Concrete driveways definitely crack, which is a common occurrence with concrete driveways that lack control joints. When the cracks are pronounced or displaced (e.g., settlement occurs), they can become a tripping hazard for unwary passersby. Grinding unevenness produced by settling concrete slabs and/or mud-jacking are two ways to deal with this issue. If the cracks and settlement are pronounced, driveways are typically formed and re-poured.
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VIDEO: Slope Walks AWAY from Home! Orcas Island Home Inspection
It’s important to keep the area within 4-6 feet of the home sloped away from the home to shed water away from the exterior envelope. In this video, taken at a recent Orcas Island home inspection, I document a concrete walkway that has settled and is sloping towards the home. After I went into the crawl space at the conclusion of the inspection, I did indeed note water intrusion and the sloped concrete walkways are a likely contributing factor. Water is the enemy! Do everything you can to keep water away from your home.
Driveway stain removal
Here’s a hint from a Popular Mechanics article: “If you do your own work on your car or other equipment like lawnmowers or chain saws, you’re bound to have oil stains on your garage floor or driveway. Here’s something that works and is basically free: ground-up drywall. Pulverize a small piece with a hammer, then grind it up in your hands and sprinkle it over the stains. Let it stay in place overnight before rinsing it off. If the first application doesn’t remove the whole stain, try it again. Some very old stains can take three or more applications.”