Published 2026
Hairline cracks along control joints are normal and usually cosmetic — concrete is designed to crack in controlled places rather than randomly. Those don't mean your driveway has failed. What we're actually looking for are signs the sub-base underneath has given out, because that's a problem no amount of surface patching fixes.
A crack you can fit a coin into, or one that's visibly gotten wider over a season or two, usually means the ground underneath has shifted or settled unevenly. Patching the surface doesn't address that movement — it'll usually crack again in the same spot within a year or two.
If sections of your driveway have lifted, sunk, or no longer sit flush with each other, that's a base failure, most often from freeze-thaw heaving or poor original compaction. This is one of the clearest signs that repair is a temporary fix at best.
When the top layer of concrete is flaking off, pitting, or crumbling underfoot, it usually means water got into the mix (often from de-icing salt) and damaged the surface from within. Once it starts, it tends to spread rather than stay contained to one spot.
Small, isolated cracks with no vertical offset, or minor surface staining, are usually fine to leave alone or address with a simple sealant. We'll give you an honest read on which category your driveway falls into during a free estimate — we don't sell replacements to driveways that don't need them.
Get a free estimate and ask us directly — no obligation.