How to Fix an Uneven Driveway

A level driveway brings long-lasting beauty to a home.

An uneven driveway can lead to a number of problems from poor drainage to dangerous driving and walking conditions in wet weather. Pouring a new layer of concrete over the existing one is a simple, permanent solution. Do-it-yourselfers should have at least one helper to pour and manipulate the new layer into an even surface before it begins to set. This is a weekend project that will take about four days to harden.

Things You'll Need

• Scrubbing pad
• Hose
• Wire brush
• 2-by-4 inch boards
• Brackets
• Drill
• 1-inch-thick boards
• Hammer
• Stakes
• Rolling brush
• Binding adhesive
• Concrete mixer
• Concrete mix
• Long wood or metal board
• Squeegee
• Stiff broom
• Breathable material

Instructions

1. Clean the uneven surface with a scrubbing pad and a hose. Use a wire brush to dislodge embedded debris and rough up the surface to help the new layer adhere.

2. Frame the perimeter of the driveway by laying 2-by-4-inch boards on their sides against the outer edges. Screw the ends of the boards together with brackets and a drill.

3. Pitch the frame on a slight angle so the end closest to the house is higher than the street end. Use measuring tape to mark every 8 feet of length away from the street. Wedge a 1-inch-thick board beneath the mark 8 feet from the street, two 1-inch boards beneath the next mark and so on. Once complete, the street end of the frame will be 1 inch lower than the point 8 feet away.

4. Brace the frame by hammering stakes into the ground ever few feet directly behind the boards, and screw the stakes to the frame boards.

5. Use a painter’s rolling brush to apply a coat of binding adhesive over the driveway.

6. Stir a batch of concrete in a concrete mixer with the prescribed amount of water and concrete mix. Pour it over the uneven surface to the top of the frame boards. Pull a long wooden or metal board across the driveway width and move slowly down the full length. This process levels the surface by pushing excess concrete into low areas. Push a squeegee across the concrete to remove any marks left by the boards. Stop once water bleeds through the surface.

7. Push a stiff broom over the concrete once water reabsorbs into the driveway. The brush will make slight grooves in the surface to add traction in slippery weather.

8. Lay canvas or another breathable material over the driveway and spray it with water. Keep the fabric moist for a few days to slow-dry the new concrete.

References

• Ask the Builder; Resurfacing Concrete; Tim Carter

Resources

• Concrete Network: Concrete Resurfacing