8 July 2022
 Categories: , Blog

If you have chosen an asphalt driveway for your home, it is important for you to understand each of the three steps involved in properly maintaining your driveway. This is because without proper asphalt maintenance, the lifespan of your driveway can be significantly shortened. Thankfully, you can learn all you need to know about caring for your driveway below.

Step 1: Keeping Your Asphalt Clean

Allowing spills and debris to remain on your driveway can eat away the sealant used to protect your asphalt. This can ultimately result in your asphalt cracking, fading, or developing large potholes. That is why keeping your driveway clean is such an important part of asphalt maintenance. The good news is, completing this task can be much easier than you realize. In most cases, you will be able to accomplish this task by simply using a garden hose to wash your driveway from time to time. However, if you do encounter any stubborn stains, you may need to use a push broom to scrub the surface of the asphalt before being able to wash the stain away. 

Step 2: Repairing Minor Cracks And Potholes

Even asphalt driveways that have been properly cared for will develop cracks and small potholes from time to time. The most important thing is that you address these issues as quickly as possible in order to prevent the damage from spreading. In most cases, these types of repairs can be done on a do-it-yourself basis using some rather basic supplies which can be picked up at your local hardware or home improvement store. However, if you find that you do not have the time or desire to complete these repairs on your own, you will need to contact a paving contractor to complete these repairs for you. 

Step 3: Having Your Asphalt Resealed

Over time, the seal on your asphalt will naturally begin to wear thin. When this happens you will need to have your driveway resealed. This is a very important part of your asphalt maintenance because asphalt that is left unsealed will break down much faster. This will ultimately result in serious damage to your driveway and will eventually require you to have new asphalt poured. In most cases, this type of maintenance will need to be completed every few years. However, since not all driveways will need to be resealed on the exact same schedule, it is always a good idea to consult a paving contractor when deciding whether or not it is time to reseal your driveway.