LESLIE: Joe in Kansas is next who finds The Money Pit on KLWN. And what can we do for you today?
JOE: I have a cement driveway and we bought this home a few years ago and the driveway was already in. It’s a fairly … I think (ph) fairly old driveway but it’s nice and level. Seems structurally sound underneath but it’s got some cracks that I have to fill every couple of years and some chipping and pitting on the top surface. Is there any way for me to resurface this thing without tearing it clear out and replacing it?
TOM: Well, with a concrete driveway, the only patching compound that really works well is epoxy.
JOE: Uh-huh.
TOM: And if you use an epoxy patching compound, you will get two to three years out of … wear and tear on that. In terms of the cracks – generally, we recommend a silicon caulk for those. And do this on a warm day so it flows in there nicely and seals it tightly. If you do that, you shouldn’t really be replacing it every year. If you use something besides silicone, it will tend to shrink and dry out and have to be replaced more frequently. But if you do it on a dry day and the crack is cleaned out, you ought to get several years out of a good silicone filling of any of those cracks. The epoxy patching compounds can be painted on or troweled on. It will create a new surface but remember, once you get into the painting realm, you’re going to have to repaint. So you really have to pick your poison here, Joe.
Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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