Maintaining the quality of your driveway can be a very difficult, tedious task.
Home owners will need to pay constant attention to any changes in their driveway to help ensure that any cracks and holes will be patched as soon as possible.
Do-it-yourself driveway maintenance may not be for everyone, but it can definitely help save money that you would have spent on a professional service.
Cracks occur when moisture seeps into your driveway and begins to build up.
This water build up expands in the winter as the water freezes.
It loosens up the driveway and causes cracks; therefore, the faster you can patch a crack, the less damage it will have on your driveway.
Trees that are located near a driveway can also contribute to driveway cracks.
Over time, tree roots can grow under your driveway and begin pushing up at the concrete.
So how can you avoid the cracks and maintain your driveway? The best way to get rid of driveway cracks is by taking care of it.
Year after year, inclement weather and heat can wear out your driveway.
That is why home owners should consider sealing their driveway every year, to keep any moisture out.
If moisture is not sealed, cracks may begin to plague your driveway.
When you see a crack, it should be filled and taken care of as soon as possible to avoid expanding.
To fill cracks on blacktop driveways, different fillers should be used depending on the size and depth of the crack.
Before filling a crack, you must make sure that there are no broken pieces and other debris inside of the crack.
By using a masonry chisel and brush, dig away any loose debris that is in the cracks.
Without cleaning inside and around the crack, the filler patch will not adhere to the crack filler.
After you clean the area, you can apply a patching compound then apply the crack filler.
Crack fillers and tools can be bought at any hardware store.
You do not need to use the same brands that driveway repair services offer.
After all the cracks are filled and dried, the entire blacktop should be cleaned and swept.
Once all debris is removed from the driveway, you can now begin to apply a sealer which will help maintain a crack-free driveway.
After sealing the driveway, wait 24 hours for the sealer to dry.
Driveways should be sealed at least once a year to prevent water from seeping into cracks and creating bigger, deeper cracks.
You can do this yourself or get help from driveway repair services.