4 Concrete Driveway Maintenance Tips to keep it Looking Great
One of the most attractive features in the exterior appearance of your home is the driveway. A well-cared-for concrete driveway offers curb appeal, as well as convenience that last a long time if maintained properly. There is little to concrete driveway maintenance, as this material requires little care. However, taking the time to do just a few simple things can help preserve the life of your driveway and protect your investment.
- Clean and Seal
Take the time to clean your driveway and seal it regularly to keep it looking its best all the time. How often you need to seal it depends on the weather in your area and how much vehicle traffic it receives. On average, you should reseal a concrete driveway every couple of years, or more often if it shows signs of wear sooner. Concrete driveway sealers are available at any concrete supplier for the do-it-yourselfer, or you can call a professional to do the job for you.
- Remove Stains
If you apply a sealer to your concrete driveway, that should protect it from most types of stains. It’s still a good idea to clean up spills such as oil, grease and gas as soon as they happen. If a spill happens to leave a stain, use a power washer or an approved cleaning solution to remove it as soon as possible.
- No Deicing Chemicals
One of the quickest ways to destroy the surface of your concrete driveway is to use chemical deicers on it in the winter. We know you need to keep it clear of ice and snow, but using products that contain ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulphate are particularly harmful. Your best bet is to use sodium chloride (rock salt) or calcium chloride because they do less damage. The downside to using rock salt, however, is it damages surrounding vegetation and corrodes metal. *Important Note – Avoid using deicers of any kind during the first year after pouring the driveway. New concrete is especially susceptible to damage from salt. Instead, use sand for traction. Check out this article on concrete durability to learn more on the use of deicers and other attacking agents.
- Take Care
Although concrete is the most durable material for driveway use, it isn’t indestructible. Most residential driveways are not meant to support heavy vehicles such as large moving trucks or heavy machinery. In addition, take special care when plowing or shoveling your driveway in the winter to avoid scratching or scraping the surface. Despite your best efforts to keep your driveway looking great, sometimes time has a way of working against you. Concrete can settle causing uneven slabs that crack and look bad. If this is happening to your driveway, give Davis & Sons Concrete a call. We provide slab-jacking services that can level out your driveway to make it look as good as new again.
