When you do regular cleaning and maintenance on your house, don’t forget about your driveway. Having a nice driveway ensures you have a place to park your car and a place to spend time with your kids playing outside. Plus, a well-maintained driveway helps boost your home’s curb appeal.
Keep your driveway in great condition with regular maintenance specific to the material it's made out of.
MAINTAINING A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY
Concrete driveways are common and low maintenance. Day to day, it’s important to avoid parking at the edge of your driveway where concrete is weakest. Be mindful of your landscaping, too. You don’t want the bad surprise of a tree root causing fissures in your driveway. If you really want to have the best driveway on the block, power washing can get rid of built-up oil and dirt.
To prevent your driveway from absorbing water and cracking or staining, apply a concrete sealer ahead of the winter. In the winter, shovel your driveway to help prevent water from seeping in, freezing, and causing cracks. Plastic shovels work great because they can’t damage the concrete.
MAINTAINING A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY
Gravel driveways require a bit more maintenance than other types of driveways because dirt, sticks, leaves, and debris can get mixed in. To keep your gravel driveway in good shape, you’ll need a nice rake. This will help you sift out debris and redistribute gravel to any bare spots. It’s also a good idea to spray down your driveway occasionally to keep down dust if it’s not already stabilized with pavers.
In the winter, a gravel driveway is great for traction in the snow, so keeping about an inch of snow on your driveway is fine. Avoid using a snowplow because it will also catch the gravel, meaning you’ll have to redistribute your gravel after winter. Stabilizing loose gravel with pavers can also help keep gravel in place.
MAINTAINING AN ASPHALT DRIVEWAY
Keep your asphalt driveway in good shape by sweeping away debris often. Asphalt can stain, so if you have oil spots or gas on your driveway, remove it with dish soap and a brush. Always fix any cracks or potholes as soon as possible. Like other types of driveways, power washing is a good way to deep clean it.
If you notice standing water, contact a professional to fix the drainage issues. Asphalt driveways need to be sealed every few years.
MAINTAINING A BRICK DRIVEWAY
If you have a brick driveway, maintenance should include power washing and routine weed removal. Sweeping your brick driveway can also keep it looking nice and clean. Seal your brick driveway every three years or so to prevent weeds and protect it from snow and UV rays. If you see cracks among your bricks, re-sand them with polymetric sand.
Get the tools you need to maintain your home — including your driveway — at Miller’s Building Supply. Stop in and see us at 1819 E. Monroe Street in Goshen, Ind., or check out our product catalog online.