The Importance of Driveway Maintenance: Tips and Tricks

The Importance of Driveway Maintenance: Tips and Tricks

When was the last time you inspected your driveway for holes and cracks? If it’s been years, you may want to look outside and see what type of condition it is in. Your driveway is the most used area of your home, and often many people don’t take the time to pay it any attention. Despite ignoring it daily, you must remember how essential it is to keep your driveway in top-notch shape. It’s the welcoming gate and opening impression of your home. Also, over time your driveway deteriorates from harsh weather conditions and overuse. As a result, a lack of maintenance can lead to safety issues and costly repairs. This makes it even more essential to stay on top of the regular upkeep of your driveway. In this article, we will share the top tips and tricks on driveway maintenance.

Image from Depositphotos

The Different Types of Driveways

Before discussing how you can maintain your driveway, it’s essential to know the different materials used for them. One of the most common materials used for driveways is concrete. People often choose this material over others due to its long lifespan and simple maintenance. However, it is the most expensive option material for creating a driveway.

The next option people choose for their driveway is gravel. It is inexpensive, easy to install, and best for longer driveways. All you have to do is lay down the gravel and run a skid steer grader across it. However, it does require regular maintenance, especially during the rainy season. Another popular option is asphalt, but like gravel, it requires regular maintenance to keep it looking nice. Also, the material is subtle to holes and shifts from heavy rainfall. Your last material option is pavers, which are the most expensive and require the most installation work. However, it is the best option for preventing issues from heavy precipitation.

Why Should You Regularly Maintain Your Driveway?

The lifespan of driveways is long, and it can be easy to ignore their maintenance. However, here's a little reminder about maintaining your driveway.

7 Home Repairs to Know About This Spring

Enhance Curb Appeal

If you plan on selling your home anytime soon, your unkempt driveway may scare potential buyers away. Even if the rest of your home looks nice, buyers will first see the entrance. The long deep cracks and holes make your front area unappealing to the eyes. Buyers will view your home as run down if they see an unkept driveway so curb appeal matters. 

Avoid Expensive Repairs

It's best to repair your driveway when you start seeing cracks. If not, you can expect to spend more money in the future. In addition, holes and cracks in materials such as asphalt or concrete can cause further problems within the ground. To avoid higher costs of repairs, try getting it fixed as soon as possible. When you're taking up the damaged parts of the drive, it would be sensible to consider hiring 10 or 20 yard dumpsters (depending on the size of your drive) to easily dispose of the waste material being pulled up, by using a dumpster to quickly clear the mess, you can finish up the repair job quicker. This can help you save on expenses, especially if you've hired or rented any special machinery or equipment to get the repairs done.

Provide Safety to People and Vehicles

People, especially older people or children, can easily trip over a deep crack in your driveway. Also, the potholes can ruin your vehicle's tires and suspension. This will lend to other costs you could avoid by maintaining your driveway.

Make It Long-Lasting

Your driveway is affected by harsh weather, the environment, and regular vehicle use. The only way to maintain its longevity is by taking care of it. As a result, you’ll have a nice driveway that’s safe to use, appealing, and adds value to your property.

How Can You Maintain Your Driveway?

Now that you understand the importance of caring for your driveway, let’s explore how you can do so. Below are general tips on maintaining your driveway:

• Seal and reseal cracks: Once a year, take the time to go outside to seal or reseal any gaps in your driveway. Due to harsh weather conditions from rain and snow, moisture easily builds up in these cracks. Also, if you have a tree nearby with roots growing under the driveway, consider removing it to prevent damage from happening any more.
• Try to prevent water exposure: You cannot wholly avoid exposure from perception. However, you can reduce rain and snow exposure by creating strips beside your driveway to allow it to run off. 
• Be gentle: when it snows, you may want to shovel it off quickly, but you should pay attention to how you do it. When using a heavy shovel, you can easily cause a crack around the edges of the driveway. Instead, choose a plastic shovel to reduce the impact and prevent more damage from happening.
• Keep it clean: From oil spills to cutting grass, you must take time to clean it from your driveway. Take the time to sweep debris and use a biodegradable cleaner to keep it looking nice and in shape.
• Replace materials ASAP: Once you see your driveway getting cracks along the edges, you should start looking into replacing it. If the cracks start getting into the inner body of the driveway, it can become even more costly to repair the damages. So it’s best to do so once you see it needs repairs or replacements along the edges.

Choosing a Home Security System

Use These Tips and Tricks to Maintain Your Driveway

Despite what you may think, driveways serve more of a purpose than parking our cars. It increases your property value and provides first impressions and safety to the users. If you’re not maintaining it correctly, you will face many problems in the future. Keep your driveway in top shape by following the general maintenance tips above.