How to Make Broken Driveways Look New

Power wash the entire driveway with concrete stain remover and a scrubbing brush to rough up the pavement and dislodge embedded dirt.

Scrape out any debris from cracks and pits with a wire brush and blower.

Chip any cracks so the bottom opening is wider than the surface, using a cold chisel and hammer. Brush out any chunks of concrete that fall in the hole.

Fill cracks with vinyl concrete patch and spread it smooth with a putty knife.

Apply a thin coating of bonding adhesive around the inside of deep pits, using a brush. Scoop patch compound with a trowel and fill the holes. Fan out the edges over surrounding concrete with the trowel.

Line the outer edges with 2-by-4-inch frame boards. Screw the boards together at each end with screws and set them so the top of the boards sit 1/8 to 1/4 inch from the existing surface.

Mix concrete resurfacer in a concrete mixer with the prescribed dose of water.

Pour the concrete over the existing driveway to the top of the frame boards. Pull a long screed board back and forth over the top of the boards, scraping off excess and pushing it into low areas. Push a squeegee over the wet mix to smooth any marks left by the board.

Create grooves for traction by pushing a medium-bristled shop broom over the surface. Wait to do this step until any bleed water has reabsorbed into the concrete leaving a wet sheen.

Cover the driveway with canvas, burlap or a breathable cloth and spray it with water. Spray the material to keep it moist so the new layer of concrete doesn’t dry out too quickly.