Your driveway is one of the most overlooked elements of your home’s curb appeal even though both you and any visitors encounter it every day. When it comes to driveways, maintenance is equally important as any other aspect of your home. With minor repairs and maintenance today, you can avoid extensive and costly damage tomorrow. Don’t overlook the first spot they see, no matter if you’re opening your home to potential buyers or cleaning up your new house to welcome guests. To help simplify the maintenance, we at Andersen Asphalt & Striping would like to share a few tips.
Best Driveway Material for Hot & Cold Weather
Paving stones, asphalt, gravel, or concrete are the most common types of driveway materials.
Paving Stone Driveways – Paver driveways are the most expensive to install because of the amount of labor required. Paved stone driveways offer a great combination of solid surface and water drainage, however as they imitate the way the natural land absorbs water and reduce the burden of storm drains.
Gravel Driveways – Though they require the most maintenance, gravel driveways are the most economical to install. To match any home’s style, there are many options for type, color, and style of gravel. The downside though, is that gravel is also likely to pit, shift, and track through the lawn. To keep it in good shape for years, proper maintenance of your gravel driveway.
Concrete Driveways – Concrete driveways are also an expensive option. Being that they are also generally the easiest to maintain, concrete is an attractive driveway option. It’s essential to take care of concrete driveways so that you don’t have to worry about replacement before you’re ready when any flaws do arise.
Asphalt Driveways – For your home, when properly maintained, asphalt is durable, smooth, and an attractive feature. It has one of the lowest installation costs but to make sure that small cracks don’t lead to big crumbles, it does resealing. In order to check for water buildup and small cracks or tears, wash the driveway regularly. Though they can cause deterioration, spills, like motor oil, may not affect the look of the driveway. Also, unlike other, more rigid materials, such as concrete, asphalt pavements are designed to flex with slight settlements.
Tips for Easy Driveway Maintenance
1) Efficient Driveway Cleaning. Over time and use, driveways show the same seasonal wear and tear as other exterior elements do. Treat any stains as they occur to ensure that they’re easy to remove on driveways with a solid surface. To prevent future growth, pull any encroaching weeds if applicable. Power wash or wet clean all driveways except gravel.
2) Filling Driveway Cracks & Holes. Evaluate holes or cracks, in addition to crumbling concrete, asphalt, or paver stones. Caulk and seal any cracks that you discover and seal any damaged expansion joints. A concrete re-surface can help you even out any low spots if they can’t be removed. Replace loose or damaged pavers for paving stone driveways. This can also help prevent turned ankles, trips, or other injuries in addition to making your driveway look nice.
3) Assess the Waterflow of Driveway. Water pooling in puddles can be detrimental to any driveway year-round. From damage to safety hazards, water can be a problem. To direct water flow, clear several inches on either side of your driveway. Encourage water to flow in the right direction, by making sure that the slope of your driveway is optimal. Pitting, cracking, and crumbling can be caused by water flowing under your driveway and resulting in the ground underneath to shift.
Asphalt Paving Contractor Installation & More in Reno, Elko, Henderson, North LV, Paradise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Las Vegas, NV | State of Nevada
For professional asphalt services, call in the professionals of Andersen Asphalt & Striping and let us assist you.