Your driveway is the first thing people see when they visit your home. A well-kept driveway can make a good first impression, but one that is neglected or poorly maintained will only do you harm. Your car could get damaged or you could trip on some holes.
Fortunately, maintaining a driveway isn’t difficult or expensive—all it takes is a little bit of time and effort on your part to keep things looking good for years to come.
When is the best time to do it?
Spring and fall are the best times to seal a driveway. The weather is mild and dry, so your surface won’t be damaged by frost or ice. A driveway can be sealed at any time of year, but it’s important to consider weather conditions before deciding on a date for sealing.
In spring, the ground isn’t frozen or covered in snow—you don’t want to rush out there with jackhammers and begin digging up your driveway when it’s still chilly outside. The same goes for fall: if you try to seal your driveway when the first few leaves have started to fall (or even worse—when they’re all on the ground), it’s just going to end up being a total mess. Wait for when all the leaves have settled, then you can start cleaning it, and begin your project, or have the professionals do it for you.
How often should you have it maintained?
There isn’t a precise answer to this question because not every driveway is created equally. It’s important to understand that the frequency of maintenance on your driveway depends on several factors.
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- The type of driveway material used.
There are different types of materials for driveways, such as brick or concrete, and each requires a different level of upkeep. Asphalt is the most common type of driveway material and requires minimal maintenance; however, if you have pavers or stone pavers installed in your driveway then you will need to be more vigilant about cleaning them regularly due to the porous nature of these materials.
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- The intensity and duration of sunlight in your area
Driveways receive lots of sun exposure throughout the year; therefore it’s crucial that they are cleaned frequently so as not to become too hot and warp/crack during baking days like summertime. Sunlight breaks down sealants quickly because it causes oxidation/corrosion processes in the asphalt matrix (in other words, oxygen reacting with asphalt). This means that areas exposed to direct sunlight will need more frequent maintenance than shady ones. If you notice cracks then call your professional driveway experts to help you seal them immediately.
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- Weather
Weather conditions can also impact whether or not you should perform regular cleaning on your driveway (or any other surface). For example, rain may cause dirt & debris from nearby construction sites into storm drains which lead all over town including onto streets near where people live so keep those drains clean.
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- Type of car parked or frequency of passing by the driveway
If you have a heavy car parked in the driveway like a trailer or a monster truck, for some reason, then you could consider having your driveway inspected and maintained more often than if you just had a regular car. If you keep on passing by the driveway, parking, leaving, or arriving several times a day then this could also be a factor for you to have it maintained more.
Different ways to maintain your driveway
Whether you’re a DIYer or you’d rather hire a professional, there are a few steps that will keep your driveway looking its best. In this section, we will be showing you some of the basic steps in cleaning your driveway. We’ll teach you what should be done or if you’re having them maintained by the experts, read it to know what you should expect from them.
Clean your driveway
The cracks in your driveway should be thoroughly cleaned so that they do not collect water which may freeze during winter causing damage. For example, if you have a pothole or a crack in your driveway and you don’t clean it out, the water can collect there and then freeze during winter causing damage to the surface of your drive as well as making it dangerous for people who walk over this area.
Pressure washing can get rid of any oil stains and dirt, helping you determine how deeply rooted stains are. Cleaning your driveway before resealing it is important because it makes getting the sealer in even easier.
If you want to use a power washer to clean your driveway, always start from one end of the driveway and work towards another end with overlapping strokes until all areas are covered. This will ensure even coverage of water on each section of concrete or asphalt so that no areas remain dry or untouched by the detergent solution.
Next, use the pressure settings according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the equipment used so that no damage occurs through excessive pressure applied directly onto surfaces being cleaned.
Make sure the nozzle is positioned correctly before starting operation because misalignment could cause clogging which could result in decreased efficiency or even damage if too much force were applied while trying unsuccessfully to remove the obstruction from the nozzle tip (this could lead users to try harder resulting in further potential harm).
After power washing, you’ll want to remove any oil stains using a commercial-grade degreaser. The best way to do this is by applying the degreaser directly over the stain and scrubbing it down with rags until all traces of dirt and oil have been removed from your driveway. If there are still some stains left after scrubbing off all of the dirt, repeat this process until everything looks spotless.
Seal all the holes
Once you have cleaned your driveway, use the trowel or putty knife to squeeze the sand filler into the holes and major cracks on the surface of your driveway. You want to make sure that all areas are filled in. Once you have filled up all holes, smooth over any excess sand filler with a broom or rake. This will help create a level surface with no noticeable bumps or dips in it.
Once you have smoothed over the surface of your driveway, use a broom or rake to create an even-level surface. You will want to make sure there are no bumps or dips in the driveway before moving on to the application of sealer.
Smooth it over
Use a trowel or putty knife to smooth over the excess sand filler. If you are using a trowel, hold it at an angle and push it back and forth across the surface of your driveway until all of the extra material has been removed. If you’re using a putty knife, simply press down on top of each area that needs to be scraped off. Use this technique for removing excess material from any remaining cracks in your driveway, as well as filling any holes that may have appeared while working with the repair tool. Once you are done, take a step back and inspect your driveway. Take note of any areas that have been filled in too much or not enough. If you see any problems, use your trowel or putty knife to remove some of the material and then re-apply it.
When you are satisfied with your work then you can sweep off any loose parts and perhaps slightly clean it again for that pristine finish.
Call Kleen Seal
We hope that this article has helped you realize how important it is to maintain your driveway. It’s an investment into your home and now that we’ve shown you some tips on how to do so. Driveways are part of what make our houses look nice so why not take care of them?
If you’re looking for a way to maintain your driveway, look no further than Kleen Seal. Kleen Seal we take pride in our driveway sealing specialists and our ability to produce superior results. We serve homeowners and small businesses alike, and we’re here to make your driveway look better than ever. With our long-lasting, resilient driveway sealing, you’ll be enjoying your new driveway for years to come.
Call us at (732)321-3699 or visit our home page to learn more about our products and services.
Kleen Seal
908C King Georges Rd, Fords, NJ 08863, United States
(732)321-3699
