Driveways San Marcos are one of the most heavily utilized sections of your home. They are frequently disregarded until they become stained or cracked. Make the repairs as soon as possible to give them the necessary attention. You may not only extend the life of your driveway and give it a more appealing appearance in the future, but you can also save money in the long run.
Consider the following seven guidelines for maintaining an asphalt or concrete driveway:
1. Cracks should be avoided.
To prevent water from entering, freezing, and cracking in driveways, seal concrete every year and seal asphalt every few years.
By pushing up from beneath, tree and plant roots can generate fissures.
Trees near driveways should be removed, or their roots clipped away as a remedy.
2. Fill in the cracks
If you see any cracks or holes, fix them right away. Remove loose materials with a masonry chisel and brush off the debris before applying a crack filler and patching solution. Seal the entire driveway after the compound has dried.
When visitors come to your house, making sure your driveway is smooth will help prevent tripping mishaps.
3. Keep the amount of water on the driveway to a minimum.
Clear a two- to three-inch strip around the driveway's edges to provide a runoff area for snow and water, reducing the likelihood of penetrating the surface. Downspouts should also empty into the yard rather than onto the driveway.
4. Do not add salt to the cement.
Cracks can be caused by cement salt and chemical de-icers penetrating surfaces. Both need to be fixed.
Instead of salting, remove snow with a snowblower or shovel and make surfaces less slippery using sand, coffee grounds, alfalfa meal, or kitty litter.
Consider spraying the ice with sugar beet juice to melt it. Sugar beet juice reduces the melting point of ice and is effective in temperatures as low as -20°F.
5. Carefully plow
Raise the snow plow blade high enough to avoid scraping and damaging the driveway surface.
When shoveling on uneven surfaces, use a plastic shovel to decrease the chance of sticking on the driveway. Then, either push the snow to the side and shovel it off or remove it a few inches at a time as you make your way down to the ground.
6. Keep the edges safe.
Heavy vehicles aren't built for driveways, believe it or not. Edges are particularly prone to chipping when subjected to extreme force. As a result, ensure that your car is placed away from the boundaries and that construction equipment does not park there during house renovations.
7. Keep your driveway clean.
More than just the appearance of your vehicle is affected by removing stains caused by the engine oil, radiator fluid, and other similar chemicals. Motor fluids can penetrate concrete up to a quarter-inch and soften asphalt. Use non-clumping kitty litter, grease-cutting dishwashing soap, and warm water to absorb fresh oil. Scrub the stain repeatedly using grease-cutting, biodegradable cleaners for older stains.
Always scrub with a standard scrub brush. The surface of the driveway can be damaged by using a wire brush.
Make the most of your home by keeping your driveway clean and well-kept. It improves curb attractiveness, but it also lasts longer than neglected roads. A little upkeep now can pay you handsomely later.
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