The driveway of your property is an incredibly frequently used area. It often sees use every time you leave or return to your home. The frequent use results in the driveway sustaining a substantial amount of wear over time. During spring is a great time to ensure that you obtain the appropriate spring maintenance for your driveway. Here are a few tips for effective spring maintenance for your driveway to keep your driveway in great condition. Keeping your driveway in great condition can go a long way toward improving the curb appeal of your property and reducing an escalation of damage on the property.  

Take Crack Prevention Steps

Cracks can escalate to an exceptional amount of damage. It is important to take whatever steps possible to prevent cracks from arising in the first place in order to reduce the possibility of this damage. You should have concrete driveways sealed on an annual basis and asphalt driveways sealed approximately every 3 to 5 years. This can help to prevent cracks from occurring in the first place. Many cracks are caused by the roots of trees or plants. Removing trees that are located near the driveway or having their roots trimmed can help to prevent cracks from occurring.

Fill Cracks

It is important to ensure that you have cracks patched and filled immediately when you notice them on your property. When these cracks are present on the driveway, they can allow water to penetrate into the crack. At this point, the water can freeze and expand, which causes the crack to escalate a substantial amount. It is important to act quickly following the development of cracks on your driveway. During your spring maintenance, carefully examine for the presence of cracks in the driveway. This can help you to ensure that your driveway receives the repair and maintenance services necessary. When cracks aren’t found in time, they often result in a substantial amount of damage.  

Minimize Water Accumulation

Water that pools on a surface can lead to an accumulation of damage. It is important to minimize the accumulation of water on the surface of your driveway, because this can lead to damage. It is important to ensure that water can flow effectively down the driveway. If you notice that water pools on the surface of your driveway, you need to take the steps to ensure that the water is efficiently removed from the surface. This will go a long way toward preventing substantial issues from arising. Water accumulation can lead to many issues with the surface, which is important to keep in mind when you notice puddling water.

Refrain from Salting

Winter can do a significant amount of damage to the surface of your driveway. When you use salt or chemicals to remove ice and snow from your driveway, it can cause damage to the driveway. These substances can penetrate surfaces and cause cracks to develop. In most situations, it is better to use a snow blower or shovel rather than salt to remove ice and snow from your driveway. You can also potentially use alternative substances to improve the traction on icy driveways. A few options include coffee grounds, sand, and kitty litter. These substances won’t damage the surface of the driveway, but they will minimize the likelihood of slipping on the driveway during the winter. Keeping this in mind can go a long way toward simplifying your spring maintenance.

Protect Edges

The edges of the driveway are particularly vulnerable areas. When immense pressure is placed on these areas, it is likely that the edges will chip and crumble, which can result in an accelerated amount of damage to the driveway. In order to prevent this damage from occurring to the property, you will want to park away from the edges of the driveway. Parking in the center can help to prevent issues from arising. It is also important to refrain from parking particularly heavy vehicles, such as moving trucks, on the driveway. Though driveways can certainly sustain a substantial amount of wear, taking the steps to minimize wear can go a long way toward keeping your driveway in superior condition.

Clean the Driveway Regularly

Vehicles can leak fluids and allow stains to accumulate on the surface. It is important to regularly remove stains and debris from the surface of your driveway. When motor fluids are allowed to pool, they can soften the asphalt. This goes a long way toward allowing damage to occur to the driveway. During your spring maintenance, you will want to clean any stains and debris from the surface of the driveway. You may also want to refrain from parking vehicles with oil leaks on the driveway. Regular cleaning and preventative measures can go a long way toward keeping your driveway in superior condition for an extended period of time.

Be Careful with Snow Removal

Many regular snow removal processes can cause chipping and damage to the surface of your driveway. It is important to take special care while removing snow from the driveway. This is especially important when it comes to the use of metal tools. Hitting the driveway with the metal edge of the shovel can result in cracks and damage to the surface of the driveway. This can lead to significant damage. When these cracks appear, they can accumulate when they aren’t repaired quickly. This can help to prevent snow from melting, penetrating through the cracks, and re-freezing and escalating the severity of the crack. Snow blowers can be incredibly beneficial investments to protect the condition of your driveway.

Here at Top Job Asphalt, we offer a large array of services to protect your asphalt surfaces. Our residential services can help to ensure that your surfaces are installed correctly and continue to stay in superior condition. We also offer many other services, including commercial and airport related services. To learn more about the services we offer, as well as important spring maintenance for your driveway, contact our expert team at Top Job Asphalt today!