Start your fall driveway maintenance now to prepare for the colder weather coming.
Maryland’s autumn season brings cold weather along with snow, ice, and other seasonal hazards, and it can be difficult to maintain your driveway during the colder months. But driveway maintenance is important if you want to protect the cement or asphalt and maintain your home’s attractive curb appeal. And of course, driveway’s can be a safety issue during fall and it’s important to avoid the risks of slipping on ice or snow, both inside or outside the car.
Get Ready for Fall
- Relocate trees or shrubs that have roots that could eventually threaten the cement or asphalt.
- Create space for snow and other drain-off by edging the sides of the driveway. Edging means that you remove the sod within two to three inches of the cement or blacktop.
- Periodically seal or waterproof your driveway with a high-quality sealing product.
- Keep the cement or blacktop clean year-round with a leaf blower and pressure washer. It’s especially important to clean spilled oil or other chemicals that might damage your driveway.
- Avoid using salt on cement driveways during fall, especially during the first year. Salt can lead to cracks in cement and other damage.
- Make sure gutters are not draining directly onto your driveway.
- Avoid parking heavy vehicles or equipment on your driveway. It is not built to handle their weight.
Avoid Chemicals Leading Up to Winter
Avoid using de-icing chemicals, since the chemicals can penetrate the concrete surface and cause damage underneath. While rock salt may not harm your driveway directly, it can harm vegetation in your yard and corrode metal. The best way to add traction to an icy driveway is through the use of kitty litter or sand. If you are resealing your driveway in the fall, you will go far in protecting your concrete from the harmful effects of a snowy winter.
Need help preparing your pavement? PTG Enterprises can help!
If you want to protect your driveway or parking lot and ensure it has a long lifespan, choose PTG Enterprises for your seal coating and asphalt needs. We offer commercial concrete, masonry, asphalt installation, repair, and paving throughout Baltimore, Harford, Anne Arundel, Howard, and P.G. Counties. If you are interested in hearing how we can help you, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 636-8777. For more tips and tricks, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google+, and Flickr.
Tags: asphalt, Cement, driveway, fall maintenance
