As a business owner, it’s important to properly maintain your premises. While many business owners only consider the interior of their brick and mortar store, the exterior of your place of work can be just as important to driving business growth. For example, if your curb and gutters, sidewalks, ADA ramps or driveways are in need of repair, this can be a major strike against your curb appeal—and the safety of your employees and clients, too!
When it comes to breathing new life into the exterior of your business, there are two major ways to go about doing the job. Some asphalt and concrete jobs can be handled with concrete repair, while other jobs may necessitate replacement. Obviously, the cost differential between these two types of restoration can vary significantly, so it’s critical that you know when to choose repair over replacement and vice versa. Here’s a quick and handy guide for when to opt for repair compared to when to choose replacement.
When Is The Right Time To Choose Concrete Repair Or Restoration?
Like many other building materials, concrete wears down over time. As such, there are only so many times that you can repair it before you’ll eventually need to replace concrete. At the same time, if you can repair your concrete even once or twice, it can often stave off a more expensive job for several years. This is why many companies consider repairing concrete before making the decision to fully replace the material altogether.
So, how do you know when concrete repair is an option? Generally speaking, if the main issues with your concrete are that it is chipping or is simply worn down in a few places, then a concrete repair job may be a viable option. Keep in mind that if the spots that are worn are exposing the aggregate, then you’ll need to fully replace the hard surface. This phenomenon is known as spalling, and is inadvisable to try and repair. A team of asphalt and paving specialists can assess how worn your pavement is and whether or not repair is a viable solution.
Common Reasons For Concrete Restoration
- Installation, repair of replacement of underground utilities
- Cracked Asphalt
- Tree Roots
- Improper Drainage
- Poor Base Material (potholes, sunken surfaces)
View AA Asphalting’s Professional Concrete Restoration Services
When Should You Opt For A Complete Replacement?
When has your concrete deteriorated to the point that it needs to be replaced entirely? As was previously mentioned, if any aspect of the aggregate underneath the concrete is visible or exposed, then a repair job simply won’t solve your issues. Beyond that, it’s also important to take stock of how much chipping is present in your concrete. While a few chips can be remedied with a repair job, if chips are significant, numerous, or particularly deep, it may make more sense to replace the concrete.
As you assess cracks in the concrete, it may also be worth considering how many structural concerns you have about your lot or pavement. Particularly if you live in a climate where swings in temperature are common, these cracks could become serious problems overnight depending on the weather. In geographic areas where temperatures climb in the summer or if you have to battle cold winters and road salt, there are times where seasonal fluctuations may skew your decision towards replacement—even if a repair job could solve the problem.
Common Signs It’s Time For Concrete Replacement
- Cracks – unfortunately, these will only get bigger with time.
- Uneven surfaces – irregularities in surfaces may lead to cracks.
- Water pooling – pooling surface water can lead to cracks and costly repairs.
The above tips should help you narrow down your options between concrete repair and concrete replacement. That being said, it never hurts to have a team of professionals survey your pavement to determine the best course of action. As a commercial business owner, looking presentable is just as important as keeping your customers safe, which is why it’s important to consider how any customer or client’s experience starts not when they walk through your door, but when they set foot on your lot. With a reputable, local pavement expert on your side, you’ll have your lot, sidewalk, or street looking good as new in no time at all.