Our 22-year-old concrete driveway had been spalling for years — big chunks of the surface layer coming off, especially near the street where the salt exposure is worst. Got quotes for both repair and full replacement.
Repair quotes (resurfacing + crack injection):
- Contractor A: $4,200 (concrete overlay, crack injection on 3 cracks)
- Contractor B: $3,600 (same scope)
- Both warned the substrate had delamination in two sections — “might not bond”
Replacement quotes (2-car, 600 sq ft):
- Contractor A: $11,400 (4-inch reinforced with rebar, broom finish)
- Contractor B: $10,100 (fibre reinforced, no rebar — said it was adequate for residential)
- Contractor C: $12,800 (4-inch with rebar, 28-day cure, 10-year warranty)
We went with replacement — Contractor A’s $11,400 quote. The resurfacing contractors themselves admitted the delamination areas would likely fail within 3 to 5 years, meaning we’d be back to replacement anyway.
4 weeks post-pour, looks great. Used calcium chloride for curing blanket during an unexpected cold snap — contractor was prepared for it.
Tip from our contractor: don’t use salt on new concrete for the first 2 winters. Use sand. The surface is still curing and salt penetration is highest in the early years.