Maintaining Your Driveway In The Winter Months
Maintaining Your Driveway In The Winter Months
The best measures to take to keep your driveway looking its best is by regular cleanings and also applying a high quality sealing product. How often you can clean and re-seal does depend on weather conditions as well as the amount of vehicle traffic.
Generally speaking, a good time estimate for resealing your driveway is every two years or when the last finish begins to show signs of wear and tear.
Some ways to keep your pavement looking its best;
- Try to avoid using salt on cement driveways. Salt can lead to cracks.
- Use a leaf-blower to keep debris off your driveway
- Clean with a pressure washer to remove any spilled oils or chemicals that can damage pavement
- When you or a professional are plowing your driveway try to make sure the blade does not scrape the cement
- Check to see if gutters are draining onto your driveway
- Remove snow and ice as soon as possible. Freezing and thawing can cause cracks
- Use asphalt to fill in cracks or holes before water gets in them and causes more damage
- Use a shovel that has a rubber blade on the edge as metal can scratch the surfaces
Avoid using de-icing chemicals. These chemicals can contain ammonium nitrates and sulphates that penetrate the surface and attack it underneath. Rock Salt which is also known as sodium chloride will do less damage to the surface but will damage vegetation and corrode metal. Another option is to use sand or kitty litter on the driveway for traction. If you get a chance to reseal your driveway in the fall, it will go a long way in protecting your concrete from any harmful effects winter can bring.