How to Make Cracks in Your Driveway Look Better

While paved driveways can hold up for decades, they tend to develop unsightly cracks due to weather and daily use. As damage will continue to spread until it is fixed, improving the appearance of a cracked driveway will likewise increase its longevity. Repairing deep and minor cracks will take a day to finish and a few days to set. If the cracks run through the length of the slab, call a professional to evaluate the driveway for structural damage.

Stiff-bristled broom
Blower
Hand brush
Hose
Hammer
Chisel
Wire brush
Bonding adhesive
Paint brush
Vinyl patch compound
Trowel
Degreaser
Stiff brush
Hose
Sealer
Roller brush

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the entire driveway of loose debris before focusing on the cracks. Brush the surface with a stiff-bristled shop broom. Use a blower and hand brush to remove debris from inside the cracks.
- 2
  Point a cold chisel on the top edge of the crack angled to widen the bottom and hit the other end with a hammer. Brush any loose debris that falls in the cracks with a wire brush.
- 3
  Coat the inside and surrounding edges of the crack with bonding adhesive using a paint brush.
- 4
  Scoop vinyl patch compound into the depth of the crack with a trowel and tamp it down. Continue to add more until it is over filled, and feather the excess over the pavement.
- 5
  Pour degreaser over any strains on the concrete and let it stand for 15 minutes. Scrub it with a stiff brush and hose the solution from the pavement. Stains eat away at pavement, eventually creating more cracks.
- 6
  Seal the pavement with a roller brush every other year to strengthen the pavement and reduce fading. Use a tinted sealer to blend the patched cracks in with the rest of the surface.

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