How To Maintain A Driveway Through Autumn And Winter

Once autumn hits it’s likely you might not see your driveway for several months. With a covering of leaves followed by a blanket of snow, spring can often bring with it a nasty surprise. That formerly perfect driveway is now cracked, dull, and a pale imitation of the once immaculate entrance to your home. Driveway maintenance is of course a duty which must be performed year-round, and the best way to lessen the amount of tasks is to have a low-maintenance resin bonded driveway installed by Premier Surfacing. However, even low-maintenance drives require extra attention over the colder months, so here are a few tips to make sure that your driveway remains trouble and crack free come spring.

Apply a Sealant

Cold and extreme weather can be extremely damaging to a driveway, especially when combined with heavy vehicles and frequent traffic. Sealant can limit any further damage being done through the winter months, and should be applied every two to three years, or sooner if you notice any significant cracks developing.

Foliage Relocation

Removing trees or shrubs whose roots may damage your driveway is best done towards the end of summer before the ground becomes too hard. It is also recommended that you remove a two-inch strip of grass besides your driveway to allow rainwater and snow to run-off.

Divert Gutter Spouts

If the arrangement of your gutters is allowing rainwater to flow freely onto your driveway then you should divert them to flow elsewhere. Not only does pooled water pose a slip hazard in winter, it can also exacerbate existing problems within your driveway. If water finds its way into even the smallest cracks, the drop in temperature will see the water freeze and expand, giving you a much more expensive repair job.

Regular Cleaning

Your driveway will, at various points in its lifetime, become covered in oil, leaves, snow and chemicals; and all of these must be removed in their own special way. Leaves should be removed with a leaf-blower instead of raked, and when snow strikes use a rubber bladed shovel to prevent scraping damage. Oil and chemical spills are best treated immediately using pressure washers, but more tips can be found on our recent concrete driveway cleaning post.

Avoid Salting Your Driveway

The corrosive effects of salt and chemicals can severely damage your driveway, and are only used on public roads as an absolute necessity. Your drive should be small enough for you to treat patches of ice with sand or cat litter, both of which are kinder to your surface and should provide enough traction for your vehicle.

Only Hire Trusted Plowing Professionals

If the snow becomes too much to treat yourself then you’ll need to hire a snow plowing service, but make sure your driveway is getting the treatment it deserves. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your provider, such as how often will they plow, what equipment they will use, and whether or not they intend to use chemicals. It is also wise to observe the initial plow to check for blade height, as too low a level can scrape your asphalt severely. For more information about how to maintain a driveway during Autumn and Winter, make sure you contact our helpful and experienced team on 01952 840 838.