Many homeowners don’t pay much attention to our driveways until there’s an issue. It may not seem like a critical part of the home, but we rely on our driveways for a lot whether it’s for access to the garage or just a safe spot to park your vehicle.
Driveway maintenance is important if you want your driveway to last. A properly maintained driveway will serve you well for many years. Here are a few tips to consider so you can keep your driveway looking new.
Seal Concrete Every Year
One of the best ways to protect your driveway is with a sealant. This forms a protective layer over the surface and helps keep damage to a minimum. Small rocks, oil, grease, and other debris can damage the surface of your concrete driveway.
Sealing your concrete driveway every year keeps cracks, stains, and moisture damage at bay. It also helps to protect the concrete from the severe changes in weather and temperature.
Patch Up Cracks or Holes
When cracks or holes appear, it’s important to patch them up right away. This stops them from getting bigger and becoming a bigger problem. The weather and the weight of your vehicle will make these cracks or holes grow rather quickly.
It can also help prevent people from tripping when walking across the driveway. It also will help keep water or moisture from seeping in and making matters much worse.
Reduce Water on Driveway
Another great tip for driveway protection is to make sure the water isn’t allowed to pool. There will always be small pockets where water will sit, and this can seep in, or freeze, which causes serious damage to your driveway.
Most driveways are on a slant so water should naturally run off. You can also get small dips beside the driveway to allow excess water to run down the side and out to the street or onto your yard.
Avoid Salt
Salt and other chemicals used to melt the ice can cause a lot of damage to the surface of your driveway and the sealant. It will cause holes and cracks that will allow water to seep in.
Try shovelling the snow and ice away, and use sand or other chemical-free substances that won’t cause any damage. The chemicals and salt can not only damage your driveway but your lawn and other plants as well.
Clean Driveway
Leaves, wrappers, oil, grease, and other debris can stain your concrete driveway. A regular cleaning of your driveway to remove loose debris will help keep stains from forming.
For grease stains that are already there, try non-clumping kitty litter or baking soda to help absorb the grease or oil. Then use a scrub brush and grease-cutting dishwashing liquid to help cut the grease and remove the spots.
Contact Us
VIP Paving is a trusted team in the GTA, and our trained and skilled technicians can help you with any of your paving needs. From small repairs to driveway maintenance and replacement, call VIP Paving first.
With over 20 years of experience, you can count on us for all your driveway paving needs.