Fall Maintenance to Protect Your Driveway Through the Winter

Asphalt care is a year round process. All seasons introduce potentially damaging conditions for your paved driveway or parking lot. However, during the colder months, winter maintenance is especially important in order to ensure that asphalt is safe for use by both vehicles and pedestrians, and will not be pothole prone come the end of winter. Cold weather often leads to asphalt repair. These asphalt care tips will help you undertake successful winter maintenance of your asphalt.

Repair Cracks  

Look for cracks and contact professionals to help repair and seal them with water resistant sealant. This will prevent potholes and the integrity of your asphalt from breaking down. Prevention is key to asphalt care. Professionals can find smaller cracks, and even the preliminary signs of cracking and fix them before they become severe damage. Water resistant sealant will also do wonders toward preventing additional damage. Noticing these cracks early and getting crack filling is key to winter maintenance. It is important to correct and seal them before melting snow can expand and contract inside them and worsen cracks, leading to dangerous and unsightly potholes.

Snow Plows And Shovels

Depending on the amount of snow, snow plow drivers and snow shoveling may be necessary, both can damage asphalt and undo all of your careful winter maintenance. Both incorrect use of plows and shoveling can lead to the topmost layer of asphalt being scraped off. Placing visible markers along curbs can help protect driveways and pathways. To avoid damage from snow shovels, get expert advice in choosing a shovel that is not too sharp. 

De-Icing Agent 

Using a de-icing agent that will not be too rough on your asphalt is key to winter maintenance. Choosing something milder will keep your asphalt ice free and intact and help it survive the harsh winter with minimal damage.

Pooling Water

Pooling water on your asphalt could mean the top layer is uneven. When this occurs, it may indicate a more significant problem with the sub-base, and without proper attention, an uneven area could quickly turn into a pothole. The correction may be as simple as patching the dipped section to make a level surface, or if the pooling water is really bad a drain might have to be installed.

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