Driveway Depression Repair

Repairing your driveway is less expensive than replacing it.

A depression may appear in a driveway for many reasons, the two most common being improper substrate preparation and erosion. Filling a depression in a concrete driveway involves first cutting through the concrete to repair the substrate below. While it is possible to simply pour new concrete over old to level out your driveway, this is not the preferred method, as delamination is likely to occur in the patched area. Most of the necessary tools and equipment needed for this repair should be available at any well-stocked rental supply house.

Things You'll Need

• Safety glasses or goggles
• Dust mask
• Ear protection
• Demo saw with diamond blade
• Sledgehammer or jackhammer
• Tamper ("jumping jack" style)
• 5/8-inch to 1 1/2-inch crushed stone
• Tape measure
• Concrete
• Wheelbarrow
• Shovel
• Concrete float
• Concrete edger

Instructions

1. Using the demo saw, make a rectangular cut. Cut beyond the edge of the depression by about 1 foot in all directions.

2. Break up and remove the concrete inside your cut lines, using the jackhammer or sledgehammer.

3. Using a jumping-jack-style tamper, thoroughly compact the exposed soil.

4. Add crushed stone to level the depression, and compact with the tamper. If the cavity is more than 4 inches deep, add the crushed stone in 4-inch "lifts," compacting between each lift. The final level of the crushed stone should be 4 to 6 inches below the driveway's surface.

5. Mix the concrete according to instructions on the bag, and pour level with the surrounding concrete. Finish with a concrete float, and use an edger around the perimeter of the patch.

Tips & Warnings

• You may consider hiring a mud-pumping contractor to raise the driveway if the damage isn't severe.

• Concrete dust contains harmful silica. Always wear a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-approved respirator when dry-cutting concrete.

• Wear eye, ear and dust protection when using power tools.

References

• "Masons and Builders Library"; Louis M. Dezettel; 1978

Resources

• Calculating concrete needs