How to Keep Your New Asphalt Driveway Looking New

It’s March, and you know what that means: it’ll be springtime before the end of the month.

Normally that’s casue for a celebration, but when it comes to the asphalt on your driveway, the ravages of winter mean you’ll be faced with a whole new set of cracks, holes and missing asphalt this spring.

In winter, especially like the one we’re having this year in Whitby, the fluctuation of temperatures above and below freezing can literally tear at your driveway as the water on its surface and underneath it freezes and thaws.

A few cracks and bumps on your driveway is not generally a problem. But at some point they can make your drive way a safety hazard and you don’t always know when that point is reached until it’s too late.

If you’re planning to repave your asphalt driveway, maximizing its lifespan begins the moment the work is done. Here are just some of the things you need to do to start your new driveway off on a long life.

1. Keep Your Car Off It

That is don’t drive over it into your garage, don’t park on it, don’t put your car anywhere on your just-finished driveway. Even in ideal conditions, asphalt takes at least a few days to harden, and an extra one or two days wouldn’t hurt.

2. Beware of Hot Temperatures

Asphalt is more pliant under high temperatures. If you happen to repave your driveway during a heatwave, you should avoid using it completely for at least a week, or perhaps until cooler temperatures prevail. During that time, even walking on the driveway can mar its finish and things like patio furniture could even puncture a hole in it.

3. Keep Grass & Weeds Off the Driveway

They will pop up in the tightest cracks. To reduce the appearance of grass and weeds on your driveway, install a strip of gravel or topsoil around all the edges of the driveway that run along lawns and/or gardens.

A repaved driveway not only makes your home look great, it feels great to use it, so it pays to starting making it last as long as possible as soon as its installed.