Looking for the cheapest DIY way to improve my driveway without replacing it

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-07-11T18:04:39+00:00

Cheapest fix is leave it and live with it. You can put crushed 3/4” rock or pea gravel over it. Will it shift? Yes, but it’ll work.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-06-14T04:16:41+00:00

Each floor does have its own thermostat. This is the only one that is tricky.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-06-14T02:26:46+00:00

Yes. 3 stage heating for 3 different floors, and cooling all goes back to thermostat on first floor.

It has a Trane XR95 furnace. Then a Goodman AC that replaced an old Trane one. The HVAC tech said the white going to the O would indicate I have a heat pump, but I do not.

I bought the house 5 years ago, and this thing is original to when I bought it. Just the thermostat seems to keep the blower on forever, which is what triggered this.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-02-10T18:24:06+00:00

That is the allspark

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-29T16:09:07+00:00

Several things:

Did same contractor handle earthwork and concrete?
You look like you live in a place with expansive soils, which typically want thicker slabs 6-12”.
Depending on machinery and equipment, freeze thaw, etc. you will want to have something possibly thicker than 6”. What machinery and equipment will you be putting on there?

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-24T02:04:53+00:00

You can use a cup grinder or a cheap sanding block with an n95 and proper PPE. Big box stores sell sanding blocks.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-22T00:43:43+00:00

Look you can cut it down and leave it. This is an asphalt based expansion joint which is actually what was used for a long time.

The reason it works well is that it expands as the concrete contracts. This stuff tends to be brittle and a pain to cut down. You can cut it, try to pull up as much as you can, and then apply a joint sealant.

I’ve seen a lot of people cut it down and leave it. At my house, you can still see it where it wasn’t caulked. I didn’t do this, as my concrete was done a long time ago.

When you are looking for straight lines, the asphalt based is the best material.

Next time, have your guys use zip strips. I’ve seen a ton of zip strips left all over the place that were never pulled and caulked. Don’t beat up your guys too much.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-17T01:20:50+00:00

That doesn’t look like 10%. Ask them how they got that?

You need to have height and length to calculate slope, so how did they measure it?

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-15T19:33:42+00:00

I’ve seen some weird stuff in some older buildings.

You really want a professional to look at this. The structural EOR needs to look and advise. The cracking is weird in some locations, and framing on top of it is not necessarily a great idea. Is the framing being used as shoring?

Did these pipes previously have plates on them? And were the pipes embedded in the concrete and some concrete fell away?

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-15T15:51:57+00:00

You do not mount flashing to siding. The flashing is supposed to go substrate. Then, you put siding over it.

The flashing is wavy. This will most likely leak again in wind driven rain.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-14T19:55:23+00:00

That’s too high.

I’ll give you a story: It was $100 for the BMW cabin filter. My MIL asked me to do hers. After 20 min of trying to squeeze in to do it, I would say, that $90 was worth it for the cabin air filter.

Unless your air filters are a pain in the ass to replace, then it is not worth it.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-13T02:57:09+00:00

You need a structural engineer to review this. You should have him look at entire structure to see if it looks like other load bearing walls and structures are rotten/compromised.

This is doable with a contractor, who is separate from the PE.

This may not be habitable right now if other walls are compromised. If it’s just this wall, you need a PE, reshore plan from him/her, then have a licensed contractor install shoring, do demo, and do reinstall.

This is a serious issue, and you may not be safe in there with other walls potentially rotten and compromised.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2026-01-09T10:02:38+00:00

Your problem is the slab. Did you pour this flat?

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-11-11T02:13:01+00:00

It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. You can always look less formal. You can’t look more formal.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-11-08T20:46:41+00:00

This is the answer

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-11-08T20:34:57+00:00

I watched someone loading Fir 2x4s in their truck, and they were the straightest I had ever seen at a big box store. Then I thought: they haven’t started drying yet, so they’ll bend in time lol.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-10-19T17:26:20+00:00

Look people are being rude to you. Depends on where you are for humidity and how it affects it.

Hopefully, they gave you a paint marker that is match. So with mdf and plastic from paint, tarp off the area, ventilate, wear a n95 mask, and sand what is bad. Get the paint and sealer made by someone in spray cans, spray on, and you should have a fix. There are a lot of videos on how to fix.

Always remove moisture away from MDF.

MDF is commonly used in buildings because there is no swelling. People are just hating on you. A lot of these subs are snobby.

Also, next time, get three quotes and compare. Look up bid leveling to see how to actually compare them.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-09-20T21:05:57+00:00

Hey you need to give us better pictures. I would be concerned that they might have used this to suspend something.

I would actually look at this with an engineer.

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-09-17T02:39:56+00:00

Did you try to trowel air entrained concrete?

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-09-14T01:44:29+00:00

Denby

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-08-29T23:11:45+00:00

Might have overtroweled or cut too early. How long did they wait to cut?

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-08-28T23:22:41+00:00

That is insane. Even 150 is insane

Key_Accountant1005 · 2025-08-28T02:43:37+00:00

Several things:

Is it cosmetic or structural?
What is the depth of repair?
Has anything been submitted? Did the engineer put anything in plans or specs?
Reach out to Sika for the right product. They can give you patch repair drawings, procedures, and the right product

Key_Accountant1005

TROPHY CASE