Expert: Dan Griffin - 7/1/2008

Question
What is a reasonable timeframe for a concrete driveway to last in Michigan? I live in a condo complex that is less than 5 years old and several drives have developed cracked and lifted concrete. WhenI moved in 2 yrs ago some neighbors were already having repairs done. Is this right?

Answer
Michigan, the land of ice and snow?  A standard retort among contractors is that I guarantee my concrete . .
I guarantee it will get hard and crack!
The causes are many, most can be designed for and are preventable.  Without seeing your situation I can only offer a few possible causes:

These are listed in no particular order:
Drive aprons should be a minimum of 6" thick
No concrete should ever be over 12' in any direction without a joint.
Insufficient compaction or bad material in the subgrade will cause heaving and settling.
Garbage trucks and concrete trucks weigh so much, they can break and damage concrete.  Look at the area around any dumpster or trash bin.

I'm sorry your concrete is broken, the usual proper cure is to remove and replace.