Concrete and asphalt driveways may seem durable, but winter weather quickly reveals their weaknesses. They can safely support the weight of a heavy car or truck, but they are no match for the winter elements. Falling rain or melting snow will find its way into all of your driveway’s nooks and crannies, and it will expand and cause damage when it freezes. There isn’t much you can do to change winter weather, but you can take steps to protect your driveway.

Seal Your Driveway

Applying a high-quality sealant before temperatures plummet may be the best way to protect your driveway during the freezing season. The sealant will fill tiny cracks and holes in the driveway surface and prevent water infiltration. Look for a sealer that contains both silane and siloxane. The silane will penetrate deep into your driveway to provide durable protection against abrasion, and the siloxane will repel water.

Sweep or Pressure Wash Your Driveway

Hard objects like screws and bolts can do a lot of damage to the surface of a concrete or asphalt driveway when a motor vehicle drives over them. The small cracks and holes they leave behind will fill with water when it rains, and that water will freeze and expand when the temperature drops. Sweeping your driveway regularly or having it power washed from time to time can stop this from happening.

Take Steps to Mitigate Frost Heave

If you think your driveway sits a little higher during the winter months, you’re not imagining things. When the water trapped in the soil beneath your driveway freezes, it pushes up and lifts sections of the concrete or asphalt. When the ground thaws, your driveway will settle back down to its original position. This phenomenon is called frost heave, and it can seriously damage driveways. Keeping your driveway properly drained is the best way to prevent frost heave. If you see water pooling next to your driveway after a rain shower, it may be time to call an experienced landscaper.

Choose the Right Deicer

Many homeowners reach for a bag of rock salt when their driveways are icy, but this can make the damage caused by frost and freezing temperatures even worse. Salt accelerates the freeze-thaw cycle and deteriorates concrete and asphalt driveway surfaces, which can cause spalling and cracking over time. Alternatives to rock salt that won’t damage your driveway include sand and deicing products containing magnesium chloride or calcium chloride.

Sweeping your driveway, applying an effective sealant and choosing the right deicer are all things you can do to protect your driveway in winter, but tackling the problems that lead to frost heave is a job best left to professionals. An experienced landscaper can assess your drainage issues and suggest ways to prevent water from accumulating under your driveway. The measures they recommend will likely cost a lot less than replacing a damaged driveway.

If you live in Warner Robins, GA, and are concerned about frost heave, call the landscaping experts at Safe Site Services today.