Your driveway is one of the first things people notice about your home. To ensure yours only enhances your curb appeal, it’s essential to know how to best maintain it. By understanding the curing process and proper sealing practices, you’ll be able to have a brand-new looking driveway for years to come. Read on to learn how to best maintain your asphalt driveway.
Asphalt Driveway Maintenance Tips
First Day
Once your asphalt has been freshly paved, it’s important to let it cure for the proper amount of time. Avoid parking vehicles on it for a minimum of 48 hours after it’s been installed. The longer you can leave your car off it the better, especially in hot summer months. Asphalt softens in warm temperatures. Parking your car on it while it is still curing can cause ugly impressions from the vehicle’s weight. While it’s okay to walk on your new asphalt driveway, avoid anything heavier than a person on it for the first couple of days.
First Few Weeks
How you treat your new driveway during the first few weeks are crucial to its longevity. The longer you can wait before putting heavy objects on it, the better it will be able to handle weight in the future. This is because the curing process of an asphalt driveway is anywhere from 90 to 120 days. Asphalt can soften up in hot temperatures, which means imprints can be left on a particularly hot day. If there’s a heat warning going on, avoid parking on your new asphalt driveway if you can. If you can’t, try not to move your wheels once the car has been parked.
First Year
During the first year, it’s a good idea to not park in the same exact spot every day. Doing so can cause unattractive impressions in your driveway. In addition to parking your car, don’t leave anything heavy on your new asphalt driveway in the first year. Things like boats, ATVs, barbecues, motorcycles and even lawn chairs can cause impressions and marks. If you need to store these items on your driveway, try placing a piece of plywood underneath them so the weight is equally distributed.
Daily Care
Be sure to not let liquids such as gas, oil and transmission fluid sit on your driveway. These liquids can actually cause your asphalt to deteriorate. Make sure to clean up messes to minimize any potential damage.
During the summer months, it’s essential that you sweep your driveway after mowing the lawn or weeding the garden. This is because seeds and lawn clippings can easily blow into the tiny cracks in your driveway. If not removed, you’ll end up with weeds and grass growing out of your driveway! Save yourself the hassle of trying to mow your driveway and take a moment to sweep and tidy up after your lawn care routine. If you have a pro who takes care of this for you, mention your driveway concerns. This way they can be extra careful when working in the area. They may even offer to sweep the driveway for you, all you have to do is ask.
Annual Care
The best way to maintain your asphalt driveway is to power wash and seal it annually. Power washing will get rid of any residue ensuring you have a clean slate to work with. Make sure you have any cracks repaired before you seal your driveway. As you now know, water, seeds, and other debris can easily get into these cracks. It’s important you seal them up to protect your driveway. For best results, the pros recommend having your driveway sealed once a year, but you can push it to every three years if your driveway is in great shape. If you’re unsure if your driveway needs to be sealed again, you can always connect with a pro to get their expert opinion on it.
When having your driveway sealed, be sure that your pro is using a high-quality product. This way you can ensure that your driveway is getting the durable top it needs to withstand our harsh Canadian weather. The good news is that with proper care and maintenance your new asphalt driveway will withstand hot summers and cold winters for years to come.
If you’re in the market for an asphalt driveway or need to refresh your current one, be sure to connect with a pro. They have the skills, tools and knowledge to maintain your asphalt driveway. Read this article for tips about how to hire a paving company so you know what to expect when hiring for this project. By taking the time to let your driveway properly cure and keeping up with sealing, you’ll be able to protect your investment and ensure your asphalt driveway always looks its best.
