Driveway Repair & Replacement
Cracked, spalled, heaved or sinking? We start with an honest look at the base — not just the surface — and tell you whether your driveway needs a repair or a replacement. No pressure to pour more concrete than the problem calls for.
- Straight repair-or-replace assessment, in writing
- Panel replacement where it makes sense, full pour where it doesn't
- Base corrected so the new work doesn't repeat the failure
Free assessment
Describe the damage. We reply the same business day.
Repair or replace? How we decide
The honest answer is that it depends on what's under the concrete, which is why we look past the surface before quoting anything. Two driveways with identical-looking cracks can need completely different fixes depending on whether the base beneath them is stable or gone.
Usually a repair
- Tight, hairline surface cracks that haven't offset
- Isolated spalling or a chipped edge on an otherwise sound slab
- One settled panel over a base that can be corrected
Usually a replacement
- Wide cracks running across several panels
- Vertical offsets you can catch a toe on between slabs
- Crumbling edges and a base that has washed out or failed
Why this area is hard on concrete
The Blackland Prairie clay under Anna, Melissa, Princeton, Celina, Prosper and McKinney is among the more expansive soils in the country. It swells after a wet spell and shrinks hard in a Texas drought, and slabs poured on unstable or poorly compacted base ride that movement until they crack, tilt or separate. Older housing stock — a lot of McKinney's established neighborhoods included — was often built before today's base-prep and joint-spacing practices, which is why those driveways tend to show their age first.
When we replace, we fix the cause: the base gets corrected and recompacted, thickness and reinforcement are brought up to spec, and joints are laid out properly so the new slab doesn't simply repeat the old failure. If a new pour is the answer, our driveways page covers how we build them, and the cost guide has real numbers for both repair and replacement.
Repair & replacement questions
Should I repair or replace?
Tight cracks, isolated spalling or one settled section are often repairable. Wide cracks across multiple panels, slabs offset vertically, crumbling edges and a failed base usually point to replacement as the better long-term value. We assess the base, not just the surface, and tell you honestly.
Why does my concrete keep cracking?
Expansive Blackland clay swells and shrinks with moisture, and slabs on poorly prepared base move with it. If the underlying cause isn't corrected, a surface patch just cracks again — which is why we fix the base when we replace.
Can you fix a section that's sunk by the garage or street?
Sometimes — if the slab is sound and only the base settled, a section can be rebuilt or a transition corrected. If the concrete itself is failing, replacing the affected panels lasts longer. We inspect before recommending.
Can you replace just the bad panels?
Often, yes. Driveways are poured in jointed panels, so we can replace only the failed ones. If damage is widespread or won't color-match well, a full replacement is the cleaner result. We'll price both.
How long does replacement take?
A typical residential replacement is a few working days for demo, base correction and the pour, then a cure period before driving on it. Weather can extend that, and we plan for it honestly.
Get an honest read on your driveway
Call now, or send the form and hear back the same business day.
(469) 829-4880