Concrete Driveway Repair in Thornton, CO
We repair cracked, chipped and sunken concrete driveways in Thornton, Colorado.
- Quotes in writing
- 18 areas covered
Thornton Concrete Driveway repairs cracked and broken concrete driveways for homes across Thornton. We look at the damage, tell you whether a repair will hold, and give you a written quote before we start any work.
What we repair
We fix cracks, broken edges, flaking spots and single sections that have sunk or tipped. If most of the slab has failed, a repair won't last, and we'll say so before you spend anything.
Why we fix cracks early
The City of Thornton says, about its own asphalt streets, that unsealed cracks let water get into the pavement from the surface, which in time leads to potholes and more damage. It calls water getting in the number one enemy of pavement. It also says cracks that are not looked after can get bigger. We fill cracks in concrete driveways for the same reason: to keep the water out.
How we fix a crack
We start by cleaning the dirt and loose bits out of the crack. On wider cracks, we grind the edges so the filler has clean, firm concrete to stick to. Then we fill the crack with a filler that can bend a little as the slab moves in hot and cold weather.
OSHA, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, says cutting, sawing and grinding concrete creates very small particles of crystalline silica. It says workers who breathe them in are at higher risk of serious diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease. We keep kids and pets well back while we grind.
How we fix a sunken or broken section
When one section has sunk or broken up, we saw a straight line around it and break it out. The EPA says old concrete, brick and masonry can be recycled right on site as fill or as bedding for a driveway. We tell you on your quote where the broken concrete is going.
Then we look at the ground under it, dig out any soft spots, add a new base and pack it down hard. We pour the new section level with the concrete around it, sloped so water runs toward the street.
Before we dig, we check for buried lines. The City of Thornton says all requests to have buried utility lines marked should go through Colorado 811. The city marks its own lines, such as water, sewer and fiber, in the right-of-way, which we'd describe as the public land along the street.
Repairs by the street
When we say apron, we mean the strip of driveway between the street and your sidewalk, where your car rolls on and off. The City of Thornton says ROW permits are needed for any work in the city right-of-way that the construction permit for the property does not cover. The city only issues those permits to contractors with a Thornton contractor license.
If your repair reaches the sidewalk, we plan for full squares. The city says once a sidewalk has been cut, the whole panel has to be replaced. Our driveway aprons page covers the apron work in more detail.
What to get in writing
Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:
- Which cracks and sections will be repaired, marked on a sketch.
- What will be used to fill the cracks.
- How the edges of a new section will join the old concrete.
- What will be done about soft ground under a sunken section.
- Who applies for each permit, and whether they hold a Thornton contractor license.
- When you can drive on the repaired areas.
Questions about concrete driveway repair in Thornton
Do I need a permit to repair my driveway?
The City of Thornton says any type of construction within the city needs a construction permit, even on private property. We tell you which permits your repair needs when we quote it.
Will a repaired section match the rest of my driveway?
We tell you before we pour that new concrete will look a little different from the old concrete next to it. We line up the new section with the old joint lines so the change looks neat.
Who marks lines I own, like one running to a yard light?
The city says private lines, the ones the property owner owns, will not be marked with the 811 request. It says the person digging has to get those located, at the property owner's expense. We ask you about any private lines before we dig.
Does the city ever replace broken concrete itself?
The City of Thornton says City Council has approved a $140,000-a-year budget to replace broken or damaged concrete within the city. It says the worst damage decides where the city works, looking at hazards to people walking, damage to the structure, wear on the surface and drainage. The city says that work generally begins in March, depending on the weather, and can last several months.
What de-icer should I use on a repaired driveway?
The City of Thornton asks residents to use eco-friendly and pet-safe de-icers, and says salt can do damage when melting snow carries it onto your lawn or into the storm sewer. Connecticut's Department of Energy & Environmental Protection lists calcium magnesium acetate, a de-icer with no salt in it, as safer for concrete and plants, though it can still harm life in streams and lakes.
Should I seal the driveway after a repair?
We can seal it once the repair is done, and our concrete driveway sealing page covers that work.
What if the whole driveway is in bad shape?
Our concrete driveway replacement page covers breaking out and pouring the full driveway.
Get a quote for concrete driveway repair
Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and a note about the damage. We'll look at your driveway, go through the options with you, and give you a written quote. To see the other work we do, go to the Thornton Concrete Driveway home page.
Ready to talk about your concrete driveway job?
Send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.