Winter may be a beautiful season, but sometimes natural beauty does more harm than good. The snow and cold can cause your driveway to develop cracks. Fortunately, there are ways you can minimize the damage that takes place in your driveway. Here are a few ways you can protect your driveway during winter.
Clear Out the Snow Regularly
It may be tempting to let the snow accumulate, but this is one of the worst things for your driveway. When snow melts, it seeps into your driveway causing water to get lodged in there. When the weather heats up, the water expands, causing cracks in the driveway. If there already are cracks in your driveway, these can become deeper if left unattended. Set a time to shovel and clean out the accumulated snow in your driveway.
Opt For a Professional Cleaner
If there is already a lot of snow on your driveway that has accumulated, hire a professional cleaner. These cleaners are proficient at what they do and will have a commercial grade snow blower to make the process of clearing out the snow a lot easier and more efficient.
Invest In a Snow Blower
Having the right tools makes any task easier. A snow blower is good investment, especially if you live in a place that gets ample snowfall every year. A snow blower is a more efficient than a shovel and makes the task of getting rid of the snow a lot and faster and easier. You won’t have to spend hours trying to remove the snow from your driveway. Moreover, snow blowers cause a lot less damage to the driveways than one would expect. Snow blowers don’t touch the surface of the driveway, why there are no scratches on it when getting rid of the snow.
Cut Down On Rock Salt
Throwing rock salt on snow-clad driveways may seem like a go-to solution, however, it is not optimal for your driveway. The chemicals in rock salt interact with the asphalt on the driveway causing a strong reaction that will erode the path. The salt melts the snow, turns into water and seeps into the cracks of the driveway. This water expands after it gets heated, causing bigger cracks to emerge.
Use a Shovel with a Rubber Edge
When you use a metal shovel to scoop the snow off the ground, there is a certain amount of contact that is made. This can then cause damage to your driveway if done for a prolonged time. Opting for a shovel with a rubber edge is the better alternative if you want to use a shovel to get the snow off your driveway. This rubber edge protects the driveway and prevents scratches and cracks from appearing because of the work that you are doing.
Repair Cracks
This tip doesn’t just apply to the winter season; it can be implemented throughout the year. Cracks in your driveway are a nightmare and need to be taken care of immediately. It is always advised to fill up cracks as soon as you see them so water doesn’t seep in, making them a whole lot worse.
Seal Your Driveway
Sealing your driveway before the winter is one of the best measures that you can do to protect it before the snow begins to fall. When a sealing agent is applied on the top of the driveway, it prevents water from seeping into the driveway when snow melts, thereby preventing it from damage. Moreover, it also helps the ground stay protected from any scrapping and friction that may occur during snow removal.
