Warning: That guy from Biggs Hardware told me to use sand instead of crack filler on a deep split

My neighbor Bob said to just shovel sand into a 3/4 inch crack and pour sealer over it, claiming it worked for his dad's driveway in Texas for 20 years. I tried it last spring and now that entire section is sinking into a 6 inch trough because water pooled underneath and washed it all out. Has anyone else had a supposed "old timer" trick completely ruin their driveway patch job?

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the_hannah29d ago

Oh man, that sand trick is a classic bad idea I've heard a few old timers swear by too. I read somewhere that sand actually creates a foundation for water to follow right under your sealer because it doesn't pack down tight like real filler does. Bob's dad probably had a driveway on a slope that drained perfectly or he lived in a dry climate where rain barely happened. You need something that expands and contracts with the concrete, not loose grains that act like a straw for moisture. Sorry your driveway got wrecked, that really stinks. Hopefully you can dig out all that sand and start fresh with a proper vinyl concrete patch.