Tips To Keep Your Concrete Driveway Protected And Looking Its Best
Posted on: 26 February 2021
Your home's driveway is an investment that is well worth its cost over the years, especially when you take good care of the surface. Concrete is susceptible to cracking, spalling, staining, and heaving from expansive foundation soil, which can all cause damage and permanently mar its surface and the durability you depend upon. Here are some maintenance recommendations to keep your driveway protected, clean, and in good shape, so it will last you for many years.
Complete Regular Cleaning
Concrete driveways provide you a durable and solid surface for vehicle parking and working on your outdoor equipment. However, if your vehicle is leaking, this can lead to staining. If your vehicle has the smallest oil leak, or you spill brake fluid onto your concrete driveway, it can leave a permanent stain in your driveway. However, keep up on the cleaning to your driveway and remove these stains as soon as they occur so they aren't permanent. Use a kitty litter to pick up the standing fluids, then use a concrete cleaner to clean off staining residues and restore the attractive appearance of your concrete.
You can complete your driveway's regular cleaning with a pressure washer or your garden hose and a nozzle attachment. This will help you remove dirt, leaves, bird droppings, and other staining elements, so your driveway remains clean and clear.
Seal the Concrete Surface
Your concrete driveway is a porous surface, which means that it is going to absorb stains and other fluids that will sit upon its surface. This, along with moisture seeping into the concrete, can cause it to become damaged over time. However, if you apply a concrete sealer every few years as it is needed, your driveway will be protected from this type of damage, and it will also look great.
A concrete sealer gives your concrete a slight sheen and makes it look finished and attractive. This protection goes further beyond its looks, as it protects it from everyday vehicle stains and bird droppings.
Use Protection Strategies
Anytime your driveway begins to form cracks, you should take notice to determine what is causing the damage. If there are tree roots that are pushing the concrete upward, use a sodium chloride treatment in the soil to kill the local roots but not the tree, or you can remove the entire tree.
Also, be careful in winter when you apply ice and snowmelt products. Only use kitty litter or sand for the first few years of your concrete's life so you don't damage its structure. Then, after the first few years, use a concrete safe ice melt, such as calcium chloride or magnesium chloride.
Share