One of the first things people notice at your house is the driveway, so make a good impression by keeping it in pristine condition. Asphalt is known to make your driveway smoother, quieter, and more attractive! And to get the most out of your asphalt driveway, you should properly care for and maintain it. Cognizant of that, our asphalt experts have come up with these handy tips to help you maintain your asphalt driveway to increase its longevity. Keep reading to learn more, and contact us if you’d want to professionally install, effectively maintain, and properly repair your asphalt driveway!

Key Takeaways:

• Sealcoating is an excellent way to minimize damage to your asphalt driveway.
• Water is an enemy of asphalt- in fact, standing water can quickly create potholes and cracks, exponentially contributing to further asphalt damage. 
•  Cleaning and removing dirt, rocks, and debris from your driveway will ensure it remains in good condition and boost its lifespan. 
• When you notice holes and cracks, contact an asphalt contractor to fill them and extend your asphalt driveway lifespan. 

The Importance of Maintaining Your Asphalt Driveway

Due to its ease of maintenance and durability, asphalt is a popular choice for driveways. Nonetheless, an asphalt driveway can crack, fade, or get potholes if not properly maintained. In fact, most issues with an asphalt driveway are often due to corrosion, cracking, surface depression, and puddle formation. Moisture, oil, and UV rays can create cracks and degrade your driveway. As such, you need to take the necessary steps to maintain your asphalt driveway to enhance its visual appearance, preserve its integrity, and protect your investment. 

5 Tips for Maintaining Your Asphalt Driveway

If you’re looking to ensure your asphalt driveway remains functional and aesthetically pleasing for years down the line, here are tips that’ll help protect your investment:

Clean The Asphalt Driveway Regularly

A good rule of thumb is to clean your asphalt at least once a month. But if your driveway receives a lot of traffic, you may need to consider sweeping it at least every week. Vehicles will bring gravel and other debris into your driveway. And if the gravel isn’t cleaned away, it can cause damage. For instance, leaves and other debris can leave stains on the driveway, while slick spots can become slipping hazards. To wash asphalt, you need to use an asphalt-safe cleaning solution that removes chemicals, dirt, and grease. 

Essential Note: A professional can advise you on how often you should wash your asphalt and how to do it to enhance its longevity. 

Repair Cracks

Asphalt driveways are known to be tough and long-lasting. However, they can be damaged over time. Natural elements, including hail and heavy rains, and blown items blown over in the wind, can cause cracks in the asphalt surface. In fact, holes and cracks in driveways are common, particularly if maintenance has been overlooked or neglected. But you need to pay attention to the driveway and fill cracks to prevent them from expanding. Take note of where every hairline fracture occurs during your visual inspection, and fill them to extend the life of your asphalt driveway. 

Prevent and Remove Gasoline and Oil Spills

Asphalt is an oil-based material. As such, if you have oil or gasoline spills, it means those liquids will dissolve the surface of the asphalt driveway. And over time, you’ll see deterioration if you don’t take the necessary maintenance steps. The ideal recourse is to avoid spilling oil and gasoline on your driveway. However, if spills or leaking happens, you should attend to them immediately. Use absorbent materials to clean up spills thoroughly and minimize damage. Avoid using de-icing agents or salts that have a chemical base. That’s because they’re highly corrosive and will damage your asphalt driveway. Instead, consider rock salt or potassium chloride, which are both safe de-icing agents for your surface. 

Prevent and Eliminate Stagnant Water

Water is a major enemy of asphalt. When rain falls, gardening activities happen, snow accumulates, and standing water is often the residual effect. Unfortunately, standing water is detrimental to your asphalt driveway’s integrity. And if you don’t address the issue, the stagnant water can result in potholes and cracking. These issues will contribute to additional financial damages. Hence, you need to have proper damage. 

During installation, ensure that the asphalt contractors have installed proper drainage to prevent standing water from creating disasters. For instance, they can grade your asphalt driveway away from your home to prevent water from pooling at the edges and avoid low spots. 

Sealcoat When Necessary

Sealcoating differs from an overlay, a patching process for sizable potholes and cracks. Sealcoating, on the other hand, is the process of adding a waterproof, durable layer to the top of the asphalt. But a sealcoat does more than repel moisture, oil, and fuel- it helps protect the asphalt driveway from the UV rays (prolonged sun exposure speeds up damage to asphalt). Asphalt professionals recommend that you sealcoat your driveway every three to five years. Nevertheless, the frequency of replacement will depend on your driveway’s traffic volume, location, and other aspects. 

Maintain Your Asphalt Driveway!

You should never overlook properly maintaining your asphalt driveway. Otherwise, you may end up with costly repairs because the durability and integrity of your driveway become compromised. Instead, make this a priority, and if you have any questions about how to maintain your driveway, contact Paved Assets. We’re experts in asphalt installation, maintenance, and repairs!

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