The choice comes down to one thing: is the slab still moving? Stable concrete with surface problems is worth repairing. Concrete that keeps shifting on clay or roots will defeat most repairs.
The dollar ranges on this page are national figures that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from us. Sonoma County labor rates, material prices, truck access and the soil on your lot will push a real price above or below them. Last checked October 2026.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace concrete?
It is nearly always cheaper to repair on the day you pay. Crack sealing, lifting and resurfacing are all published well below the $6 to $15 per square foot of a new driveway plus $3 to $8 for removal. The question is cost per year of use. A repair that buys ten years is good value. A repair that fails in two years, because the ground is still moving, was money spent twice.
| Sign | Usually points to |
|---|---|
| Tight cracks, both sides level | Seal and keep |
| One whole panel has dropped | Lift it or replace that panel |
| Surface worn, stained or lightly flaking | Resurface |
| Many broken pieces, rocking, wide gaps | Replace |
| Hump beside a tree | Deal with the root, then replace the panel |
My driveway is 20 years old and one section by the garage has sunk. I was quoted $9,000 to replace it all. Do I need to?
Probably not, if the rest is in fair shape. A driveway is poured in panels divided by joints, and one panel can be lifted or cut out and repoured without touching the others. Sinking beside the garage often comes from loose backfill along the foundation or from a downspout emptying there. Ask for a price to fix that one section and compare it with the $9,000. Full replacement makes sense when most panels are cracked or you want a new layout. Be aware that a new panel will not match the color of 20-year-old concrete.
One contractor says repair for $7,000 and another says replace for $14,000. I plan to sell in two or three years. Which is smarter?
With a sale two or three years away, the $7,000 repair is the smarter spend if the slab is stable and the repair will still look tidy at sale time. You would be paying an extra $7,000 for decades of life that the next owner gets. Replacement is worth it only if the concrete is in such poor shape that a buyer's inspector would flag it anyway. Ask the repair contractor plainly how the work will look in three winters.
I have a few long cracks and I am selling the house. Repair, replace or leave it?
If the cracks are level and narrow, clean and seal them and leave the slab. That is a small cost and it shows care. Buyers and inspectors react to height differences, trip edges and water running toward the house, not to tidy sealed cracks. If you are selling the house with a lifted edge or a sunken panel, fix that one item. Replacing a whole sound driveway before a sale seldom returns its cost.
One contractor says tear it out and another says pour a new layer over it. Who is right?
In most cases the one who says tear it out. A new layer bonded to a cracked slab cracks in the same places. It also adds height at thresholds. An overlay is a fair choice only when the old slab is solid, flat and crack-free and the problem is appearance alone. Ask the overlay contractor what happens to the existing cracks. If the answer is vague, you have your answer.
My driveway is 30 years old with root cracks and I am on a tight budget. Can I just grind and patch it?
Yes. On a tight budget, grinding the raised edges and sealing the cracks is a sensible way to make the driveway safe and buy time. It will not stop the roots, so think of it as a few years, not a cure. Spend first on any lip someone could catch a foot on. When the budget allows, replace the worst panels one at a time and deal with the roots under each as you go.
I have lots of small cracks but nothing has sunk. Is sealing or resurfacing enough?
Often, yes. When the slab is level and solid, sealing or resurfacing is enough to protect it and improve its looks. Fine surface cracks that do not go deep, often called crazing, are cosmetic. A penetrating sealer limits how much rain soaks in. An overlay gives a fresh surface, though fine cracks may slowly print through. Watch the cracks over one wet season. If they widen, the slab is moving and the plan changes.
When is replacement clearly the right call?
Replace when the slab is broken into many pieces, when panels rock or pump mud in winter, when water now drains toward the house, or when the concrete was poured too thin for its load. Replacement is also the time to correct the cause: dig out bad clay, add compacted rock, fix the slope and space the joints properly.
The real number for your property comes from a free on-site estimate with measurements and a written quote. Call (707) 385-5837, or text a photo of the area.