Find out how much it will cost to fix your concrete driveway using DIY methods vs. professional services.
Repairing your concrete can save you lots of money as an alternative to pricy concrete replacement. This is great in theory, but how much will it actually cost you?
In this article, we’ll answer that question by sharing cost estimates associated with concrete driveway repair, whether you opt for the DIY route or seek professional repair services.
Here at A-1 Concrete Leveling, we don’t perform all the services listed in this article, but we’ve compiled these costs based on our three decades of expertise in the concrete repair industry.
| DIY | Professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Patching or Sealing Cracks | $5 - $15 | $100 - $1,000 |
| Patching or Resurfacing Surface Damage | $5 - $80 | $2,000 - $5,000 |
| Lifting Uneven or Sunken Slabs | $15 - $80 | $500 - $6,000 |
| Tree Root or Stump Removal | $0 - $150 | $300 - $800 |
| Replacing Extensively Damaged Slabs | $500 - $1,000 | $2,000 - $15,000+ |
| Cleaning Stains and Discoloration | $60 - $90 | $400 - $500 |
Many different factors influence the actual pricing of concrete repair services, like DIY vs. professional, size, location, extent of the damage, etc.
More on this in the coming sections.
DIY vs. Professional Concrete Driveway Repair (Costs and Value)
When it comes to repairing your concrete driveway, the choice between DIY and professional services can significantly impact both the outcome and the cost.
DIY Concrete Repair
Opting for a do-it-yourself approach can save you money, especially for minor repairs like patching or sealing cracks. However, it's crucial to note that DIY methods have limitations, and they might not be suitable for complex issues, such as lifting uneven slabs or extensive surface damage.
Pros
- Cost-Effective: DIY repairs can be budget-friendly, especially for small-scale projects.
- Immediate Action: DIY repairs allow you to address minor issues promptly without waiting for professional assistance.
Cons
- Limited Expertise: DIY repairs may lack the precision and expertise provided by professionals, leading to temporary or mediocre fixes.
- Risk of Mistakes: Without proper skills, DIY attempts can sometimes worsen the damage, leading to higher repair costs in the long run.
- Time: Researching best practices, sourcing materials, and figuring out how to perform the DIY on your own driveway add up to a lot of time spent on the project.
Professional Concrete Repair Services
Hiring a professional concrete repair service helps ensure a high-quality, long-lasting solution for your driveway issues. While professional driveway repair may be more expensive upfront, it comes with peace of mind and added value when working with the right company.
Pros
- Expertise: Professionals possess the necessary skills and expertise to diagnose complex issues accurately and provide effective solutions.
- Quality Workmanship: Professional repairs are often better quality, ensuring the longevity, durability, and good aesthetics of the repaired driveway.
- Comprehensive Solutions: Professionals can handle extensive repairs, including lifting sunken slabs, addressing structural damage, and ensuring proper finishing.
Cons
- Higher Cost: Professional services generally come at a higher cost, especially for complex repairs or complete driveway replacements.
- Dependency on Scheduling: You may need to wait for an available slot in the professional's schedule, potentially delaying urgent repairs.
Driveway Repair Cost by Problem
Patching or Sealing Cracks
For DIY concrete crack patching or sealing, expect to pay around $5 - $15 for the material to repair one to two average-sized cracks. Professional crack repair could cost as little as $100 for a few smaller cracks and between $500 - $1,000 for more extensive crack repair around the entire driveway.
Concrete driveway crack repair cost depends on the following factors:
- Number of cracks
- Whether the cracks need preparation (removing debris or previous repairs)
- Width of the cracks
- Total linear feet of all cracks
DIY concrete driveway crack repair cost depends on the materials you opt to use. Basic silicone or latex caulk or cheap crack filler could cost $5-6 for one to two cracks, while a decent concrete-specific caulk may cost $10-12 per tube.
Sand, aggregate blends, or stones may be an additional cost to help the DIY patch or caulk blend in better with the concrete.
Patching or Resurfacing Surface Damage
For DIY concrete patch jobs or resurfacing, expect to pay around $5 - $10 for a small hole, or around $80 for an entire 10x10 slab. Professional concrete resurfacing could cost between $2,000 to $5,000 for an entire patio, porch, or driveway.
The cost of concrete resurfacing or patching surface damage depends on these factors:
- Size, shape, and type of damage
- Type of patching material used
- Whether one spot, an entire panel, or groups of panels will be repaired
- Decorative vs. plain finishes
On professionally resurfaced concrete, decorative finishes like stamp textures (most expensive) or stencil designs (mid-tier) are more expensive than standard broom finishing.
When DIYing concrete driveway surface repair, a bag or bucket of concrete patcher at the hardware store will be the cheapest option.
The resurfacing compound that comes with professional resurfacing is higher-end (and more expensive), but it also typically includes strategic surface prep to extend the life of the repair.
Leveling or Lifting Uneven Slabs
DIY concrete leveling can cost between $15 - $80, whereas professional concrete leveling services may cost between $500 - $6,000.
While not common, DIY concrete leveling methods do exist (using sand and wooden boards, or bottle jacks and soil). However, DIY concrete leveling is not recommended as lifting and moving the concrete is dangerous and can result in even more damage to the slab.
The cost of lifting uneven concrete driveway slabs depends on the:
- Concrete leveling method used (stone, foam, or mud)
- Size of the void or sunken area
- Number of problem areas around the driveway
- Physical obstacles in the lifting area
- Nearby buildings
- Distance material must be pumped
In general, foam concrete lifting repairs are 10-20% more expensive than stone slurry grout leveling or mudjacking.
