I have an old driveway where one of the gaps between the concrete slabs had some expansion material in it. While I was power washing, I accidentally destroyed that material, thinking it was just mud or dirt. My driveway is about 10 years old, and I'm wondering if I actually need to replace that expansion material or if it's just something that was necessary when the concrete was first poured. Also, why is that material present only in that one gap while the others don't have it, even though there are cracks between all the slabs?
2 Answers
Yes, it's a good idea to replace that expansion material. You can fill the gaps about halfway with play or all-purpose sand, then use a self-leveling concrete joint crack repair sealant. The Sika sealant is easy since you don’t have to shake it before using, while the Quikrete one can get a bit thick and tough to mix. Just grab some knee pads; you’ll appreciate them while working!
Haha, I totally get your struggle! I had a mishap while power washing too—now I just wear my trusty crocs. Just make sure you’re careful next time around!
Hahaha, we all learn the hard way! Definitely better to be in crocs than risking a foot injury!
You don't have to replace it if you don't want to; leaving it as is won’t hurt your driveway. But just know that it could allow grass to sprout up in that gap.