How Do I Maintain My Driveway After Asphalt Repairs?
After you’ve invested in asphalt repairs, the next step is to make sure your driveway stays in great shape for as long as possible. Whether you’ve filled cracks, patched potholes, or applied sealcoat, proper maintenance can extend the life of your asphalt and keep it looking fresh and smooth.
For property managers and business owners in Durham, Raleigh, and surrounding areas, maintaining your driveway or parking lot is an important part of keeping your property safe and appealing. In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps you can take to maintain your driveway after repairs to ensure long-lasting results.
Why Driveway Maintenance Matters
Asphalt is durable, but it’s also constantly exposed to the elements—rain, heat, cold, and heavy traffic all take a toll. Regular maintenance is key to preserving your asphalt, avoiding costly future repairs, and keeping your driveway or parking lot looking clean and professional.
If you’re wondering where to start after making those crucial repairs, we’ve got you covered.
Step 1: Give the Asphalt Time to Cure
Once your asphalt has been repaired, it needs time to properly cure. Curing allows the asphalt to harden and settle into its final form, ensuring it’s ready to handle the weight of vehicles without sustaining damage.
How Long Should I Wait?
For most standard repairs like crack filling or infrared asphalt patching, it’s a good idea to keep traffic off the asphalt for at least 24 to 48 hours. If you’ve applied a fresh coat of sealant, give it 48 to 72 hours before allowing vehicles to park on it.
Tips During Curing:
- Avoid Parking: Even though the surface might look dry, parking heavy vehicles on freshly repaired asphalt can cause indentations or marks.
- Keep It Clean: Try to prevent dirt, leaves, and debris from settling on the asphalt during curing. Use a soft broom to gently sweep away debris.
Step 2: Clean Your Driveway Regularly
One of the easiest ways to maintain your asphalt is by keeping it clean. A clean driveway or parking lot not only looks better but also helps prevent buildup of dirt, leaves, and other debris that can trap moisture and lead to deterioration over time.
How to Clean Your Asphalt:
- Sweep Regularly: Use a broom to clear away leaves, dirt, and other debris from the surface of your driveway. This is especially important after storms, when debris tends to collect.
- Use a Pressure Washer (Gently): Occasionally, use a pressure washer to remove dirt and stains from the surface. Just be sure to use a lower pressure setting to avoid damaging the asphalt.
Watch Out for Stains
Oil and gas spills can soften the asphalt and cause long-term damage. Clean these up immediately using a degreaser or a mild detergent to protect the surface.
Step 3: Sealcoat Every 2 to 3 Years
Sealcoating is an essential part of maintaining your driveway. It acts as a protective barrier against UV rays, water, oil, and chemicals that can wear down your asphalt over time. After any repair, you should plan to reseal the driveway within the next few months to protect the new surface.
Benefits of Sealcoating:
- Prevents Water Penetration: Sealcoat keeps moisture from seeping into cracks and causing damage.
- Improves Appearance: A fresh layer of sealcoat makes your driveway look brand new, enhancing the overall appearance of your property.
- Extends Asphalt Life: Regular sealcoating every 2 to 3 years significantly extends the life of your asphalt, saving you from expensive repairs later on.
Step 4: Fill Small Cracks Quickly
Even after repairs, cracks can reappear over time, especially in areas with extreme weather fluctuations. If you notice small cracks forming, it’s crucial to address them quickly to prevent water from seeping in and causing further damage.
How to Fill Cracks:
- Clean the Area: Sweep away any debris or dirt from the crack.
- Apply Crack Filler: Use an asphalt crack filler to seal the crack. You can find these at most hardware stores.
- Smooth It Out: Use a small trowel or putty knife to smooth out the filler, ensuring it’s even with the surface.
By staying on top of small repairs, you can prevent bigger, more costly problems from developing later.
Step 5: Ensure Proper Drainage
Water is one of the biggest threats to your asphalt driveway. If water pools on the surface, it can seep into cracks and cause the asphalt to weaken or crack further. Proper drainage ensures that water flows away from the driveway instead of settling on the surface.
Tips for Maintaining Proper Drainage:
- Check for Low Spots: Look for areas where water pools after a rainstorm. These low spots can be addressed by leveling the asphalt or improving the slope of your driveway.
- Keep Gutters Clear: Make sure that nearby gutters and downspouts are directing water away from your driveway.
- Watch for Runoff: If water from nearby landscaping or sprinkler systems is running onto your asphalt, adjust the drainage to keep it off the surface.
Step 6: Avoid Heavy Vehicles and Sharp Turns
While asphalt is designed to handle vehicles, certain types of traffic can cause unnecessary wear and tear. For example, heavy vehicles like garbage trucks or delivery trucks can damage the surface, especially in the weeks after repairs. Sharp turns can also create stress on the asphalt and cause small cracks or indentations.
How to Protect Your Asphalt:
- Limit Heavy Vehicles: Try to keep heavy vehicles off the driveway whenever possible, especially immediately after repairs.
- Avoid Sharp Turns: Encourage drivers to avoid making sharp turns on the asphalt, as this can cause scuffing or tearing.
Step 7: Use Snow and Ice Removal Safely
In winter, asphalt surfaces can suffer from the freeze-thaw cycle, where water seeps into small cracks, freezes, and then expands, leading to larger cracks. Snow and ice removal can be hard on your asphalt if not done correctly, so it’s important to use the right techniques.
Snow and Ice Removal Tips:
- Use a Plastic Shovel: Metal shovels can scrape and damage the surface of your asphalt. Stick with plastic snow shovels for clearing snow.
- Be Cautious with Salt: Salt can be corrosive to asphalt over time. Consider using alternatives like sand or calcium chloride to provide traction without damaging the asphalt.
- Clear Snow Promptly: Don’t let snow and ice sit on your driveway for extended periods. Clearing snow quickly prevents water from seeping into cracks when it melts.
Step 8: Monitor for Damage and Repair Promptly
Asphalt surfaces should be inspected regularly, especially after extreme weather conditions like heavy rain, freezing temperatures, or intense heat. By monitoring the surface for new cracks, potholes, or uneven areas, you can catch issues early and address them before they become bigger problems.
If you notice any damage that’s too extensive for DIY repairs, it’s time to call in a professional. Whether it’s cracks, potholes, or surface deterioration, professionals can offer long-term solutions like infrared asphalt patching or full resurfacing.
Why Choose Green Street Blacktop?
At Green Street Blacktop, we’re dedicated to helping you maintain your asphalt the right way. As a women-owned business, we prioritize environmentally friendly processes and high-quality service. From repairs to sealcoating, our team is here to make sure your driveway or parking lot stays in top condition for years to come.
We offer a range of services, including asphalt repair, infrared asphalt patching, sealcoating, crack filling, and line striping. With our commitment to choosing the most eco-friendly methods at every turn, you can trust us to deliver the best results for your property.
Get a Free Quote or Friendly Opinion
If you’re ready to take the next step in maintaining your driveway, give us a call at Green Street Blacktop. We’d be happy to provide a free quote or offer a friendly opinion on your asphalt maintenance needs. Whether you’re in Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, or the surrounding areas, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to ensure your asphalt lasts as long as possible and looks great year-round!
