Concrete driveways require maintenance, even if they are highly durable and able to withstand staining, foot traffic, and vehicle impact. Concrete driveway maintenance helps to make concrete driveways last for many more years to come – and with proper maintenance, concrete driveways can even last over 30 years. In this blog entry, the Atlanta concrete driveway installation experts here at Atlanta Concrete Solutions will detail the best tips for concrete driveway maintenance.
Avoiding Deicing Chemicals
Don’t use harsh deicing chemicals on your concrete driveway. Newly poured concrete is more susceptible to corrosion easily caused by deicing chemicals. We recommend using sand as a deicing substance instead, as this provides superior traction all white preventing spalling and scaling.
Quality Concrete Mix
Make sure to use a high-quality concrete mix, and ensure that concrete is professionally mixed. By using a high-quality concrete mix, you can make sure that driveway maintenance is an easy and convenient task.
Keep your concrete driveway clean, cleaning it on a regular basis to remove leaked oil, tire marks, chemical stains, or any other type of soiling. We recommend cleaning your driveway as needed when any spills happen, and at least once a year annually.
Cleanliness
Sealing
We recommend sealing your driveway to protect it from the elements, even extreme cold. If you live in an area that gets cold, you will want to avoid your concrete driveways being susceptible to ice and thawing cycles which can rapidly break concrete driveways. Extend your driveway longevity for years by sealing your driveway on a regular basis.
Removing Debris and Snow
We recommend avoiding metal shovels or plows when removing snow or debris. For this, we recommend simply using a snow blower or a plastic shovel. Heavier materials create nearly invisible cracks into which water will rapidly enter, causing the concrete to expand and crack. Keep in mind that concrete meant for residential driveways may not be designed to hold heavy construction equipment like plows or larger trucks.