As much as most people would love to deny it, winter is coming. Leaning on where you live, you may expect plenty of freezing temperatures and deep snow that can wreak devastation on your driveway throughout the season. Luckily, here in central Florida, we usually have milder winter weather to contend with. Nonetheless, it is up to you to safeguard your driveway as much as possible. Now is an excellent time to start your winter driveway maintenance before the inclement weather strikes. Handling these preparations in advance will improve the odds that you will maintain a strong driveway next spring and may save you hundreds of dollars in asphalt repair services once spring rolls back around. Our experts on sealcoating in Orlando offer these tips to prepare any asphalt driveway for winter weather.
The initial step of your winter driveway care is to get your driveway spic and span before any snow or cold weather. Begin by heading outdoors with work gloves and a push broom to clean away fallen limbs, leaves, and other debris. Then you will need to go ahead and provide your driveway with a thorough pressure washing. This helps to loosen up any grime and dirt your broom may have overlooked and remove any set-in stains. If these taints aren't removed via pressure washing, you might need to use a chemical stain remover. In addition, while deep cleaning your driveway, look for any potholes, cracks, or other damages. Note these areas as the next phase in this winter preparation inventory will manage these concerns.
Damaged areas of your driveway make the asphalt much more sensitive to water damage during winter. Rainwater or melting snow can penetrate through the cracks, and as the temperature plunges below freezing, it will expand and apply pressure on the pavement from the inside out. This, in turn, can force the material to move out of place and lead to even more deterioration once the snow melts in the spring, including displacement or even bigger cracks than you started with. To avoid this issue, take care of any cracks, gaps, or damages that are already present.
The next phase of your driveway winter prep is to offer it a defensive coat with driveway sealant. Driveway sealant can seal tiny cracks and helps deter damages that can emerge from de-icing chemicals. Just be certain to spread sealant once more considerable cracks and other impairments have been repaired.
While sealing your driveway is a critical part of safeguarding it, it is not something you must do every year. Sealing your asphalt driveway every two to three years will be just fine. So if this is a task you haven't done in a few years, it may be wise to add it to your winter prep list.
