HOUSTON – When it comes to replacing broken, cracked and crumbling concrete walkways and driveways, everything is big.
Taking care of the problem is an expensive mix of big labor costs, lots of man hours, heavy machinery and costly materials.
Sharon Norman of Kingwood learned about all of that when she recently found out her driveway was so broken up, she would have to have it replaced. The worst part? Like most of us, she knew nothing about concrete repair and replacement.
"My biggest fear was that the whole driveway was going to end up cracking to the point where I would have to replace the entire thing for $8,000 to $10,000," Sharon said.
That's a pretty fair guess. According to Jack McGinnis, a veteran cement and asphalt contractor in Houston, even a small, 20-by-20-foot driveway can cost up to $8,000.
But McGinnis said there are lots of cracks that can be repaired for a fraction of that cost, especially if you are willing to do a little work yourself.
"There are definitely cracks that the average guy can repair, and in doing so, save thousands of dollars over a full sidewalk or driveway replacement," McGinnis said.
Now, we at Channel 2 News, working with McGinnis, are going to teach you which cracks can be repaired and which require concrete replacement.
Crack No. 1: the multi-part crack
This is a crack with multiple pieces that can move when you step on it.
Repair or replace? Replace, McGinnis says.
"No you shouldn't waste your time repairing a crack like this because it's moving. There is just no way to seal it or to hold it in place. It's too far gone," McGinnis said.
Crack No. 2: the raised concrete crack
Here, the cement is raised above the rest of the concrete slab and is causing a severe tripping hazard to people who walk on it.
Repair or replace? Repair!
McGinnis said this problem can be fixed by simply shaving down the raised portion of concrete using a cement grinder. This is a machine you push like a lawn mower as it grinds up concrete below.
It requires a lot of hard work, but Jack said you can save a ton of money if you rent the machine and do it yourself.
"We repaired this section of raised concrete, we smoothed it out using a machine we got at United Rentals for $350. If you get a concrete contractor out here to do this, he would charge you between $1,800 and $2,000," McGinnis said.
Crack No. 3: the small, simple, random crack
Repair or replace? Repair!
McGinnis assures us you can fix this small, relatively straight crack by renting a hand-held power saw, cutting the sides of the crack to smooth it out, brushing out the crack and sealing it with a product called, Self-Leveling Crack Fill.
McGinnis said the cost of hiring a contractor runs roughly $250 to $350. Doing it yourself will cost you $75.
In the end, Sharon Norman wound up only having to replace 1/3 her driveway, saving her roughly $4,000 and she saved an additional $700 by getting three separate bids and going with the lowest bidder.
"My total cost came to just about $2,000, A lot better than I expected," Sharon said.
If you are looking to hire a concrete contractor, make sure you call at least three different companies and get three separate bids.
If you are looking for a reputable contractor who will do a good job, we have links to both Angie's list and HomeAdvisor below.
LINK: Angie's list
LINK: HomeAdvisor
