Low maintenance and regular upkeep requirements are two of the ideal aspects of a decent or yet, decorative concrete driveway if you prefer. Yet, no driveway paving material, not even concrete, is entirely upkeep-free.

Since it is frequently built with a durable material like cement or even interlocking paving stones, the driveway can be done without regular care, like how often you change your bedsheets or your scheduled general house cleaning. But it still depends on the type of paving materials and texture you want and which suits your business or home. Give your concrete driveway the right care by considering investing in ​​an asphalt industrial driveway sealer sprayer if you want to maintain it in good shape for many years to come.

Here are five essential suggestions to assist you in caring for your driving pavement.

1) Refrain from using deicing agents

By forcing the thaw and refreezing moisture, using deicers on your gravel driveway during the winter can result in surface damage, particularly scaling and spalling. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate-containing products are hazardous because they will chemically damage concrete.

Calcium chloride and rock salts (sodium chloride) will cause less harm, although they can corrode metal and destroy flora. In the first winters, after installing a driveway, refrain from using any deicers because new cement is more vulnerable to the damaging effects of salt. Use sand as an alternative for traction.

2) Perform regular maintenance

A sealant is typically applied to an asphalt driveway six months to one year following placement and then again every 3-5 years. Hiring a professional to seal an asphalt driveway is unnecessary, but doing so will lengthen its lifespan. Most people can varnish their driveways with the right tools and materials.

But concrete driveways require less sealing. Since it preserves the finish and enhances the aesthetic of concrete driveways, many homeowners opt to do this. Degreasers increase the cost of maintaining concrete driving pavement but frequently call for removing accumulated fuel, chemical, and oil stains.

The type of pavement significantly influences the appearance of your driveway. Concrete can be stained, tinted, etched, or stamped to achieve the desired look. Finishes offer a wide range of tints or colors from the naturally occurring off-white, grayish shades of concrete.

On the other hand, when it pertains to installation, asphalt must still be crushed and rolled. It does not complement finishes like embossing or etching nicely. While black is the most prevalent color, some sealants come in tints or colors

3) Clean and re-apply sealant on your driveway

The best steps to keep your concrete driveway looking its best are to clean and seal it periodically. The weather the concrete is exposed to and the traffic volume on it will determine how frequently you should clean and reseal.

A concrete driveway should typically be resealed every 24 months or so or whenever the finish starts to seem worn. Both hardware stores and providers of concrete materials have high-quality commercial sealers. Or, request recommendations from your contractor. Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying sealant.

4) Use drains and prune trees

Arrange your drains or gutters such that they empty far from your pavement to lessen the water content that collects there. When the concrete is first placed, your pavement is protected. By cutting down trees or plants with underground roots, you can prevent them from pushing through driveway cracks. In addition to regular maintenance, ensuring the safety and cleanliness of your driveway involves considering the surrounding trees.

Overhanging branches and fallen leaves can be a hazard and cause damage to your driveway. If you have trees near your driveway that require professional removal or trimming, it’s essential to seek the assistance of reliable tree removal services.

5) Parking properly is also important

Concrete can break even though it is a strong material. Avoid placing too much pressure on the driveways edges, where the pavement is more delicate. Heavy equipment and construction trucks should be parked far enough from the edge of the driveway as practicable.

Choosing the ideal driveway material for you might be challenging because there are so many various types of driveways. There is the traditional concrete driveways, which are well-liked since they can have their appearances altered and are strong. Although significantly more expensive, brick driveways offer the same advantages.

Brick driveways are thought to be more elegant. An asphalt driveway is another option. Although asphalt driveways are more manageable and less costly to install than other driveway kinds, these don’t have the same aesthetic appeal.

Key Takeaways

Gravel or coarse aggregate driveways can be a good option if you’re looking for a driveway style that is simple to install. You can save money by installing these yourself because they’re so simple to set up.

Whatever driveway you install at your house will have advantages and disadvantages of its own. Make sure to conduct your homework before deciding on a driveway if you’re seeking ones that need less upkeep.