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Whether you’re planning to resell your property or simply improve its curb appeal, you might be checking out various resources that can provide you with sound advice on how to maintain your driveway properly. You’ve landed at the right place; read along with this article so you can gain insights on how to keep them in excellent condition. After all, having an attractive and well-maintained driveway adds significant value to your home.
Driveways can be designed and constructed using different materials. Whether you use asphalt, concrete, brick, gravel, cobblestone, or other unique and sturdy materials, they still require upkeep and maintenance.
Check out some of these valuable driveway maintenance tips so you can minimize the risk of repairs.
- Prevent And Treat Cracks On Driveway
Driveways can sometimes be defenseless against cracks. And cracks are quite an unavoidable recurrence, as some various factors and variables trigger them. For instance, the roots of trees, plants, and shrubs move from underground and can cause cracks. Therefore, the roots visible on the surface should be pruned to prevent cracks on the driveway.
Unfortunately, this is just one cause for cracks; some other causes might be more challenging to prevent, like natural calamities such as earthquakes and storms. With these possibilities, it’s essential to invest in durable driveway materials just like Asphalt Industrial crack fillers to prevent larger cracks.
Using concrete around your home is one of the most durable and long-lasting driveway selections available. However, concrete contractors should adhere to well-established guidelines regarding concrete placement. It’s best to find reliable experts if you decide on repairing concrete after cracks. Driveways made of concrete can develop several types of cracks over time, so you can seek advice and help from these professionals to help prevent them in the future.
Concrete driveway cracks can be prevented by maintaining vegetation, managing water drainage, and repairing small cracks as soon as possible. As for asphalt surfaces, seal coats and regular cleaning are essential. Here are some general solutions to help treat cracks for your driveway:
- Patching
Repairing asphalt or concrete driveways can be done using a patching compound. The driveway can be temporarily fixed with this method, but if you have incurred larger cracks, it’s best to resurface them instead.
Prior to patching application, make sure the cracks are filled deep with sand. You can ask for advice from professionals on the ratio of sand and patching compound to be used. It’s also a great tip to finish off with a sealant after the patching has been applied.
- Flexible Sealant
A sealant can likely be used to repair cracks that are not so obvious. Concrete crack sealant can be used for concrete driveways, and asphalt driveways can be filled with rubberized asphalt-emulsion crack filler. You can find such high-quality products in hardware stores. This is an effective and promising way to prevent cracks from spreading and restrain water from seeping through them.
- Resurfacing Products
Resurfacing products make it possible to seal the driveway surface from further cracks by creating a durable bond between the surface and the product. Before you apply the resurfacer, be sure that the surface has been thoroughly cleaned. You can wash off any dirt, grime, debris, or other particles using a pressurized water hose. Find the best resurfacing product you can find in your local store, and fill in all the cracks. Be mindful of what resurfacing product to use for the kind of driveway you have, since different materials typically require other resurfacing materials, too.
- Seal Coat Your Driveway
Sealing your driveway will help it last longer. This is especially helpful if you have a concrete driveway. Vapor and water can pass through concrete because of their porous nature. The expansion and contraction caused by the vapor getting trapped in concrete pores and freezing and thawing cause cracks on driveways. Find the suitable sealant to use and apply them according to instructions. For best outcomes, it’s best to reapply sealant once every year. A driveway seal coating creates a barrier that prevents gasoline, rock salt, oil, and ice from damaging the concrete or other substrate.
There are two options of sealers for you to use:
- Thick Sealer
You should choose a thick sealer if your driveways have many cracks, bumps, and potholes and if they haven’t been filled up for quite a while now. This is also the best choice if you live in an area that snows during winter.
- Thin Sealer
Thick may offer the best service in less snowy climates and on driveways that don’t have severe cracks or damages. If you want to work with a sealer easier, thin is a better option because they can flow and be poured more smoothly. You can also find quick-drying seal coat options if you want to use your driveway within the day.
- Regularly Clean Your Driveway
Like any exterior feature of your house, your driveway shows signs of wear and tear over time. Stains on solid-surface driveways should be treated as soon as they occur to ensure that they can be removed easily. Some many variables and elements can stain your driveway, like gasoline, oil, paint, soil, and more. A motor fluid can deeply penetrate through concrete and can soften asphalt.
Unfortunately, when the stains become permanent, they’re an eyesore and somehow diminish the beauty of your driveway. Use a degreaser or stain remover to treat them fast. You can also regularly execute power washing on your driveway to keep it clean and clear.
Fresh oil should be soaked up with non-clumping kitty litter, followed by dishwashing detergent that cuts grease. Using grease-cutting, a biodegradable cleaner can be a good option for older stains. Regular scrub brushes are recommended over wire brushes as the latter might scratch surfaces more. Lastly, remove tree debris that may cause stains, accidents, or weeds by sweeping, raking, or otherwise removing it.
