and protect your driveway, garage, or patio with increased durability, consider having it treated with a penetrating concrete sealer. Different than concrete coatings, penetrating sealers or densifiers are invisible or nearly invisible, depending on the type you choose. 

Sealing your driveway, walkway, or patio will make them impervious to water and the damaging effects of the freeze-thaw cycle. You will also be able to confidently use ice melt without worrying about damaging the concrete. They are also pretty economical to apply, averaging about $1.00 per square foot to install.

NewCrete: The Cost-Effective Driveway Resurfacing Solution

If your concrete is in the beginning to moderate stages of cracking or spalling, there is still an opportunity to resurface your driveway economically. It won’t require a jackhammer and entirely new concrete, either. In many cases, a cracking and spalling driveway can be repaired with a specialized product called NewCrete.  

What is NewCrete?

Rapid Set© NewCrete is a specialized concrete resurfacing product designed to restore and renew existing concrete surfaces, both indoors and outdoors. It contains a blend of polymer-modified concrete, which helps it bond to the original surface and provides added strength, flexibility, and resistance to weathering, stains, and cracks. 

NewCrete is not a concrete overlay that will crack and break off over time. It is made of calcium sulfoaluminate, polymer, and additional ingredients that penetrate and bond with the concrete to increase strength and durability. 

The Benefits of NewCrete 

NewCrete is the ideal solution for homeowners looking for a practical way to improve the look and functionality of their driveway when it starts showing signs of wear and tear. In return, you’ll boost your curb appeal and preserve your home’s value in the future. Other benefits include:

• Enhanced Appearance: Rejuvenate worn, cracked concrete with a fresh, uniform look. 
• Cost-Effective: More affordable than replacing the entire slab. 
• Durability: Formulated to bond tightly to the existing surface and resistant to weather, stains, and abrasion. 
• Improved Functionality: Creates a smooth surface that is free of tripping hazards. Easy to fix minor imperfections. 
• Fast Application: NewCrete can be applied, set, and cut in less than 24 - 36 hours, so you can drive on it the next day.
• Eco-Friendly: Reduces waste and extends the life of your driveway.

Repairing early-stage cracking in your driveway can be critical to avoiding full-scale repairs, which will be much more expensive. 

How Does NewCrete Work?

To prep your driveway for NewCrete, our team will thoroughly clean your driveway to remove all loose dirt and debris. Cracks and spalling would be repaired with concrete repair material to stabilize the base. 

Similar to concrete, NewCrete is mixed and applied in a thin layer over the entire surface to create a uniform aesthetic appearance. As it is spread evenly over the driveway, the NewCrete will fill in minor cracks, chips, and uneven spots to make a consistently level top layer. Texture and designs can be added while still wet for aesthetic or functional purposes. 

NewCrete chemically bonds with the existing concrete, making it thicker and more wear-resistant. This bond prevents peeling and cracking, maintaining its appearance over time. It is a quick-dry process and will usually be fully set within 24-36 hours. 

Budgeting for Driveway Resurfacing

NewCrete isn’t the only option for cracked driveway repair, but it is one of the most cost-effective. That’s why we recommend fixing your driveway cracks early to avoid the need for more drastic and costly repairs. 

MACoat can be used for more intensive repairs while still avoiding complete demolition. It combines a flexible waterproof membrane with a durable topcoat to provide even stronger durability and aesthetic appeal. The waterproof membrane creates a watertight barrier to prevent water from penetrating the concrete and causing damage. 

How Much Does it Cost? 

Both NewCrete and MACoat are great options for repairing and restoring your driveway before cracks destroy the function and appearance of your driveway. You can see a cost estimate breakdown below. 

What’s Next For Your Driveway? 

Your driveway is essential to your home’s curb appeal, safety, and longevity. Resurfacing it early on with solutions like NewCrete can save you time and money and the hassles of much more expensive repairs later. Its cost-effective, durable, and fast-drying properties make it the ideal choice for restoring and protecting your driveway before the damage worsens. 

At Roe Painting, we specialize in delivering high-quality driveway repairs, concrete coatings, and more with NewCrete and premium industrial-grade products. Our expert team members can ensure that your driveway won’t just look better, but will perform better and last longer, giving you peace of mind for years to come. 

Now that you know how NewCrete could transform your driveway, take a look at our blog “Residential Coating Costs: What You Need to Know” for more information about coating types, costs, and the installation process.