By the time winter comes around, you’ll want to be as prepared as possible for any damage that the elements could bring to different parts of your property. One of the most susceptible parts of any home or building that you’ll need to watch out for is the asphalt on the driveway. The constant freezing and melting of water can get into the cracks and potholes of the pavement, weakening its overall structural integrity due to the changes in pressure.
Protecting your asphalt is one of the necessary preparations most people have to go through even before the snow starts to fall. To help you out, here are some ways to ready yourself (and your pavement) for the cold winter months:
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Clean Your Driveway Thoroughly
Clearing all the debris on your driveway can help your asphalt by ensuring that no large, unwanted pieces will freeze and cause damage throughout the winter.
Another advantage of cleaning up before the snowfall is to reveal any existing issues, such as large cracks or potholes that may get filled up with water. Make sure to fill these up beforehand so you can rest easy when the snow melts!
For the best results, you should consider hiring professionals to ensure that nothing is missed!
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Shovel Regularly
After getting your driveway cleaned, maintaining this cleanliness is just as crucial to keep free-standing water and snow off your asphalt. Shoveling regularly with a tool that isn’t too sharp around the edges can prevent water damage before it starts.
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Fill in the Cracks and Add Sealcoat
Sealcoating protects asphalt by adding a layer of protection from water, oil, and even damage from ultraviolet rays. Be sure to have this done at the right time, as this coating needs a temperature of 50 degrees to work properly. Any colder and it won’t apply or set properly!
Before going ahead with a new layer of sealcoat, consider the last time since you’ve had it done. Has it been at least two to four years? Pavements that look dry and gravelly with pits and cracks that are an eighth of an inch wide or larger are good candidates for a fresh coating.
If it’s too late for you to apply a sealcoat solution this season, use cold mix asphalt to fill in potholes or large cracks to prevent water from leaking into them. Cold mix asphalt is an excellent option because it doesn’t need to be heated and has a bit of flex to move as the cracks and potholes do, making sure they stay nice and patched throughout the winter.
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Keep an Eye Out for Pooling Water
Pooling water is a sure sign that a pothole could be forming in your pavement. Getting in touch with professional paving contractors for a repair job will ensure that the problem is fixed now while it’s still minor.
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Consider and Reconsider De-Icing
Applying salt to your driveway may harm more than just your pavement! Apart from accelerating the freeze-thaw cycle, it can also cause excess amounts of salinity in lakes, rivers, and drinking water.
To prevent more damage to your asphalt and excess salt in runoff water from melting snow, practice shoveling and plowing snow away first and de-icers last.
Conclusion
Readying your asphalt for this winter might take a lot of preparation, but it’s a necessary step to take to ensure that your driveway sees the light of spring without too much harm. Greater damages will require more extensive repairs—so practicing prevention is key to saving this important part of your property!
If you’re looking for reliable pavers in Monmouth County, NJ, Dan the Paver offers over 20 years of experience in the paving industry! Our services include asphalt paving, driveway paving, commercial paving, and more. Contact us for your paving needs today!