When your concrete driveway becomes cracked or faded, it can be tempting to save on costs with a DIY driveway resurfacing project. But are you really better off resurfacing your driveway on your own?
Well-built concrete driveways can last a long time, up to 20 years, if they are taken care of with regular maintenance. However, there may come a time when they become significantly damaged, whether due to wear and tear or an accident. In such cases, your concrete driveway will need more than a simple patch job and should be resurfaced to make it safe for use.
In this article, we’ll explore what’s involved in DIY concrete driveway resurfacing, and whether it’s worth doing compared to getting it done by a professional concreting service.
Table of Contents
- Is it possible to resurface your own driveway?
- Professional vs DIY driveway resurfacing
- Why you should consider professional concrete driveway resurfacing
Is it possible to resurface your own driveway?
Before we answer this question, you should first understand that concrete resurfacing is not a simple process — carrying out a proper concreting job requires both specialised experience and equipment.
Technically speaking, it is possible to resurface your own driveway. However, you should keep in mind that the end result of a DIY concrete resurfacing project may not necessarily meet your expectations for a new driveway. So, is it recommended that you resurface your own driveway? No.
Following a general DIY resurfacing guide will only get you so far, as there are many other considerations and factors that may be specific to your driveway that aren’t covered by the guide, such as sloping angles, foundational material, and the concrete itself.
Professional vs DIY driveway resurfacing
To get a better picture of whether DIY concrete driveway resurfacing is worth doing, let’s make some comparisons to the alternative — a professional concrete driveway resurfacing service.
Cost
We all know that the biggest drawcard for any DIY is savings on costs – this is always going to be a major consideration for any project. However, what most don’t factor in is that with DIY driveway resurfacing, you’ll have to procure all of the materials and equipment needed, which can quickly add up in terms of costs.
Professional concreters have close connections to high quality suppliers, allowing them to get materials at lower costs. Depending on the quality of materials you choose, it’s possible to end up spending more overall than when working with a professional concreter.
Quality
With a DIY driveway resurfacing project, you’re not going to have access to the equipment, technology, and materials required for a quality finish. Not to mention, the expertise that a professional concreting company can provide.
This means that your DIY resurfaced driveway may not have the same lifespan, and will be more prone to cracks or blemishes.
Time
Being inexperienced in concreting, it’s going to take longer to complete the project than if you were to hire a concreting company. Having an under-construction driveway could be a source of inconvenience in your day-to-day activities.
Don’t run the risk of ruining your driveway – work with the experts
As mentioned above, yes – it is possible to resurface your driveway yourself, provided you are willing to look past the differences in workmanship quality, cost, and time taken for completion.
For Australians that are looking to resurface their driveway, there’s no going past the experts. It may be cheaper upfront to try and DIY your home renovation projects; but in the long run, you’ll end up paying more to get the job fixed by a professional. If you’d like to learn more about our concrete driveway resurfacing services across Brisbane, get in touch with Conker today.