Related Resource: The Types of Concrete Leveling Compared
Removing Tree Roots
Removing tree roots yourself could cost $0 - $150, while according to Forbes Home, hiring professional landscapers to remove them could cost between $300 - $800.
The cost of tree root removal around your concrete driveway depends on these factors:
- Whether or not the entire tree has to be removed
- Proximity of the tree to the concrete
- Whether or not the driveway slabs will have to be replaced
- Size and number of tree roots
Pro Tip: Concrete leveling can even out some areas lifted by tree roots without the need for root removal.
DIY root removal may not cost any more than your time if you have a saw, axe, and shovel.
To avoid damaging your tree beyond recovery, you may need to contact an arborist before making any repair decisions, which will add to the total cost.
Replacing Extensively Damaged Slabs
You can purchase the necessary materials to replace concrete driveway slabs yourself for between $500 - $1,000. Minimums for pouring new concrete driveway slabs professionally commonly start around $2,000 and can go up to $15,000+ for entire driveways.
The total cost for concrete driveway slab replacement depends on the:
- Size and shape of the area being replaced
- Finishing style and if decorative techniques are used
- Accessibility of the location
- Use of rebar or other reinforcement
If a majority of your driveway slabs are crumbling or deteriorating beyond repair, you will likely need total replacement.
Buying bagged concrete and doing it yourself can be significantly cheaper than hiring a professional concrete contractor, but can be very labor intensive. For reference, it would require eight 90 lb bags of concrete to replace a small sidewalk section (4ft x 4ft).
Reinforcement of the concrete is a valuable consideration to help extend the life of your new concrete. Using fiberglass concrete reinforcement could be cheaper than wire mesh or rebar, but each contractor typically has a different personal preference.
Cleaning Stained or Discolored Concrete
You can rent a pressure washer to clean your stained or discolored driveway for around $60 - $90 per day, whereas professional concrete cleaning services may cost between $400 - $500 for an average-sized driveway.
How much it costs to clean a stained and discolored concrete driveway depends on:
- Driveway size
- How dirty the concrete is
- Whether or not multiple cleanings or stain removers are required to remove stains
- How long the stains take to remove
- Additional sealing services
Pro Tip: Sealing your concrete driveway with a high-quality penetrating sealer can help protect it from freeze-thaw damage, mold, salt, stains, and more.
If your driveway pools water, it may be more time-consuming and expensive to clean as the dirty water has to be swept, scooped, or vacuumed off the surface.
What Influences Concrete Driveway Repair Cost?
Now, let’s dive into the general factors that influence the cost of concrete driveway repair:
-
Size of the Driveway
It makes sense that a larger driveway requires more time to repair, and therefore it will cost more, too.
Additionally, if you’re repairing one section of your driveway but would like a cohesive look (i.e. replacing all slabs so they match), a larger driveway will be much more expensive to repair than a smaller one.
-
Layout and Slope
Long, curvy, or hilly driveways are generally harder to work on than short, flat, and simple layouts. These complexities add extra difficulty that will likely increase repair costs.
-
Extent of the Damage
The type and extent of the damage to your driveway will also influence how much the repair costs. Patching a small 10x10-inch section of surface damage will cost far less than resurfacing an entire driveway full of intense flaking and spalling.
Additional Concrete Driveway Repair Costs to Consider
You may need to factor in one or more of the following expenses into the total cost of your concrete driveway repair:
-
Drainage Solutions
If you have standing water on your concrete, or if water erosion has caused your concrete to settle, it’s important to take care of it.
This could look like installing french drains, catch basins, redirecting or extending downspouts, or even replacing and cleaning gutters.
Improving the water drainage around your property could be as inexpensive as $10 for a plastic downspout extension all the way up to many thousands to have a professional install a French drain.
-
Permits and Licenses
Bigger concrete replacement projects may need special permits and licenses depending on the local building codes where you live. This could easily add an additional $50 - $100 to the total cost.
-
Landscaping
You may need help from a landscaper to move plants near your driveway before or after the repair, or to fix any damage to your landscaping due to intense repairs, like demoing damaged slabs and pouring new concrete.
Regrading to change the slope of your property may also be a necessary additional cost. This could be as simple as adding a few bags of soil to the area, or as complex as a significant construction job costing thousands of dollars.
-
Sealing
Sealing concrete driveways is often done after pressure washing to protect the concrete from further damage. This can be done as a DIY project for around $150 - $300 for an average-sized driveway (~1,000 square feet) with off-the-shelf sealants, or between $500 - $800 for professional services with professional-grade sealants.
Concrete Driveway Repair FAQ
Can I DIY concrete driveway repair?
DIY can definitely save money for some services, like caulking or patching, but professionals are better suited for more complicated repairs like concrete leveling or replacement.
Professionals can also help avoid the annoyance of repeated repairs from use of lower quality materials or application methods that fall outside best practices.
Related Resource: DIY Concrete Driveway Crack Repair Guide
When is my driveway too far gone for repair?
Concrete driveways that are crumbling, have numerous large cracks, or are severely lifted due to tree roots are likely too damaged for repair. In these cases, replacement is a better alternative.
Your Next Steps
Now that you have an idea of how much repairing your concrete driveway will cost, you’re one step closer to deciding which route is right for you.
Will you repair, or replace? Will you be a DIY weekend warrior, or call in the pros?
Not sure yet? That’s okay! These resources may help you figure it out:
A-1 Concrete Leveling has been taking concrete repair off homeowners’ plates for over 30 years. So if you’re not up for doing it all on your own, check out the following pages to learn more about how our services can help you:
Or, click the link below to request a free onsite cost estimate with a member of the A-1 team!
Click Here to Find Your Nearest Location and Receive a FREE Estimate
Topics:
