A well-maintained asphalt driveway not only improves your home’s appeal, but it also increases its resale value when you decide to sell. Such driveways are functional and attractive at the same time—especially when you take care of them the right way. According to bitumen repairs Brisbane experts, ongoing maintenance is critical to keep your new driveway in excellent shape for years.
Driveway maintenance helps extend its usable life and eliminates the expenses that come with repaving it again. Here are a few suggestions to get you started in the right direction.
Seal coat the driveway
Seal coating the asphalt ensures it lasts longer. The coating reduces the effects the elements have on the asphalt surface to extend its life. Seal coating should be done immediately after paving.
Ongoing maintenance should include the application of a new seal coat periodically to improve protection. Pothole repairs Gold Coast professionals recommend surface recoating at least every three years, depending on the age of your asphalt driveway.
Allow driveway to cure
The first few weeks after paving, the driveway is critical for its longevity. At a few days old, you can drive on the driveway but avoid parking for any amount of time until it is at least two weeks old. The curing process takes 90 to 120 days, so the longer you can keep vehicles off the driveway, the better it cures and will withstand the pressure afterwards.
After a few weeks have passed, keep your parked cars, boats, and other recreational vehicles on pieces of plywood to prevent tyres and other items from sinking and creating uneven low dents or spots.
Clean the asphalt regularly
Some contaminants or chemicals can cause the asphalt surface to deteriorate fast. So it is critical to keep the surface clean.
Stains on the driveway should be removed right away. Plus, remove dirt that finds its way to the surface to prevent weeds from sprouting and cracking the driveway.
Asphalt repairs experts recommend you remove puddles of water after a storm or from washing your vehicle immediately they occur. The water eventually causes potholes and other driveway problems.
Make frequent repairs
Over time, weather and the weight of your vehicles on the driveway can cause it to degrade structurally, creating an uneven surface that is no longer attractive and functional. Call in a professional bitumen repairs Brisbane company any time you see signs of trouble, including:
- Water drainage problems—Water draining into specific channels down the driveway or pooling water can increase the wear it experiences
- Cracks—These are easy to spot and are usually signs that your driveway has aged significantly. However, they are also part of the driveway’s life cycle so do not worry about small cracks, but large cracks covering a significant portion of the surface should be addressed as soon as possible.
- Potholes—They may be caused by the ground under the driveway shifting, causing the asphalt to crumble. It is cheaper to hire experts to carry out pothole repairs than repairing the wear and damage done to your car’s tyres and suspension.
- Crumbling edges—If your driveway is not protected around the edges with concrete curbs or gutters, the edges may crumble and break off. You usually need to remove and replace this asphalt.
- Colour changes—While it may sound like a superficial problem, it may be a sign of a serious issue. Asphalt that changes from dark black to a whitish or greyish hue is a sign of bleaching by UV radiation and the weather. This makes the driveway more brittle and likely to fall apart.
Set up a professional ongoing maintenance contract
It is well worth investing some cash into driveway maintenance by hiring a professional bitumen repairs Brisbane contractor. Pothole People QLD contractors are more than happy to work with you to ensure all your paving requirements are fulfilled.
