Top Tips for Keeping Your Driveway in Good Condition

A new driveway is a big financial commitment. Fitting a new driveway will set you back time and money but it’s generally worth it. It will help you and your household and impress visitors.

So once you’ve installed a new driveway it’s essential to maintain it. This will lower your long-term spending and ensure you’re happy with your driveway for longer.

To help you take care of your driveway, we’ve come up with a list of top tips for keeping your driveway in good condition.

Gravel

Gravel driveways are long-lasting, but only if they’re maintained. Unfortunately, they need more care than lots of other sorts of driveway.

The two best things you can do to look after your driveway are:

  • Weed often
    Weed your driveway regularly to keep it looking good. This could be done manually, using a hoe or with weedkiller. Do this every so often and it won’t take you very long.
  • Rake regularly
    Raking your driveway often will keep it flat and prevent gravel movement. It will also help to stop potholes appearing.

    If any potholes do develop, fill them up as soon as you can.

Asphalt

Lots of people use asphalt for their driveways. A good asphalt driveway can look smart and is durable. To look after it you should:

  • Clean it
    Wash your driveway regularly. This will prevent debris and dirt accumulating and getting difficult to get rid of. Clear up any spillages as soon as you are able to, using cleaner with a degreaser if required. This will help to stop you ending up with permanently discoloured patches.
  • Check for damage
    Get in the habit of checking your driveway for cracks and damage. If you spot them early you can repair them before they become a pricey problem.

Concrete

Concrete is also frequently used to surface driveways. A well-installed concrete driveway can last up to 50 years if you look after it. To maintain it you need to:

  • Seal it
    Apply sealer to your driveway to protect it from damage. Do this once every couple of years or whenever it’s showing signs of wear and tear.
  • Clean it
    Wash your driveway often and clean up any petrol or oil spillages quickly. By doing this you should help to avoid ending up with a stained, patchy driveway.

Paving

Paving is commonly used because it allows homeowners to be creative. With brick, concrete and lots of different kinds of natural stone available, you can use paving to create an eye-catching driveway.

The 2 main things you can do to look after your driveway are:

  • Weed often
    Keep a look out for any weeds or grass growing between pavers and remove them as soon as you see them. Try to pull out as many roots as you can to prevent them from re-growing.
  • Clean it
    Keep your driveway clean by sweeping and washing it often. Using hot water and a brush should be adequate but if you find any tough stains try using a detergent. Choose one carefully though and ensure you follow the instructions – some cleaners may permanently mark driveways if used on the wrong material.

So whatever your driveway’s made from, you should be able to follow our top tips to keep it in good condition.

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