Seal and fill driveway cracks before they spread

Water enters cracks, freezes, expands, and widens the damage every winter. A $20 DIY crack-fill session in April prevents $3,000-$10,000 in section replacement or full driveway rebuild.

For Concrete Driveways

1. Clean cracks with a wire brush and leaf blower
2. Fill with Sashco Slab Concrete Crack Repair Sealant (~$10-$15) — fills cracks up to 3 inches wide, stays flexible through freeze-thaw
3. For large spalled areas, use Quikrete Concrete Resurfacer (~$25/40-lb bag) to skim-coat the surface

For Asphalt Driveways

1. Clean cracks with wire brush and compressed air
2. Fill cracks under 1/2 inch with Quikrete Asphalt Crack Filler (~$5-$10/tube)
3. Fill wider cracks with cold-patch asphalt (~$15/bag)
4. Seal the entire surface with asphalt driveway sealer ($15-$35 per 5-gallon pail, covers 350-450 sq ft)

Professional Driveway Sealing

Average cost: $545 nationally ($275-$820 range). Includes crack filling and full-surface sealing. Extends driveway life by 10-15 years when done every 2-3 years.

Tips

• Wait until daytime temps are consistently above 50°F for proper curing
• Asphalt driveways should be sealed every 2-3 years; concrete every 3-5 years
• Full concrete driveway replacement: $3,000-$10,000+. Full asphalt replacement: $3,000-$7,000+. Prevention is dramatically cheaper