Buffalo winters are notoriously rough on driveways, parking lots and area roads. Oftentimes, after the spring thaw, Western New Yorkers look at their concrete driveways and notice cracking at certain parts. The question is this: should the cracks be fixed, or should the ‘whole thing’ be replaced?” It’s a valid question.
Concrete is one of the most durable driveway materials, for sure, but sometimes it cracks because water manages to mess with the supporting structure below ground. You only see the top of the concrete, while there’s more to the issue going on underneath. A driveway also has to contend with the ground shifting, roots from nearby trees, and the freezing and melting of ice.
If you’re able to have a construction crew come to your house and check the driveway crack(s) and fix them, do it. Typically, since concrete tends to be put down in rectangular slabs, rather than having to replace an entire driveway, it’s feasible to have repairs done to the one or two areas giving you trouble.
However, if you take a look at the whole driveway and notice cracks everywhere, that will tell you there’s some serious problems underneath and whether it was shoddy installation or the ravages of time to blame, it’s best to call Ivy Lea Construction and have them replace the entire driveway.
Ideally, a driveway should be constructed so it has what’s known as a “water mitigation plan.” In other words, you want water to go away from the driveway so it doesn’t mess it up. Proper drainage matters.