Winter can take its toll on your driveway. Low temperatures can make surfacing materials fragile and snow and ice can create and expand cracks and holes. But there are lots of things you can do to avoid these issues. Try these 5 ways to prepare your driveway for cold weather.
1. Clean it often
Keeping your driveway clean is a great way to prepare it for cold weather. Actually, this is something that is worth doing all year round. Regularly getting rid of leaves, mud and other debris from your driveway will stop it getting slippery or developing weeds that could cause damage.
2. Guarantee it has proper drain
Another thing to think about as the months get cooler is your driveway’s drainage. Ensure that water doesn’t collect on your driveway or run down it. If you do have water on your driveway, it can easily freeze and create cracks and holes.
3. Seal it
It’s really important to check that your asphalt or concrete driveway is protected by a sealant. Sealing tends to need to be done once every 2 years, so put in the time to find out when it was last done. Sealants coat your driveway in a protective layer, reducing damage from heavy traffic.
4. Be ready to get rid of ice and snow
While you still have the opportunity, check you have the tools and space to get rid of ice and snow if it lands on your driveway. To stop thawing and refreezing snow and ice harming your driveway, you’ll have to remove it as soon as possible. A shovel is usually the best thing, but ensure it’s a size and weight you can deal with, particularly when it’s filled with heavy snow.
5. Avoid chemicals
Although it may be tempting, avoid stocking up on de-icing chemicals when the weather starts to get colder. Although these will successfully get rid of snow and ice from your drive, they can also damage it. As an alternative, once you’ve shovelled off the snow try laying down sand to improve traction.
6. Do repairs now
If you have any large holes or cracks in your driveway, winter will merely make them worse. Plus, you may harm your vehicle if you run over any damage when it’s concealed by snow. Repairing your driveway prior to it getting really cold may avoid more damage and save you money in the long run.
These 6 methods should help you prepare your driveway for winter and safeguard it from low temperature levels. Need some skilled help? Just fill in our online form. We’ll connect you with up to 4 driveway pros who can help.