Having a driveway at your home is both functional and aesthetic. You can make the path illuminated at night with different lights and keep it fresh and inviting with a series of plants at daytime. It’s an opportunity to make your home more pleasing and attractive while also having a designated path for vehicles to travel.
While driveways are said to be functional, it’s daily usage will lead to wear and tear. If not maintained properly, there would be early damage, leading you to spend money on repairs. Depending on the material you chose, there has to be a maintenance routine that you should follow to preserve the life of your driveway. For instance, if you have chosen concrete driveways in Melbourne, you have to maintain them by cleaning and sealing to get the maximum life without early wear and tear. And if you have a stone pathway, replacing and repairing damaged tiles along with applying sealant will help you maintain the driveway for a longer time.
Of all the materials present for driveways, concrete stands as a popular and affordable option, so today we will look at its maintenance routine, which will help you analyse the cost needed for installation and taking care of it in the future:
Page Contents
1. Cleaning the driveway
Concrete is visually appealing when it’s neat and free of dust and debris; however, Melbourne’s air is always filled with dust, dirt and pollen, which makes the concrete driveway dull and dusty. To avoid this, you have to regularly clean the driveway using a broom or high-powered washer. Regularly washing will help remove the dust along with stains. Other benefits include removal of stubborn stains, removal of dried leaves and debris and prevention of surface discolouration.
While it may sound hectic to power wash regularly, it’s one of the effective methods in maintaining the concrete driveway. You can effortlessly remove stains and dried waste with the help of a washer. You can use stored rainwater if you are worried about using too much water in the summer.
2. Sealing the concrete
Another great way to maintain driveways made with concrete is to seal them every 2-3 years. The substances used for sealing act as a protective shield and keep the driveway safe from moisture, stains, UV rays and other harsh conditions. As Melbourne’s weather is often known for its unpredictability, it’s better to maintain regularly to avoid excessive repairs and costly damage.
You can know when you reseal the surface once you notice the signs like colour fading, patchy appearance, water soaking into deeper layers instead of beading on the surface and finally, if you notice increased dustiness or surface wear. When you apply a sealer, it enhances the appearance of the driveway and preserves or even extends its lifespan.
3. Fixing the cracks regularly or early
Cracks tend to appear on the concrete driveway after some usage. You have to fix them early to preserve their integrity. Otherwise, the cracks will grow in size and depth when the temperatures change, water infiltrates and movement of soil underneath.
To fix cracks, you have to implement a few methods where you can fill hairline cracks with concrete caulk. If the cracks are larger, you have to use epoxy-based filler to correctly fill the holes. If the cracks are very wide, you should avoid DIY fixes, and it’s better to call a concrete specialist to prevent further damage. Always remember that fixing cracks early is a wise decision rather than ignoring them.
4. Don’t put high pressure on the driveway
While concrete is a durable material, the heavy pressure from large vehicles or objects can cause stress on it, especially near edges. Hence, it’s better to avoid using driveways for parking large trucks and construction vehicles. You can preserve the longevity of the concrete and its installation process by ensuring that you use the driveway for lighter purposes.
Also, avoid dropping heavy tools on the surface, and even if you want to use the driveway to park large vehicles, reinforce the driveway edges to preserve the driveway’s integrity.
5. Don’t let the water linger too much
If your area receives heavy rainfall, ensure that your driveways have proper drainage so that the water is completely removed from the surface. Otherwise, poor drainage can cause major erosion and deterioration of the structure.
You can improve water drainage and management by installing gutters and downpipes away from the driveway. Ensure to clear out nearby drainage regularly and always fix low spots where water tends to pool on the surface.
In rainy seasons, you have to control the amount of water pouring on the surface to prevent excessive water retention.
6. Prevent staining the driveway
Staining is one of the most common causes of driveway damage. While it may seem small, a stain, especially of grease and oil, can seep into the deeper layers and permanently darken the concrete surface. So, it’s important to take care of the spills that happen from the car. You have to place drip trays under the car and ensure that to clean the spills immediately so that the stain doesn’t get bigger. You can also degreaser to remove oil stains and use kitty litter to absorb fresh spots.
7. Remove unwanted plants and weeds from edges
Whenever you see small plants or weeds growing from the edges, you have to remove them immediately. Regularly pulling them out will control their growth. Also, you can use weed killer along the edges to prevent their sprouting.
8. Book professionals regularly for deep maintenance
For maintenance, you can book professionals for a concrete driveway near me and searching on Google. You have to seek expert help in deep maintenance of the driveway to effectively manage its longevity of the driveway. They will assess the structural integrity of the driveway and make it look brand-new with the utmost functionality.
Final Thoughts
The concrete driveway will be stronger only when you give regular maintenance to it. Cleaning, sealing and repairing cracks will help preserve the durability of the surface. The proper and right maintenance schedule will enhance the look of the driveway for many years to come.