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Maintaining a Driveway
from:Driveway maintenance is a part of any home maintenance plan. Whether the driveway is asphalt, concrete, brick, or some other material, all driveways require some level of maintenance. Even gravel driveways require maintenance. It’s important to keep them in good condition to avoid costly repairs down the road.
Tips to maintaining a driveway are listed below:
1. Check for pavement cracks often. If you see cracks, then you will eventually have bigger problems and deterioration of your driveway can become a costly repair item. Take care of cracks early.
2. Seal the driveway every 2-4 years to help protect the surface and keep it in good condition.
3. Keep trees and shrubbery cut back so they don’t overhang the driveway. This not only keeps it clear from falling limbs and debris, but makes it safer for everyone.
4. Don’t allow intrusive plants like ivy or other types of vines to grow to close to the driveway surface. These plants can grow underneath the pavement and eventually work their way to the surface, creating cracks and other potentially harmful conditions for the driveway. Keep plants trimmed back away from the edge of the driveway.
5. Don’t allow children to play in the driveway or leave toys nearby. It’s easy to back up over toys and worse, children could potentially be in harm’s way. Keeping children and toys off the driveway is a good idea when it comes to maintaining a clear pathway for motorized vehicles. If children are allowed to play on the driveway, designate an area especially for them and exercise caution at all times.
6. Protect your driveway from oil, grease, and other potentially harmful products that can erode and detract from the surface. If you change your car’s oil in the driveway, be sure to use a drop-cloth or other material to absorb any leaking oil. Removing spills, spots, and stains as soon as possible to avoid further discoloration or erosion of the surface.
7. If it is absolutely necessary to scrape your driveway due to ice or snow, use caution. Don’t put the blade too low or you risk scraping, cracking and damaging your driveway surface. Use extreme caution in clearing the driveway with tractors, blades, or other heavy equipment. Asphalt is especially susceptible to being scraped and it’s important to use caution.
8. Protect your driveway from unnecessary run-off of water. Rain, snow, and ice can be culprits to your driveway. But water drainage can also come from downspouts on your house, outdoor water hoses, and water that finds its way underneath the driveway. When too much water surrounds a paved driveway, it can loosen the base or the surface and cause major damage – even causing it to require replacement. It’s much less costly to prevent water damage than it is to repair it.
9. Don’t allow heavy trucks and equipment on your driveway if at all possible. Over-sized vehicles and heavy equipment can crack and damage driveways, causing serious and costly repairs.
10. Keep the driveway clean. Although it sounds simple, it’s an important aspect of driveway maintenance. Using a leaf blower, clear debris, dust, small pebbles, and sand from the driveway routinely. Occasionally rinse the surface with a standard water hose being careful not to allow water to stand in depressions or around cracks.
Maintaining your driveway will give you many years of use. It will not only be more functional, but will be more visually appealing as well.
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