A cracked or unsightly driveway can be unsightly and diminish your home’s resale value. While many people opt to repave or seal their driveway after years of wear and tear, a longer-lasting and more affordable solution is available: driveway leveling.
Between the amount of freeze-thaw cycles you can expect in a given NEPA winter and the number of trees that line most homes, driveways are susceptible to cracks and voids that form underneath the slab and cause disrepair. Instead of fixing cosmetic defects, driveway leveling addresses the root of the problem, stabilizing your driveway and keeping it level for years to come.
This guide will discuss the benefits of concrete or asphalt leveling for driveways as a more cost-effective, longer-lasting driveway repair method.
How Do Driveways Become Uneven?
One of the most common home projects that many homeowners invest in every few years is a new seal coat on their asphalt driveway.
Whether you have a concrete or asphalt driveway, no amount of seal coating or self-leveling polymer can prevent voids from forming underneath it, which is the most common cause of uneven driveways.
With that said, unlevel driveways typically form due to factors that occur underneath the surface, such as:
- Soil compaction that occurs as a result of loose soil or moisture that penetrates the soil.
- Tree roots that form voids by cutting through soil and weakening its structural hold.
- Poor installation that leads to soil compaction or is just not leveled properly.
How Does Driveway Leveling Work?
One relatively new and effective method of leveling driveways is called polyjacking. This method of driveway leveling involves drilling penny-sized holes into the slab and then injecting an expandable polyurethane foam into any voids underneath to support the slab.
Using controlled pressure from a special machine, a polyjacking technician can slowly level the slab in a matter of minutes without disrupting any utilities underneath or causing damage to the concrete or asphalt.
Polyjacking is considered a superior solution to other methods of driveway leveling as it cures in minutes, lasts decades, and is moisture-resistant. However, a special machine and technician are required to perform this function.
Pros
- More cost-effective than replacing or repaving your driveway.
- Lasts upwards of 25-80 years, depending on maintenance and environmental factors.
- Non-intrusive installation (holes are barely noticeable).
- Cures in minutes so that you can use your driveway as soon as the project is complete.
- Installation times take a few hours or less.
Cons
- Requires a special machine and technical knowledge for installation (cannot be done DIY).
- More expensive than mudjacking and other methods of concrete leveling.
3 Additional Methods of Driveway Leveling
In addition to polyjacking, homeowners may pursue several additional options to level their driveways. However, many of these approaches have some serious drawbacks that homeowners need to be aware of.
1. Mudjacking
The cheapest option available, mudjacking, is also the shortest-lasting solution and one of the most intrusive. Similar to polyjacking, mudjacking fills voids beneath concrete and asphalt with a heavy slurry–often composed of Portland cement, sand, and other additives.
Unfortunately, this slurry only lasts 3-5 years before it begins to break down in structure. Furthermore, mudjacking takes days to cure and can be potentially damaging to any utilities located beneath the slab. Lastly, mudjacking slurries take an average of 24-72 hours to cure, preventing you from using your driveway in the meantime.
2. Asphalt Overlay
Applying a new layer of asphalt overlay may be a good option if you have an uneven surface and other superficial defects that require patching or repair. However, an asphalt overlay is a much more costly solution than driveway leveling. It does not address the root of the issue, such as soil compaction and void filling required for long-term stability.
3. Replacement
Finally, driveway replacement is an option if the structural integrity of your driveway cannot be repaired using other methods. However, this is only recommended in extreme cases as it will require a hefty investment.
Tips to Prevent Driveways from Becoming Unlevel
One reason we prefer polyjacking to level driveways is because it is a fast and long-lasting solution if you practice proper precautions to protect your driveway.
Therefore, some tips to prevent soil compaction and void formations include:
- Steering downspouts away from the home.
- Repair cracks and other superficial damage before it spreads.
- Avoiding drilling and hammering into your driveway as this can lead to cracks and voids.
- Avoid placing heavy vehicles in a concentrated part of the driveway that may cause the ground underneath to shift.
With proper maintenance, your driveway leveling investment could last a lifetime, never requiring you to invest in expensive asphalt overlays again.
FAQs
Can I level my driveway myself, or do I need a professional?
While minor repairs like patching can be DIY projects, leveling larger areas or using specialized techniques typically requires professional expertise and equipment.
How do I know if my driveway needs leveling?
Signs include visible cracks, pooling water, or uneven sections that affect vehicle movement or pose a tripping hazard.
Will leveling my driveway improve drainage?
Yes, leveling can help improve drainage by ensuring water flows away from the house and driveway surface evenly.
