How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Driveway?

Driveway Repair Costs By Type

Concrete 

Most concrete repairs run from $300 to $3,500 and include light repairs like crack sealing all the way to large patching and sealing.

Most commonly, concrete suffers from tiny cracks. In moderate and colder climates, water gets into these cracks and can freeze. As the water freezes, it expands. The hydraulic pressure from the freeze/thaw cycle turns small cracks into larger ones, and creates more damage. 

But it’s not the only issue. You might also deal with spalling, sealing, patching, and mudjacking or lifting, all with different repair prices. Concrete driveway installation costs around $5 per square foot, or about $3,500 total. Sometimes, it’s cheaper just to replace than repair.

Asphalt 

Asphalt driveway repairs cost between $1,000 and $3,700. It suffers from many of the same issues as concrete but is even more prone to cracking.

Over time, asphalt will form fissures, often referred to as alligator or spider web cracks. These are cheap and easy to patch; you can patch them yourself. Patch material and sealer will cost between $2 and $3 per square foot combined. You should be able to find an asphalt squeegee for somewhere between $25 and $60.

Potholes and sinkholes take more work to repair. They usually happen for three reasons.

1. Unattended alligator cracks

2. Poorly-constructed foundation

3. Erosion of the base over time due to improper drainage design.

Brick 

Brick driveway repairs cost $700 to $2,000. Generally, that means replacing the damaged bricks. Brick repair costs vary by location and by the type of damage, but generally, you’ll need to know a few prices, including:

It's a beautiful and decorative material, but it takes its share of abuse over time. Tree limbs fall and fracture it. Roots grow up underneath and push it upward. Sand layers underneath erode and pull it down. Sometimes the person installing it does a poor job. You can level sunken areas by temporarily removing the affected bricks and adding sand underneath until the ground is even again.

Damage caused by a tree's root system is common. As the tree grows, roots near the surface force bricks upward. While you can build the driveway up to cover the growth, it’s often a better and less expensive solution to simply remove the tree and repair the driveway. 

Cobblestone 

Cobblestone driveway repairs cost $650 to $2,000 or $6 to $75 per square foot. Price difference often comes down to whether you have traditional cobblestones or the much less expensive look-alike concrete pavers, which are much more like brick or concrete repair. Otherwise, the amount of sand and cobbles you need to repair or replace dictates the budget.

Sunken areas usually indicate underlayment problems. Fixing underlayment comes with a similar cost to repairing sunken or damaged cobblestones.

Cobblestone can be expensive to install, but it might be the easiest type to improve and maintain. Issues arise after frigid weather or unusually heavy use. If there are just a few broken stones: 

1. Pry them up using a screwdriver. 

2. Add sand or gravel if the ground underneath is not level. 

3. Put the new stone in place, make sure it is level with the other stones.

4. Sweep sand into the cracks around it.

Gravel & Dirt

Gravel driveway repairs cost $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot, or about the price of new gravel.

While dirt, sand, clay, and gravel driveways are the least expensive to install, they require regular maintenance and damage easily in heavy rainfall. 

• Gravel driveways cost $1,500 to $2,500. This price can vary dramatically depending on the type of material, quality, and quantity purchased.

• Potholes commonly occur when water gets trapped under the surface. Avoid this with proper drainage. Fix it with compacting new gravel into the hole.

• Washboarding happens over time when driven on.

• Washouts from storms are common. Adding driveway edging can help keep landscaping water from running down and pooling in the drive.

• Hiring a professional to evaluate the area for improvements that could be made to minimize the occurrence of potholes can save in future costs and labor. 

Heated

Heated driveways cost $500 to $3,400 to repair. Most repairs don’t need a tear-out and replacement, but major repairs might mean a reinstall for $2,000 to $25,000, depending on how it’s constructed and the specific issue. Consulting with a professional is a starting point. Plan to replace large sections; reaching the right spot will mean tearing up the driveway and driveway apron. They’re convenient for homeowners during the cold winter months, making them a wise investment for many homeowners.

Costs to Fix Common Issues

The cost range for repairs varies widely, but that’s due to the type of repair you need. Common ones include spalling, settling, buckling, and cracking.

Spalling/Scaling

The average cost for concrete work is $3 to $5 per square foot. The cost estimate for brickwork ranges between $0.50 and $3 per brick.

Spalling (or scaling) happens in colder climates for two reasons: freeze/thaw cycles and deicing chemicals. Fixing concrete spalling is simple. Just cover the problem area with a polymer-modified cementitious overlay. Once it cures, add a layer of waterproof sealer. For brick, replace the affected bricks and apply a water seal.

Settling/Sinking/Buckling

The average cost to repair driveway settling, sinking, or bucking is $3 to $5 per square foot. Some settling is bound to occur as the ground compacts underneath the weight of your driveway. How much it settles depends on the composition of the soil. Other issues responsible for sinking or buckling include erosion and tree roots rotting. If parts have settled more than a few inches, repairs will be necessary. 

You can repair this in one of two ways: 

• Lift the slab and shovel gravel underneath.

• Drill holes into the driveway, pump concrete in until it levels out, and fill in the holes.

