As a homeowner, you likely don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your property’s concrete sidewalk pavement after design and installation until you notice a problem. If you come across potholes, cracks, and other wear and tear, that’s when you decide it’s time to make repairs. Many obstacles can cause damage to your sidewalk pavement, such as the weight of the vehicles passing through, de-icing materials, freezing temperatures, and the quality of the contractor’s work.
On average, concrete sidewalk pavement can last from 10 to 25 years or longer, depending on how strong the contractors built it and how frequently it’s exposed to damaging factors. Some damages require maintenance, such as re-leveling, crack filling or sealing, while some require a total replacement. When there are potholes and cracks all over the pavement, it becomes risky for both vehicles and people. It is therefore important to hire paving experts to solve your pavement problems as soon as you discover them.
When Should You Replace Your Concrete Sidewalk Pavement?
When your property’s concrete sidewalk pavement causes harm or becomes a hazard to vehicles or people, it’s time to work on it. When you notice the following signs, reach out to the experts for a concrete sidewalk pavement replacement:
Multiple Potholes
When the presence of multiple potholes has affected the foundation of the pavement, it’s one sign that you need to replace your pavement fully. Potholes can gather water, making your driveway messy. A passerby can also easily fall into them if unaware, and potholes can be costly to repair individually.
Aged Over 20 Years
A sidewalk pavement that is at least 20 years old will likely show signs of wear and tear, and should also be replaced.
Spiderwebbing or Alligator Cracks
Spiderweb cracks usually have impact points at the center and look like spider webs. Alligator cracks appear like crocodile skin, and are caused by heavy vehicles passing through the pavements. If you discover any of these cracks, then it’s time for a replacement.
Drainage Issues
If the drainage of your properties’ concrete sidewalk pavement is directing water to the wrong place, such as your home’s foundations, you may need to fix it. This is because the water may cause other problems with the foundation of your house, requiring much more money to fix than what you could have used to replace the sidewalk pavement.
Multiple Repairs
If your sidewalk pavement has many small portions requiring repair, it shows that the whole driveway may be weak and the same issues may re-appear shortly after the repair. It would therefore be wise to replace the entire pavement instead of doing independent repairs after a short while.
Why Are Regular Replacements Important?
Replacing your sidewalk pavement is important if you have plans to sell your home soon. The new sidewalk pavement will make your home more appealing, hence attracting more potential buyers. With a damaged sidewalk pavement, potential buyers may not even have the interest in checking what you are offering. Replacement of your sidewalk pavement helps restore the safety of pedestrians and vehicles. A damaged sidewalk pavement poses a threat where one can easily fall into the potholes or damage vehicles.
Four Tips to Know When Your Concrete Sidewalk Needs Repairs
There are some issues that don’t require full replacement of your sidewalk pavement, such as:
- Unconnected small cracks: Cracks that are a quarter of an inch wide require repair before they spread and become wider. Leaving the small cracks unattended will hold water in and when it freezes and spans, the cracks will become wider and deeper and require full replacement.
- Faded color: If your sidewalk pavement has faded from its original color, it’s time to do some repairs. You can do this by adding a sealant and patching any cracks to restore its beauty.
- A pothole: A single pothole may appear in your sidewalk pavement and require repair. You can fix it independently, as one pothole might not be a sign of a weak pavement. You don’t need to replace the entire concrete pavement because of a single pothole.
- Signs of wear and tear at 10 years or old or less: A properly built concrete sidewalk pavement should have at least 15 years’ lifespan. If your pavement is less than 10 years old and wear and tear signs are visible, you can increase its lifespan by repairing it.
If you see any of these signs, you must contact a concrete sidewalk paving expert to help you determine what services your property requires. Replacing or repairing processes can vary based on how much work input is required to restore your sidewalk pavement to its original appearance. In consultation with your contractor, you should first evaluate the concrete sidewalk pavement and all its surroundings to determine the potential causes of the damage. You will then make adjustments as you do the replacement to ensure the same issues don’t affect you soon.
In Closing
To get quality results, you need to partner with the best pavers in the industry. Richfield Concrete has been offering concrete paving services for over 60 years now. Our extensive experience, modern equipment and professionalism, backed by our firm commitment to providing quality services, assures you a durable and beautiful sidewalk. Thousands of satisfied customers continue to recommend us to other clients around the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area. Contact us today and let one of our experts answer your questions and advise you accordingly.