Driveway Coating in Ypsilanti, MI

Salt and freeze-thaw take their toll

Michigan driveways endure months of salt, plowed slush and repeated freezing. The top layer of concrete scales and pits, aggregate pops loose and stains spread. Tearing out and replacing a driveway is expensive and disruptive. If the slab underneath is solid, resurfacing restores the surface for far less.

What resurfacing involves

A polymer-modified cement overlay is bonded to the existing concrete, creating a new surface. It can be finished smooth, broomed for traction or textured. A sealer protects the new surface from salt.

Good candidates

Scaling, pitting, stains and hairline cracks are well suited to resurfacing. Heaved sections, large moving cracks or crumbling base need replacement first. We evaluate frost heave, drainage and slab condition before quoting.

Old neighborhoods, narrow drives

Many older homes have narrow driveways running along the house to a detached garage, sometimes with ribbon strips or patched sections. We can resurface these to a uniform look and repair damaged edges along lawns and foundations.

Preparation

We pressure wash, remove loose concrete, grind or shot-blast for bond and repair cracks. Joints are preserved so the overlay moves with the slab.

Traction for winter

Exterior concrete must stay grippy in ice and snow. We use textured finishes and avoid glossy coatings outdoors.

Color options

Grays, tans and earth tones are available. Decorative borders and scored patterns can add curb appeal to historic homes.

Season

We resurface from late spring through early fall, when temperatures support proper cure. Vehicles wait several days.

Care

Shovel promptly, use gentle deicers, keep plow blades raised and reseal every few years.

Cost

Resurfacing typically costs much less than replacement. Repairs and decorative finishes affect price.

Matching walks and porches

Resurfacing sidewalks, steps and porches at the same time gives a consistent look and protects all exterior concrete before winter.

Parking pads and alleys

Rental properties and older homes often have concrete parking pads off alleys that take a beating from tenants' cars and plows. Resurfacing renews these at a lower cost than replacement, and sealing keeps them sound for more winters.

Questions

How long does it last? Many years with sealing and care.

Will cracks return? Moving cracks can reflect; we treat them with flexible repairs.

Can asphalt be resurfaced? Not with this system.

Frost heave and settled slabs

Michigan frost can lift and drop driveway sections, especially where drainage is poor. Slight offsets can be ground down and blended. Larger heaves may need mudjacking or partial replacement before resurfacing. We explain the options and costs clearly so you can choose.

Drainage around the house

Driveways that slope toward the house or garage can send meltwater into basements and foundations. When resurfacing, we can sometimes adjust slopes slightly or recommend drains and downspout changes to direct water away.

Planning for parking

Resurfacing typically takes one to two days of work, then several days of cure before cars. We help you plan street parking, deliveries and trash pickup.

Why the street end fails first

The last few feet of a driveway, where it meets the road, take the heaviest beating. City plows push brine-soaked slush onto it, cars turning in grind grit across it, and water from the gutter can soak in and freeze. That section is often the most scaled and cracked. We give it extra preparation and deeper repair so it bonds well and blends with the rest of the drive.

Garage aprons

The apron just outside the garage door collects meltwater dripping off cars and often scales badly. Resurfacing the apron along with the drive, and coating the garage floor inside, gives you protection from street to back wall.

Our process on resurfacing day

We arrive early, protect lawns, foundations and garage doors, complete preparation and repairs and apply the overlay in carefully timed sections. Finishing texture goes on while it is workable. We leave the drive barricaded and return to seal once it has cured enough.