- Prevent And Kill Weeds On Your Driveway
With age, your driveway may develop cracks in which seeds and weeds can grow. Weeds should be removed right away since they can spread quickly and decay the concrete’s surface if ignored and taken for granted. As soon as the concrete cracks, weeds will begin to grow through them and find liberty from the ground up. Hence, while early, it’s best to treat potential weeds through these simple solutions:
- Vinegar
Vinegar serves a lot of uses and purposes. One of its surprising uses is that it can also help you with weed control. This is actually a great alternative to using chemical substances like herbicides. But even if this is a home ingredient you can easily find in the kitchen, you still need to use it with care.
You need to be careful not to spray it on plants that you want to keep. For more stubborn weeds, you’ll need to use a stronger kind of vinegar, and you might also need to spray them more than just one time. There’s also an option to combine it with detergent to make the substance more effective in poisoning the weeds.
- Conventional Pulling Method
This next solution is old but gold. It can be physically exhausting to execute this method, but you can always look on the brighter side. This is an excellent opportunity for you to sweat and burn calories while pulling weeds. This is also the easiest and least expensive way to get rid of weeds in your hardscapes. The key is to ensure that you pull the weed completely, especially its roots if there are any.
- Use Herbicides
Finally, buying a herbicide should be your best bet when you want to be accurately sure to kill all weeds. Several organic, non-toxic herbicides are available at your local garden center, so go for these choices instead. Herbicides can be really pungent and strong, so they’re not safe to use around your family and pets. You should also wear gloves and a mask when using this dangerous chemical for added protection and safety.
- Hot Water
Another way to kill weeds is by pouring boiling water over them in concrete cracks, gravel driveways, or walkways. This might not be as strong and accurately kill all weeds as other methods, but it’s a good start. Plus, boiling water relatively doesn’t cost anything, and as long as you do it regularly, weeds can be removed in time. However, you must also pour this boiling water only on weeds and plants that you want to eliminate and kill.
- Prevent Water On Driveways
To reduce the chances of snow and water infiltrating the driveway, clear some areas along the edges. It’s also wise to place your gutter and downspouts a bit far from the driveway. Doing so will ensure that water accumulation on a driveway can be avoided.
Concrete driveways can be damaged severely by stagnant water. These also create discoloration and even grow algae or bacteria, which is not safe for your children and pets. Any water getting into cracks or holes in your driveway can freeze in the winter and expand and can make cracks larger. Over time, you’ll need to spend more money to fill in these larger cracks.
- Install Edging On Driveways
You can install edging around your driveway for several reasons. For instance, these edgers can keep the driveway in place, especially if you have a gravel driveway. There are also weed-proof matting edges that can help prevent the growth of weeds into the cracks. This is particularly beneficial for asphalt and concrete driveways. And of course, one reason to use edgers is that they can make your driveway look even more beautiful.
Regardless of the type of pavement you choose for your driveway, these borders provide many benefits that outweigh their cost. Pavement borders have been used commonly for a long time now to increase driveway durability. Keep in mind to choose these borders carefully so they can match your exterior theme.
Learn more of their benefits below:
- Less Maintenance
In the absence of driveway edgings, you’ll likely have to maintain your driveway more frequently. You might need to shovel up the sidings so you can have temporary borders. With driveway paving, you can have edges in your driveway permanently. They relatively require no maintenance.
- Increase In Home Value
Having edging on your driveway also contributes to increasing your home value. As little as this investment will attract more home buyers and allow them to appreciate your driveway more. Some exterior design tips can boost your curb appeal, and these edging can add to that more. So, start looking for the best edging designs and materials so you can improve your home value more.
- Easy To Park
Driveway edging also helps drivers navigate parking easily. As you can use these edges as markings, car parking seems easier and less hassle. The visual barrier makes it easier for the driver to distinguish the areas on the ground, which makes parking and turning the car easier.
- Keeps Driveway Intact
Edging is a great way to ensure your driveway stays in place, regardless of what materials it has. Borders are beneficial for driveways made out of gravel, brick, and asphalt. You can use this edging to ensure that your driveway is always intact.
- Plow Your Driveway Carefully
If you need to plow your driveway, do it carefully. Lift your snow plow’s blade high enough to avoid damaging your driveway’s surface. When shoveling uneven surfaces, use a plastic shovel to reduce the chance of catching and creating scratches on the driveway.
After shoveling off the snow, push it to the side and remove it one or two inches at a time. This will ensure that the shovel’s sharp edges won’t come in contact with the driveway’s surface.
Shoveling your driveway before driving on it is very important. It’s also for you and your family’s safety, as the pavement won’t be slippery for your car wheels.
Conclusion
Knowing the maintenance needs for your driveway type allows you to anticipate and execute the correct methods and procedures to make it well-kept and neat. Hopefully, this article has given you many insights on ensuring that your driveway can look as amazing as it should always be. After all, having a beautiful driveway not only enhances your home value but wows any guests you’ll have who are coming over.