7 Essential Maintenance Tips for Your Concrete Driveway in Sierra Vista

1. Routine Maintenance: Driveways Need Regular Cleaning

There’s a lot of dirt and debris, as well as stains, that can occur on your driveway over time, especially when we get a lot of dust in the summer.

• Clean your driveway by sweeping it weekly.
• Clean your driveway deeper by washing it down with a pressure washer or a garden hose, but do this every three or four months.
• If you find some hard-to-get stains on your driveway, clean them off with a product made for cleaning concrete.

Tip: Don’t use metal shovels, scrapers, etc., they will scratch the top of your driveway.

2. Seal Your Driveway To Protect It

Protecting your driveway with a sealant is much like putting sunscreen on your skin. It protects your driveway from being damaged by things such as weather and chemicals.

• Re-seal your driveway every two or three years.
• Select a sealant designed for a very dry climate.
• The best time to apply sealant is during the cooler part of the year.

3. Fix Those Cracks Right Away

Fixing small cracks right away can save you money in the long run because, if you let those small cracks continue to grow, they can turn into large cracks that require costly repairs.

• Look at your driveway regularly to make sure there are no cracks.
• Use a concrete crack repair kit to fix minor cracks.
• If you have larger cracks, call a contractor to fix them.

4. Keep Excess Water From Damaging Your Driveway

You can protect your driveway from excess water accumulating on it by making sure the driveway slopes slightly toward the street.

Drainage: Make sure your driveway has enough of a slope so that water runs off the driveway, rather than collecting on it. Keep the drainages free of debris. If you’re having trouble with drainage, you may want to look into installing a drainage solution.

5. Clean Up Any Spilled Chemicals On Your Driveway

Chemicals can stain and damage your driveway, so you should try to clean up any spills as soon as possible.

• When you spill something on your driveway, immediately clean it up with cat litter or sawdust to soak up the liquid.
• After you’ve soaked up the liquid, rinse the area completely.
• As an additional layer of protection, you might want to put a penetrating sealer on your driveway.

6. Watch Out For Damage Around The Edges Of Your Driveway

Damage to your driveway usually occurs around the edges, where your driveway meets your sidewalk or garage.

• Don’t drive on the edges of your driveway.
• Install edge restraints to help stabilize your driveway.
• Fix any crumbling edges right away.

7. Use Caution When Using De-icing Products

In Sierra Vista, we rarely see snow and ice, but we still need to prepare for potential winter conditions.

• Instead of using salt-based products, use sand for traction.
• If you have to use a de-icer, select one that won’t harm your concrete.
• Remove any ice and snow as soon as possible to prevent the water from getting into the pores of your driveway.

By following the above routine maintenance tips, you’ll be able to keep your driveway looking good and functioning properly for many years to come. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” as it’s always easier and less expensive to maintain your driveway than it is to repair it.

Here at Sierra Vista Concrete Works, we are committed to helping you take care of your concrete driveway. Not only will we install your new driveway, but we’ll also provide you with recommendations for maintaining it. If you have questions regarding your driveway or would like us to perform maintenance on your driveway, please contact us today.