|
|
|
 Take Advantage of the Warm
Weather to Do a Little Driveway Maintenance
While the sweltering summer days might
make activities from jogging to lawn mowing to even poolside lounging
unbearable, the roasting temperatures are ideal for tackling driveway
maintenance and repair.
Blacktop is naturally porous and if
water seeps into the paving, it can breakdown, forming ridges and
cracks. Blacktop also is softened by gas, oil, salt and antifreeze and
sealers protect it by blocking those harmful elements. So, well before
winter arrives, consider sealing your asphalt driveway. Here are a few
tips to get started.
- Before you begin maintaining your
driveway, survey the entire surface area, identifying any cracks
that need to be filled. Clear the surface of any grass or weeds that
are overtaking the driveway or causing cracks. While driveway
repairs and sealing typically take place during warmer months, its
best to fix cracks when they are first noticed.
- Scrub the entire driveway with a
diluted driveway cleaner to remove dirt and oil. Cleaning the
driveway thoroughly will allow crack filler, compound and driveway
sealer to adhere more successfully. Homeowners might want to first
try absorbing any extra gas or oil by sprinkling kitty litter on the
spots prior to cleaning. For persistent spots, use an oil spot
primer to seal what is left, before moving forward with the
maintenance.
- Hose the driveway using the maximum
pressure setting—a pressure washer might be worth renting,
especially if you have other exterior tasks to complete, such as
deck cleaning.
- For cracks up to ½ inch, use crack
filler made for a caulking gun or that comes in a squeeze bottle.
Smooth out the filler after it’s applied, making sure it does not
end up on the driveway surface.
- Remove loose material from the edges
of potholes and larger cracks. Try using a wire brush or coax the
material loose with a few strong hose blasts. Shovel packaged
blacktop into potholes or wide cracks once they’ve been thoroughly
cleaned and are dry. Then use an iron rake to level the large
sections. Next, compact the material by using a heavy board, adding
more material until the hole is just overfilled. Place scrap plywood
over the repair work and drive a car over it several times to
compact it further.
- Allow repairs to cure for about a
month before applying any sealer.
- Before applying sealer, make
sure it is mixed well and give it a few stirs during the process.
Cover or protect areas adjoining the driveway and then mist with
water. Pour a one-foot wide ribbon of sealer across the driveway and
push and pull the sealer with the squeegee side of the applicator to
spread it until it is roughly 3 feet wide. Then, use a brush to pull
the sealer toward you, using enough pressure to any excess. Repeat
the process, beginning with a one-foot wide section each time.
- Two thin coats of sealer are
recommended to one thick coat. Allow 12 hours between coats and
block the driveway from traffic for 24-to-36 hours.
In general, seal a driveway every
two-to-three years, but not sooner than 45 days after it’s been paved.
Make sure the temperature outside is at least 50 degrees for 24 hours
and that the weather forecast doesn’t call for rain.
One other note, do-it-yourself driveway
sealing products are heavily diluted, helping keep home owners safe
from chemical flash burns. While safer for amateur driveway sealers,
it means the products will not last as long as those used by
professionals.
Remember, even though the temperatures
are sizzling, always wear protective clothing, gloves, footwear and
eyewear when sealing a driveway.
Find a
Maintenance Professional |