How do I stop stress relief crack from growing in my driveway?

Mark McPhie
by Mark McPhie

I live in an 18 + year old home, outdoor temp ranges from about 0 - 100 deg F. I have noticed the stress relief grooves in my cement driveway are now cracks and are growing. Should I be filling them with something? What is the proper care and feeding of a cement driveway or patio?

  3 answers
  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Feb 17, 2019

    The stress relief grooves are doing their intended purpose if the cracks are not spreading to the flat part of the driveway. You can add concrete caulking into the grooves to seal them and stop collecting dirt and other debris. I did this on my patio and workshop concrete floor so I can clean both easier. Painter tape keeps caulk from getting on surfaces you don't want caulk.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Feb 17, 2019

    Either straight "expansion joints" or stress cracks, actually spreading or shifting, you've probably water intrusion into the substrate (should be compacted gravel and sand). Check for erosion and stop it.

    Yes, stop the water intrusion into the slab, as freeze/thaw cycles are going to make it worse.

    Power wash the dirt/mud out of the cracks, make sure they're clean and dry and then use a "concrete in a tube" product, that is meant for a caulk gun. I've used two brands and I definitely liked one better than the other and it's label was yellow and gray (sorry I forgot the brand).

    Check the manufacturing date and buy the newest stock you can, because it ages and becomes harder to push out of the tube.

    Trim the tube at the smaller end and at an angle, to keep the application less messy.


    You'll need something like popcicle sticks, latex gloves, bucket of water, old scrub brush or tooth brush and cotton rags, to push it into the cracks and clean up, unless you are an expert at caulking.


  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Feb 19, 2019

    Mark, Check with Home Depot's nursery department, and ask. You can buy cement there, but wait till the freeze is over. Aloha!