Carpet Cleaning Ashford How to Get 10 More Years Out of Your Driveway
Your driveway is the first thing people see when they pull up to your property, so it’s important to keep it looking great. If visitors see one riddled with cracks and weeds, they’re likely to think that you don’t care about your home, and that inside might be even worse. What’s more, a poorly-kept driveway can lead to bigger problems down the line that cost money to fix. If you’re looking at ways to keep your driveway in pristine condition, here are 5 techniques that will add 10 years to its lifespan.
Give it a weekly once-over The key to good maintenance is doing a little of something regularly instead of leaving it for a three-hour back-breaking session every other month. This is especially true for driveways.
The way to do this varies slightly depending on which surface you have. For concrete, tarmac or brick, hose it down to remove debris and grime. For stubborn stains, get some detergent and degreaser and give them a scrub. In the case of gravel, then a regular spray of weed killer will work wonders. Root out the dead greenery and make sure to keep that surface even. Little tasks like this save a mountain of time and effort in the long run.
Guard against future damage It’s not just past damage we need to look out for, keeping an eye on the future is also important. An annual sealing is a great way of protecting your driveway from the regrowth of algae and weeds, and also shields the surface from extreme weather. You can find quality sealant for block paving, stone and asphalt in any DIY store, or you could get it done professionally to ensure optimal protection.
While it’s obviously impossible to seal gravel, scattering salt over it is a good way to protect against weed growth, as it dehydrates the roots before they get the chance to grow.
Become a crack detective
If you haven’t sealed or maybe a crack or two slipped through the net, then it’s important to stay on top of them and fill them as soon as you notice them. Take a few minutes each week to inspect the surface for cracks. When you do see one, it’ll only take you a few minus to clean out debris using a masonry chisel and apply a crack filler. It’s best to do this before sealing, which will help to keep it in place and keep the driveway smooth. For gravel, keep an eye out for potholes and uneven areas. Nipping these in the bud will halt further damage, or even accidents, later on.
Avoid excess water Water is more damaging than many people realise: it discolours certain surfaces if left to form pools and leads to erosion in the long term.
While sweeping off excess water is useful after a deluge, we can also get creative. Creating a ridge around the edges of your drive will help to drain water and snow as it falls, decreasing the chances of it stagnating on the surface. Also, make sure water from drains or spouts don’t spill out nearby and run onto your driveway without you realising.
Following the above tips will help you to have the best-kept driveway on the street but, more importantly, will add years to its lifespan and help to keep those expensive repair jobs away.