As the monsoon season has come into effect, sinking of the driveways is very common. This can be a major problem as you can't take out your vehicle properly and a pool of water right in front of your property is not a very pleasant sight as well. If you are planning to call an asphalt company to clear the driveway, they can charge you almost $800 - $1000 for their services. That can be really expensive for many people. So, why don't you clear your own driveways and fix it from any more damage? 

So, in this blog we are going to show you how you can fix sinking driveways all by yourself. Let's check how you can do it.

Fixing a Sinking Driveway, Yourself 

Fixing a sinking driveway, yourself can seem to be a tedious task, but if you know the right way, it becomes easier. Here are the steps that you should follow to fix the driveway - 

●     Make sure it’s out far enough to include all the settled asphalt. Lay out a row of your paving bricks, starting against the garage floor slab to position the chalk line at a full brick.

●     You can check the thickness and the construction along with the checking of the space of the bars and the wire meshes, before you go for fixing a dilapidated driveway. 

●     Cut through the asphalt (it’s usually 2" to 3" thick) along the chalk line. Be sure to wear ear and eye protection. Use good quality glasses and ear buds to prevent any kind of damage to them.

●     Remove the asphalt and dig a 12-in.-deep trench. Angle the wall of the trench slightly under the remaining asphalt. Rent a plate compactor and run it along the trench at least four times to compact the soil. Line the sides and bottom of the trench with landscape fabric. 

●     Spread a 2-in. layer of Class V or other compactable gravel, dampen it and run the compactor over it four times. Continue to spread and compact the gravel in 2-in. layers until it’s 3 in. below the existing driveway. Choose the coarse gravels and tell the expert to create the layers accordingly.

●     Now specialists also work with synthetic fibres to make the driveways stronger and more durable in nature. In this way, you can also get better amount of return and resale value for your home. 

●     Install paver edging along grass edges and spread a 1-in. layer of coarse sand. Don’t compact the sand too much. You can read more about what are the disadvantages of compacting the sand too much in our other articles.

the right pavers give a unique way of imparting a fine aesthetic blend and durability to porches, paveways, gardens and to the outdoor areas of your home. The swimming pool area is also one such area where you can install the pavers. 

●     Once you're done, you can easily use the driveway again and prevent further water from clogging in the driveway. 

What are the materials you will need? 

Here is a list of all the materials that you will need in order to fix the sunken driveway - 

●     Chalk line

●     Circular saw

●     Dust mask

●     Hearing protection

●     Level

●     Pry bar

●     Safety glasses

●     Spade

●     Wheelbarrow 

Final Words - fixing a dunked driveway can be easily done all by yourself. You just need to know the right steps. This driveway repair is a messy job and no matter how careful you are, your clothes and shoes will get trapped in the dirt and tar. You cannot wash the thread with soapy water.