What caused this surface failure on my integrally colored concrete driveway, and what can I do to repair it? The driveway is 6 years old and 1,000 square feet in size, but only a few hundred square feet directly in front of the garage doors show signs of failure.
This type of surface failure, known as spalling or scaling, is more common in colder climates where freeze-thaw cycles and deicing chemicals are prevalent. Freezing causes the water in the capillaries of the concrete to expand, creating pressure. Over time, the expansive pressure from repeated cycles of freezing and thawing can break away the top surface of the concrete machinery, leaving pit marks and exposing the coarse aggregate. Deicing chemicals only aggravate the already-stressed concrete by allowing more water to migrate into the concrete, thus increasing the size and depth of the spalling failures when a freeze occurs. That's why the problem occurred only in front of the garage, where the cars are often parked. Deicing chemicals picked up from the road dripped onto the surface, allowing water to permeate that area.
On new concrete, you can dramatically reduce water-induced spalling by applying a penetrating waterproofing sealer 28 days after concrete placement and every few years thereafter. To address the problem after it has occurred requires covering the entire affected area with a polymer-modified cementitious overlay in a color matching the existing driveway. Once the overlay cures, apply a waterproofing sealer to prevent the problem from reoccurring.
Instructions
- Roll the cement mixer onto level ground near the place the finished concrete will be spread. Lock the wheel brakes. Extend and lock the stabilizing legs (if the mixer has them) into place.
- Tip the barrel to the 45 degree up-angled position. Click the position lock into place.
- Dump bagged cement mix into the mixer barrel. Use one bag at a time unless otherwise permitted by the specific mixer instruction sheet. Add sand to the mixer barrel in the proportion listed on the cement bag.
- Plug the heavy-duty three-pronged electrical extension cord into the mixer plug receptacle. Plug the other end of the cord into a live electrical outlet. For gasoline-powered mixers, fill the mixer tank with gas and twist the gas cap tightly closed.
- Turn the mixer on to the lowest setting. Allow it to run until the sand and cement are well combined. Turn the mixer speed up to a medium setting. Pour in the volume of water indicated on the cement bag label. Use a bucket to add the water in a steady stream as the mixer continues turning.
- Switch the mixer off when all ingredients are completely combined. The mix should be slightly soupy without any dry clumps. Release the barrel lock and tip the concrete out into a wheelbarrow.
- Clean the mixer immediately before concrete can harden on its surfaces. Unplug the equipment and then hose it off with a strong stream of water.






