Here are a few tips on how you can protect your driveway during winter!
When it comes to protecting your driveway from salt, there are a few factors you want to consider. In this article we will talk about the different types of treatment available, how they work and some helpful hints on choosing the right one for your needs.
Salt is a highly effective snow and ice controlling method. However, if applied incorrectly, it may cause damage to concrete surfaces such as driveways.
When salt is placed on an area where vehicles will be driving or parking there is a concentrated amount of traffic. All those vehicles combined with the salt creates an abrasive effect that erodes the surface protecting molecules in concrete (cement paste). Once those protecting molecules are worn away you’ll start seeing “spalling” (concrete deterioration) appear as chips and flakes along with potholes or cracks in your driveway or sidewalk. If you want to protect your driveway from salt damage, there are several methods you can use to do so.
Methods to protect your driveway
Additives: There are certain types of asphalt additives or sealant that can be added to your driveway periodically when you apply salt. These additives will neutralize the effects of salt on your asphalt, and keep it from deteriorating over time. The sealant forms an invisible barrier which protects the surface underneath it. An added benefit of this method is that once the winter season is over, you can remove the sealant using household cleaning products without damaging the surface underneath it. This allows for easy removal in preparation for another year of daily use.
Flooding: If a heavy snow or ice storm occurs, allow any runoff to go down a storm drain rather than onto your driveway. You should consider using a garden hose to divert the water away from your driveway if there is nowhere for it to go. This will help protect the surface from being worn away by water after it melts and freezes in colder weather.
Adding Sand: Instead of applying salt directly onto your driveway, sprinkle some sand on top of it before shoveling so that you have traction to clear the snow. This will protect your driveway from salt damage and add some extra protection in case you add ice to your driveway later on in the season.
Applying Ice Melt: Rather than applying salt, try using an ice melt product that is made with calcium chloride or potassium acetate. These products won’t disrupt the pH balance of the soil, and will be much better for protecting your driveway from salt damage in both winter and summer seasons. Products like this won’t harm vegetation in your lawn either, unlike other de-icing products that are high in sodium chloride content.
Most importantly, the most important thing you can do to protect your driveway from salt is by keeping it maintained throughout the year. Clean any debris off the surface in order to prevent buildup when you apply ice melt or sand in winter conditions, and use hot oil treatments or sealant in order to keep cracks sealed during summer months when melting occurs more slowly than when applying by hand.
Contact Asphalt Sealing for any questions you might have!
We hope this was helpful and informative! If you have any questions and need some guidance, feel free to give us a call and we would be happy to help you. Asphalt Sealing 647-812-7845.