Essential Driveway Maintenance for the Spring

Winter’s extreme temperatures and weather conditions can take a serious toll on your driveway. The perfect time to start checking your driveway for damage—including cracks, holes, and water pools—and repairing it is in the springtime when the weather is warmer and snow is starting to melt away. By being vigilant about repairing and protecting your driveway, you can ensure it’ll stay functional and retain its curb appeal for years to come. Let’s check out some tips for essential driveway maintenance for the spring so that you can fix anything that needs repairing and keep your driveway clean and damage-free.

Check for Hidden Damage

The first thing you should check for is the kind of damage that isn’t always noticeable at first glance—chips and cracks. If your driveway is full of cracks, the upcoming rainy season has the potential to wreak havoc on it. It’s easy for runoff to seep into these tiny cracks and cause the ground underneath to shift, leading to support issues. If you notice any cracks, chips, or potholes, make sure to fix them at your earliest convenience.

Keep an Eye Out for Puddles and Weeds

Water can start to pool inside of ditches, potholes, and other indents in your driveway’s surface. Asphalt is waterproof, but that doesn’t mean prolonged exposure to water won’t damage it. Over time, water will deteriorate your asphalt’s sealcoating and infiltrate the pavement, which can lead to cracking, oxidization, and further deterioration. Weed encroachment is another problem. Pull up any weeds that have made their way through cracks or sprouted along the edge of the driveway, and clean up the edges with an edging tool or hoe. If you regularly notice weed growth along the edge of your driveway, you might want to consider installing an edging.

Should You Consider Sealcoating?

Another part of essential driveway maintenance for the spring is sealcoating your driveway. Winter can to your driveway, but sealcoating it before the season starts can help protect it against moisture, freezing temperatures, and more. It can also protect your driveway from the summer heat. To protect your driveway before summer or next winter rolls around, consider having it sealcoated. It can make your driveway look sleek, shiny, and brand-new, and it provides an outer layer of defense against Mother Nature. As a general rule, you should sealcoat your driveway every one to three years.

At NAC Supply, we carry everything you could want to keep your asphalt in perfect shape. If you need sealcoating equipment, such as a sealcoat tank, or other blacktop repair and asphalt maintenance supplies, come and shop with us today!