Cracks

Expect to spend $10 to $15 per bottle for crack-repair filler. Just like spalling, concrete and alligator cracks happen in colder climates during the winter months. Smaller ones are easily fixed with crack filling materials.

Potholes

Fixing potholes averages $2 to $4 per square foot or $50 to $400 per hole, depending on your driveway’s materials and where you live. These are usually signs of ongoing issues with an asphalt driveway. Repair smaller potholes with aggregate and asphalt patching.

Fading Color

Expect to pay $10 to $15 per bottle of crack filling material, and plan for concrete staining costs between $7 and $15 per square foot. While fading color is a common issue as driveways age, it doesn’t mean something’s wrong. Set a maintenance schedule, including filling in cracks and resealing every few years to give it a longer life.

Crumbling

Fixing a crumbling driveway will cost between $0.50 to $3 per brick or $3 to $8 per square foot of concrete or asphalt.

This happens on the edges of an asphalt driveway, often near the apron, or the area connecting the public street to your driveway, where the top layer is too thin. It looks ugly, but the main portions of your driveway are fine. Remedy this with an edging of brick, concrete, or other materials.

Factors Affecting Price

No two homes and driveways are the same, so it’s impossible to say exactly what your project will cost. But you can use a few factors to predict which side of the range you’ll fall on. The big ones include the side of the driveway and what it’s made out of. A heated concrete driveway needing complete resurfacing will cost much more than a pothole in a gravel drive. 

Size

Your driveway’s length and width are significant variables. If the damage is extensive, replace it. Repaving is more expensive because of materials and labor. If smaller spots need repair, you’ll pay less to fill in the cracks or repave that section.

Driveway Landscape

If the driveway is a short and flat expanse of asphalt, restoration is simple. If it is long, curving, or hilly, expect a mark-up. Depending on the difficulty involved, a professional may charge more. Figure on spending more if the lawn or gardens surrounding pavement require cleanup.

Repeated damage could be the result of an improper drainage design. For example, water can collect in some spots on improperly graded land. In that situation, you need to determine the best way to drain it. Removing standing water costs most homeowners around $3,000.

Extent of Damage

A few small cracks and limited patching takes less time and effort than work on a more extensive area. It's a good rule of thumb that if more than 25% of your driveway needs to be repaired or patched, repaving, replacing, or resurfacing, is a better idea.

Sealing a Driveway

Sometimes, driveway resealing is all you need. This can rejuvenate the look and help protect it for years to come. Cement or asphalt driveway resealing costs are worth it, as you can repair small cracks and chips. Figure out the square footage, then plan to spend between $0.10 and $0.25 per square foot. Professionals will likely charge between $85 and $100 per 1000 square feet.

Repairing vs. Replacing a Driveway

While deciding whether to repair or replace your drive, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. In no particular order, they are:

• Age: With asphalt and concrete, the average life is between 15 and 20 years. If you know yours is in this age range or older, you should consider replacing the entire driveway.

• Size and number of cracks and holes: If they are large, or appear to run deep, there are likely other problems that should be addressed. The same holds true for potholes.

• Drainage problems: If you notice water standing in spots, something might be wrong with the drainage design.

• Not keeping to a maintenance schedule: Setting up a maintenance schedule is a must. Asphalt and concrete need resealing every few years to help prevent cracking.

Another option would be to resurface it, which will run you between $1 and $3 per square foot, on average. Resurfacing involves scraping off the damaged layers of asphalt or concrete and replacing them with a new top surface. This is an option for homeowners with a damaged driveway beyond simple repairs and who want to save money on a full replacement. This is a task best left to concrete professionals.

DIY Driveway Repair vs. Hiring a Pro

A lot of driveway issues make for great DIY projects. Doing it yourself will save you around 50% of the price of a professional. Easy things like filling cracks and filling potholes make for a good weekend project. But if you’re looking to resurface, seal, or fix crumbling drives, you’ll want to hire a local driveway repair professional.

FAQs

Do I need to fill cracks in my driveway?

If you want to stop water from penetrating and destroying your driveway when it freezes, you need to fill the cracks. It’s an easy, inexpensive way to extend the life of your driveway. You can complete this task in just a few minutes or hours, depending on how much you need to fill. 

How do you maintain a concrete driveway?

Concrete driveway maintenance includes filling cracks and sealing the concrete. Both keep water from penetrating and causing further damage. You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by preventing issues before they arise or limiting their damage by simply filling cracks and sealing your driveway’s concrete. 

Can you pour a new concrete driveway over an old one?

Yes, you can pour new concrete over your existing driveway under some circumstances. If your driveway has only minor cracks, you can pour new concrete so long as it adds 3 to 4 inches when dried. You cannot pour a new concrete driveway if your existing driveway is in disrepair and needs complete replacement. If you add new concrete to an unrepairable driveway, you risk complications with your new driveway. 

How long will a concrete driveway last?

Concrete driveways usually last 20 to 40 years. Still, how the professional installed your driveway, environmental conditions, temperatures/climate, and other factors play a significant role in your driveway’s longevity. Regular maintenance and upkeep will help ensure your driveways last as long as possible and can last beyond this timeframe with minor repairs and resurfacing.