How to prepare Your Asphalt Driveway for Winter
Winter will be here before we know it! We’re already starting to see the mornings get darker and the temperatures drop. To make sure that your property looks amazing and you have a stress-free winter, you need to put together a plan of action when it comes to maintaining the exterior elements of your home. After all, these are the parts of your property that are going to be most impacted by the elements. So, with that being said, let’s take a look at some of the different steps you can take if you have an asphalt driveway in terms of winter maintenance.
Clear your pavement, getting rid of any debris before there is the potential for snow
The first step is a very simple one: clear your driveway. It is vital to make sure that your asphalt paving is in excellent shape prior to the typical winter weather! Make sure you have got some time to spare so that you can give your driveway a thorough clean, rather than it being a rush job.
It may be better for you to get your asphalt paving cleaned by professionals. This means you don’t have to find the time to do it yourself, and you can also be sure that a great job is done. Plus, professionals will be able to assess the current condition of your driveway to ensure there are not any issues, for example, potholes or cracks, which should be repaired at the earliest opportunity.
No matter whether you decide to call in a professional or go down the DIY route, you need to ensure that every last piece of debris is removed. If you don’t, the debris could freeze over during the colder period, which can result in damage to your asphalt surface over a cold and long winter. A lot of people do not realize that a simple clean could be all that is needed to protect the paving.
Shovel on a frequent basis
When it comes to protecting your asphalt surface, one of the main things you need to do is ensure that snow and standing water are removed over the coming months. Shovelling regularly does not demand a lot of effort, yet it can make a massive difference. If you take the time and effort to get rid of the snow before it melts and causes problems, you will prevent significant damage, which will save you a lot of time and money!
You can also use a plow to get rid of the snow if you would prefer. However, this does require a more careful approach. This is because snags in small cracks and potholes can occur if you use a plow, which can result in damage to the surface of the paving.
Do you have any pooling water on your driveway?
You need to pay extra special attention to the condition of your driveway over the coming weeks. If you have noticed that there is a lot of water that is pooling at the moment, this is something you need to be mindful of because it could manifest into a pothole. Any compromised areas of your driveway need to be rectified as soon as possible. You can give our team a call if you would like to check the condition of your driveway to give you peace of mind or make any modifications that are needed before winter dawns.
Fill in any cracks in your asphalt driveway
As mentioned, while you are cleaning your driveway, you should be able to notice whether there are any cracks or potholes that need to be addressed. If you are wondering why your driveway is covered in cracks, read our post here. You should fill in these cracks and then seal coat them. For this to be carried out effectively, an evening temperature of around 50 degrees is needed for seal coating. Because of this, you need to act sooner rather than later. If you miss the window of opportunity, you will need to wait until next year.
No matter the temperature, you should make sure that any cracks within the paving are filled in before the winter conditions arise. This is going to help make sure there are not any further issues to your surface over the winter months. If you do not have any experience in this or you do not know where to begin when it comes to dealing with any cracks in your asphalt driveway, please do not hesitate to get in touch for more information and we would be happy to help you.
Get any potholes repair
If you have any potholes in your asphalt driving or paving, it is important to get them repaired as soon as possible. The trouble is that this is challenging to do if you are not a professional and you do not have the required experience. Because of this, a lot of homeowners simply put this off, as they do not want to pay for a professional to carry out the repair. Of course, this is understandable. However, it is important to recognize that it is going to cost you a lot more money if your driveway becomes damaged over the winter period because of the cold weather causing further harm to these cracks and potholes.
So there you have it: here are some of the different steps that you can take to prepare your asphalt paving for the winter period. If you neglect to maintain your asphalt driveway, you could end up needing to spend a lot more money in the long run on a repair. This is why it is important to put in a little bit of effort prior to the winter period so that you can make sure your driveway stays protected. If you need further help or assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. We will provide you with our expert advice, as well as a fair, no-obligation quotation. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you to make the most of your home!