With spring having officially arrived, now is the time for homeowners to evaluate the condition of their homes after making it through another winter. After all of the snow has melted and been cleared away, you may notice newly visible gashes and splits in your driveway during your inspection. Fortunately, there are a few preventative tips you can follow to preserve driveway condition, and steps you can take if this shovel and snow plow damage in Saratoga Springs, NY has already occurred:
- Concrete: A crack or chipped concrete driveway provides openings for the salt that is used to melt snow and ice to penetrate and corrode the steel reinforcements beneath the surface. To avoid this, make sure your concrete driveway is sealed once every three to five years, and be sure to use calcium chloride for de-icing.
- Hardscaping: Pavers, bricks and other hardscaping elements that are beginning to protrude and detach are vulnerable to even more damage from shovels and heavy-duty snow-removal equipment. To protect the condition of your hardscaping, use plastic and other non-metal shovels when removing snow, and pack down any pavers that may be sticking up whenever you notice them.
- Stone and gravel driveways: When your driveway is finished with gravel or stone, it can be difficult to remove snow without being left with a messy pile of slush and rocks. The best way to handle removal on this type of surface is to wait until the temperatures are colder and the snow is more compact, and put all of the snow piles in one place so that you can easily retrieve the stones once everything has melted. In addition, keeping the snow blower blades or shovel at least one inch above the ground can help to minimize the number of stones that are collected during removal.
- Asphalt: Asphalt that is already brittle is particularly prone to chipping, especially under the rigors of shoveling and snow plowing. If your asphalt driveway is already badly damaged, aggressive snow removal can cause large chunks of asphalt to come up altogether, and you may be forced to consider repaving sooner rather than later. To avoid this fate, keep snow blower blades at least a half an inch off of the asphalt when removing snow from the driveway surface.
To make sure your property doesn’t have any dangerous hazards, and to prevent even further damage, it’s best to have your driveway repaired or replaced as soon as you have the chance to do so. Depending on the amount of damage already present, a simple patch repair may be suitable. However, if the condition of your driveway has been neglected for too long, a brand-new pavement installation might be needed.
Regardless of which option is best for your property, you can rely on the combined 20-plus years of experience of our paving experts at Asphalt Industries, LLC to help make sure your asphalt driveway is durable enough to not only withstand shovels and snow plows in Saratoga Springs, NY, but all of winter’s elements as well. To learn more about our wide range of asphalt paving services, give us a call today to schedule your consultation.