According to BestPlaces.com. the media age of a home in Birmingham, Mi is over 60 years old. Buying a home is the biggest single purchase most people make in their lifetime. The second largest purchase is most often their vehicle. A typical concrete driveway has a life expectancy of about 20-30 years. Cracks and other deterioration occur over time, and you may be wondering when the concrete driveway should be replaced. In today’s article we are going to provide you with some common concrete driveway problems that may prompt you to begin your search for a licensed, insured concrete contractor that services Birmingham.
Common Concrete Driveway Problems in Birmingham
- Spalling – this is the process concrete goes through via weathering and/or a chemical reaction that breaks down concrete over time. Sections of concrete chip off, which leads to fractures and, inevitably, compromise the concrete driveway. Spalling begins by small flakes of concrete breaking off but can also expose rebar as time goes on.
- Cracking – there are several reasons why your concrete driveway may be cracking and it’s not always due to it being improperly poured. Although concrete is durable, it’s not flexible. Too much movement can cause the concrete to crack over time or as the driveway settles. Also, using too much water in the mix, the concrete drying to fast, or using a poor base could result in cracks.
- Discoloration – this can occur if too much or too little water is used. Also, poor drainage and/or water with high iron or other mineral content can puddle on the driveway could cause discoloration. De-icing salts used by many homeowners in Birmingham during the winter months can also cause discoloration and lead to the breakdown of your concrete driveway.
- Sinking – as mentioned in #2 above, sinking can be caused when the ground underneath settles, or due to poor construction of if water is able to penetrate underneath the driveway.
- Pitting – like spalling, pitting can occur when the concrete is exposed in Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycle. Pitting will could also occur with heavy driveway use combined with the concrete aging.
What to Do with Concrete Problems
With minor concrete problems such as pitting you can DIY to mitigate them before they turn into a larger issue for you. Caulking with premixed epoxy that is formulated specifically for concrete is just one of several things you can do for smaller problems. To help prevent sinking be sure you have proper drainage to include marking sure your gutters are properly maintained and not directing excess water onto your driveway. Trees can also result in poor drainage for your concrete driveway so be sure they are not too close.
When to Contact a Licensed and Insured Concrete Company for Birmingham, MI
If you are experiencing any of the abovementioned issues and the problem is larger than what you can handle DIYing it yourself, it may be time to replace your concrete driveway. We are a family-owned business with over 30 years of experience pouring concrete driveways not only in Birmingham, but across Oakland and Macomb counties. Our crews are professional and experienced with pouring commercial and residential concrete driveways. If you are searching for a concrete contractor that has plenty of experience pouring residential concrete driveways in Birmingham, give us a call today! We can be reached at 248-379-0250.