Quick Answer
Replace a concrete driveway when more than a third of the slab is failing or the base has settled; repair or level isolated damage when the slab is otherwise sound.
The honest answer depends on the base, not just the surface. B.G. Concrete will tell you straight when a repair or a lift is the smarter spend and when a tear-out resets the clock — including when the cheaper fix is the right one.
When to replace a concrete driveway
Full replacement makes sense when widespread cracking, crumbling, or a settled base means more than roughly a third of the slab has failed. A tear-out and repour resets the 30-to-40-year lifespan, which patching a failing slab cannot do.
When repair or slab lifting is enough
r/HomeImprovement homeowners are often surprised that a sunken but intact slab can be lifted instead of replaced. Polyjacking or mudjacking raises settled sections at 25 to 50 percent of replacement cost, and isolated cracks on a sound slab can simply be sealed.
How Chicago conditions tip the decision
Driveways on clay soil that were poured without a proper base tend to keep moving, which favors replacement with a corrected base. Slabs that settled from a one-time cause, like utility backfill, are good candidates for lifting.
Related Questions
How do you fix a sinking concrete slab?
A sinking slab is lifted to grade by polyjacking or mudjacking at 25 to 50 percent of replacement cost, if the slab is intact. Read more about slab lifting.
How long does a concrete driveway last?
About 30 to 40 years in the Chicago climate when built correctly. Read more about driveway lifespan.
How much does a concrete driveway cost?
About $6 to $15 per square foot installed in the Chicago suburbs. Read more about driveway cost.
B.G. Concrete pours concrete across Wood Dale and the NW Chicago suburbs — see our driveway replacement services or call 630-595-1518 for a written figure.