Short answer
Fix it when the slab is sound and the problem is on the surface or in one panel: hairline cracks, flaking, a single sunken section, a chipped edge. Replace it when the base has failed: panels that heave or rock, cracks wider than a quarter inch that run across the drive, deep settlement at the garage, or a surface that has been patched before and failed again. Nationally, resurfacing runs about $3 to $10 per square foot against $5 to $8 for a new plain driveway plus about $1 per square foot to tear out the old one, so a repair only makes sense if it will last.
| Resurfacing (overlay) | $3–$10 per sq ft[1] |
|---|---|
| New plain driveway, installed | $5–$8 per sq ft[1] |
| Tear-out of the old slab | about $1 per sq ft[1] |
| Typical replacement total | $3,200–$13,000[1] |
| New slab thickness for cars | 4 inches on compacted base[2] |
| Vehicles back on new concrete | about 7 days[3] |
How we tell which one you need
We walk the driveway with a straightedge and a level and look at four things: whether panels rock or have lifted against each other, how wide and how deep the cracks are, whether the surface is flaking (spalling) or just dirty, and where water goes. Then we ask what has been done before. A driveway that has been patched twice is telling you something about the base.
Fix it: what the repair options are
- Crack routing and sealing. Cracks are widened slightly, cleaned and filled with a flexible sealant so water stays out of the base. Cheap, quick, cosmetic.
- Slab lifting. Mudjacking or foam injection under a sunken panel. Same-day, no demolition. Only for intact panels.
- Patching and edge repair. Chipped edges and small spalled areas rebuilt with a repair mortar. Fine for a few spots; a whole surface of spalling wants an overlay.
- Resurfacing (overlay). A thin bonded layer over the whole slab, broom-finished or decorative. Hides stains, spalling and sealed cracks. Our overlay guide explains what it can and can't do.
Replace it: when repair is throwing money away
- Panels that heave, tilt or rock under a car.
- Cracks wider than a quarter inch, or with a step between the two sides.
- Settlement at the garage door that sends water inside.
- A slab poured thin or without a base, which shows as cracking everywhere rather than in one place.
- Repairs that have already failed once.
Replacement means tear-out, a new compacted gravel base, forms, reinforcement and a 4-inch slab (thicker for trucks) with control joints on a planned layout. It fixes the cause, which is usually what is under the slab, not the concrete itself. The driveway cost guide has the sourced national ranges.
Georgia's part in this
Our clay soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, and that movement is what breaks driveways that were poured on poorly compacted ground. Summer heat also cracks surfaces that were finished too fast. So the question we ask about a failing driveway is always the same: was it the slab, or was it the ground? Repairs fix the first; only replacement fixes the second. Read more on our repair page or request an estimate and we'll tell you which one you have.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fix a cracked concrete driveway?
+
Hairline and narrow cracks in a slab that isn't moving can be routed and sealed, and the whole surface can be overlaid if looks matter. Cracks wider than a quarter inch, cracks with one side higher than the other, or cracks that reopen after a repair mean the slab or base is moving, and that is a replacement.
Can a sunken driveway section be lifted?
+
Often, yes. Mudjacking or polyurethane foam injected under the panel raises it back to grade in a few hours, as long as the concrete itself is intact. It fixes the symptom; if water keeps washing out the base, the panel will sink again, so we look at drainage first.
Is it cheaper to resurface or replace?
+
Resurfacing is cheaper up front at $3–$10 per square foot nationally, but only on a sound slab. On a driveway with base problems an overlay cracks within a season or two and the money is gone. We say which one your slab qualifies for at the estimate, in writing.
How long does a repaired driveway last?
+
Crack sealing is maintenance: expect to redo it every few years. A properly bonded overlay on a sound slab lasts for many years if sealed. A new driveway on a compacted base is a decades-long surface. We put the expected life of the repair on the estimate so you can compare it against replacement.
Can you replace just one panel?
+
Yes, if the control joints let us cut it out cleanly. The new panel won't match the old color exactly; it will read as a panel, not a patch. Replacing a run of panels at the street or the garage is common when settlement is concentrated there.
Sources
- [1]ConcreteNetwork.com, How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost? (updated January 13, 2026)
- [2]ConcreteNetwork.com, Concrete Driveway Thickness (published August 17, 2023)
- [3]ConcreteNetwork.com, Curing Concrete (updated May 6, 2025)
Prices are national ranges published by the sources above, not quotes. Your price depends on size, access, site preparation and local labor rates in Georgia. Our free on-site estimate is the price for your site.
See us more often on Google
One click adds Georgia Concrete Pros as a preferred source in your Google account, so you're more likely to see our guides in Top Stories and AI Overviews.