Expand - Widen Driveway Repair in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the home of car culture. That’s why it may be mystifying to some homeowners as to why their driveway is so small. 

Let’s face it. Many Los Angeles neighborhoods suffer from a lack of street parking and it would be beneficial to park your car in front of your home. Many homes are located in older neighborhoods with narrow driveways meant to accommodate one-car families of the 1920s. Some homeowners find that previous owners expanded the driveway, but not the apron or so called approach, making it almost impossible to park two cars on the driveway. 

Maybe you’re not really looking for an extra parking spot, but want some extra space in front of your home for shooting hoops. 

Whatever the reason, expanding your driveway is easier and quicker than you may think. Before I continue, you can also expand your concrete porch or concrete patio. 

Widening your driveway in Los Angeles

If you’re one of those homeowners suffering from a too-small driveway for your home, don’t despair. It’s not as difficult as you may think. 

What you want to do is a driveway extension. There are a few options for you.

• Expand on the existing concrete. If your concrete driveway is in good shape and does not have any large cracks, this is probably the way you want to go. Your concrete contractor will work with you to determine the best place to add space to your driveway. Then, the area will be prepared and concrete poured. You may notice a difference in the surface of the old and new concrete driveway, which is why you may also want to consider this next option.

• Resurfacing the entire driveway. When you resurface the driveway, your concrete contractor will install a thin layer of concrete atop all of your driveway. This will give the entire surface a consistent look. While you are refinishing, you can also stamp your concrete to emulate the look of almost any surface – brick, stone, even hardwood. You’ll end up with a larger driveway that looks brand new at a fraction of the cost of demolishing and reinstalling a driveway. 

• Install a new driveway. If your current concrete driveway is in bad shape, you may need to just start from scratch. It’s not unusual for concrete to settle and small cracks to appear. However, if the cracks in your driveway are larger than ½” wide, your concrete driveway may be compromised. Usually vegetation or water causes such damage. Work with your concrete contractor to determine if your driveway has to be demolished before expanding it. 

You may be asking yourself – how long will all of this take? Concrete work is completed surprisingly fast, as compared to other home improvement projects. Oftentimes, a driveway expansion will take about 1-3 days to complete. After the concrete is poured, you will have to water it for a few days to ensure it cures correctly before it is ready for you to drive on. 

Extending your driveway ramp aka apron or approach in Los Angeles

What’s a driveway apron, you may be asking. Simple. It’s the ramp that guides your car from the street to your driveway. In many homes, the aprons were installed decades ago and may be far too small to accommodate your current driveway. What can you do about this? Expand it!

Get in touch with a concrete contractor to discuss your options. It’s a surprisingly simple job that will be completed in about a day or two. The contractor will likely tear out any vegetation in the sidewalk area, prepare the area and then pour concrete to make your apron larger. The whole process takes about a day or two. 

What about if your apron is cracked and missing chunks? When concrete is compromised by vegetation like trees and shrubs, it will crack, allowing water to seep in and break apart the surface. If this is the case with your driveway apron, it will have to be torn out before being replaced by fresh concrete. Don’t despair! This is a common issue, especially in Los Angeles, which has notoriously bad sidewalks. Any concrete contractor will have experience demolishing an old apron and it won’t add that much time to your job. 

How much does it cost to expand my driveway in Los Angeles?

Enlarging your driveway is not as expensive as you may think. It costs between $20 and $25 per square foot. If you are looking to stamp and stain your driveway, that will cost more per square foot. The ultimate price is going to depend on how much larger you want your driveway to be. 

If you are looking to widen your driveway apron, it costs between $15 to $30 per square foot. Aprons are usually between 60 to 120 square feet. They cost more to install because they are thicker and usually it can only be constructed with a city building permit. 

Of course, as with any home improvement project, the cost is determined by the scope of work. If there is vegetation that has to be removed, older concrete that has to be repaired or other labor-intensive situations, the price may be increased. 

What is the return on investment on expanding my driveway in Los Angeles?

One of the most common questions homeowners consider when undertaking any home improvement project: Will this increase the value of my home?

When it comes to expanding your driveway, that could be a complicated question. Some potential buyers are looking for extra driveway space to store RVs., extra cars, and other vehicles. Other potential buyers may want more greenspace in the front lawn. If you are thinking of expanding your driveway apron to accommodate a larger driveway, that may add to the value of your home because you are making your home more accessible. 

At the end of the day, as a homeowner, you have to decide what works best for you. After all, you are the one living with your driveway. What do you want?

If expanding your driveway or driveway apron is on your to-do list of home improvement projects, give the experts at Concrete Decor Contractors a call. With their expertise, they can ensure a quality job done within your budget and on-time.