Concrete is one of the most popular driveway materials for a reason – in fact, for several reasons. It is durable, affordable, and easy to maintain. That said, do not mistake “easy to maintain” for “requires no maintenance.” Keep reading to learn about four maintenance tips that can keep your driveway in great shape for years to come.
- Clean Your Driveway and Have it Sealed First and foremost, we strongly recommend cleaning your driveway regularly. To make it easier to clean and less likely to take in the dirt and debris that all driveways may have to deal with, we also recommend having your driveway sealed. If you would like first to add a unique color then you may want to invest in driveway staining as well. How often you deep clean your driveway will depend on the weather where you live, how much traffic it deals with, and whether it was professionally sealed or not. You should generally have your driveway resealed every two years or as soon as you notice wear.
- Do Not Allow Stains to Sit on the Driveway Sealing your driveway is a great way to help protect your driveway from statins, but nothing can prevent 100% of stains. If you see spills on your driveway, especially of substances known to stain, such as oil, gas, or grease, you should wash the stain away right away. If you notice that the concrete begins to discolor, you can use a pressure washer to remove the staining element thoroughly.
- Do Not Use Chemicals on Your Driveway It can be tempting to add chemicals that swear they will keep your driveway safer. For example, people who live in colder climates are often tempted to put deicing chemicals on their driveways. These generally include ammonium nitrates and ammonium sulfates, which can break down the concrete. Other chemicals used to treat driveway issues, such as weed killers, can also damage either your concrete or the sealant that has been used.
- Take Care of Your Concrete Yes, concrete is exceptionally durable and strong. That does not mean that you should park a huge semi-truck on it for months at a time. Be careful with your concrete and remember that just because it can stand up to particular treatment doesn’t mean that you should put it through that treatment.
If you have questions about caring for concrete, sealing concrete, or staining concrete, then we welcome your call to Fuller Concrete Staining at 310-944-9099.