Maintaining your driveway is essential for preserving its longevity and enhancing the curb appeal of your property. Whether you're dealing with cracks, stains, or simply wear and tear from everyday use, maintaining your asphalt through DIY methods offers a cost-effective solution to these issues. With the right tools, materials, and know-how, you can prolong the life of your driveway without breaking the bank. In this article, we'll explore a range of DIY maintenance tasks to help you keep your driveway looking its best year-round.
Just like the rest of your home, your driveway requires upkeep to stave off the common asphalt problems that come with regular use, the elements, and various home projects. Let's discover why regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your driveway looking its best.
An asphalt driveway can last 15 to 30 years on average, with factors like proper installation and frequency of use affecting the driveway's lifespan. If you can perform regular maintenance, keeping your driveway in fantastic condition for 30 years or even longer is possible.
The appearance of your driveway has a significant influence on your property's curb appeal. If you ever want to have your home's value appraised, cracked and worn asphalt won't do you any favors. Keeping your asphalt looking fresh and well-maintained will boost the curb appeal of your home by a considerable margin.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that saying is just as true with your driveway as it is with medicine. Small problems with your asphalt can develop easily and progress even more easily. By handling any issues as they come up, you can avoid spending more to fix them after they've gone from minor problems to major damage.
Taking care of your driveway doesn't have to be a monumental task that requires a significant time and money investment. There are small things you can do to keep up with your asphalt and prevent any problems from arising.
Aging asphalt is subject to developing cracks and crevices over time thanks to conditions like rain, snow, salt, and constant traffic. These breaks in the surface of your driveway can then become filled with dirt, small stones, and other debris, which will only exacerbate the damage and make fixing it more difficult. You can avoid complications by keeping your driveway free from debris with regular sweeping.
Sometimes, weeds and other vegetation can grow around the edges of your driveway. Over time, these weeds can spread to grow in the cracks in your asphalt, or they can actually cause the cracks if their progression goes unchecked for long enough. By trimming back excess plants, you can prevent them from breaking up your driveway or growing in your crevices while you're trying to seal them.
Once you've cleared any debris or vegetation, the next step is to fill in the cracks and crevices that develop in your asphalt. You can use sealant to fill in small cracks up to a 1/4 inch in width, but larger cracks may require more extensive repairs. Large cracks may be an indication of a more significant underlying issue, in which it is best to call an expert to evaluate your driveway and see if major repairs or replacement is necessary.
The weather can have some of the most extensive effects on your driveway, especially in the winter. If there are cracks in your asphalt, water can seep into them. Once there, it will freeze, expanding in the crack and worsening the damage. In time, frozen water can lead to spalling, which is chipping or fragmentation that occurs along the edges of cracks.
When the snow comes down in the winter, your first reaction may be to reach for the rock salt. However, these salts can potentially damage your driveway. Concrete is porous and salt lowers the freezing point of water, so as salt seeps into cracks, it causes the water to freeze faster. In addition, salts and harsh chemicals have abrasive properties that can wear away your driveway's surface.
DIY driveway repair and maintenance can be efficient and cost-effective, but they work best with minor aesthetic issues. Some driveway problems may be too extensive to fix on your own. It's vital to know when you should consult a professional rather than tackle the issue yourself.
You can address small cracks by filling them in however, significant damage like uneven surfaces, holes, spalling, or extensive wear and tear can require more drastic measures. You may even need to have your asphalt repaved, and driveway paving should be the purview of professionals - in this case DIY driveway repair may not be enough to address the underlying issues.
DIY maintenance requires the proper tools and knowledge to perform the task properly. If you don't know whether you have the necessary tools or know-how to resolve an issue, it's better to call a professional rather than attempt to tackle the problem on your own. Mistakes can lead to even more costly repairs.
If you want to take the DIY route but aren't certain about what tools or materials to use, you can consult a professional. Contractors that work with asphalt, concrete, and other driveway materials have years of experience dealing with a variety of issues. They can help you overcome any complications that may arise during the process.
You can fix minor problems with DIY driveway repair solutions if you have the tools and know-how. Filling in small cracks, clearing debris, and other simple tasks go a long way in helping you maintain both your driveway and the curb appeal of your home. But if you want to call in someone to assist you with more complex repairs or professional guidance, Creative Asphalt Inc. is here to give you the best possible options for your driveway and your home.
