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Even though asphalt is the best driveway material for standing up to the wear and tear of winter elements, it can still show some of the effects if you don’t take care of it correctly. To get the full useful lifespan out of your asphalt driveway and to keep it looking nice, follow our tips for maintaining it throughout the winter so it can come out clean and ready in the spring.

Clean Debris Off Before It Freezes

The power of ice and snow is already enough to chip away at your asphalt pavement slowly over time. But if you let debris like sticks, rocks, and leaves stay on your driveway during the winter, you’re adding another element that can erode your driveway. The snow and ice will push down on the debris and grind it into your asphalt. Debris that’s frozen onto your driveway can also make it more difficult to clear away snow and ice. Make sure to clean off any debris before the winter and on those warmer days when it’s a bit above freezing and the snow melts away.

Look Out for Signs of Damage

On days above freezing when the snow and ice melt, take a good look at your asphalt driveway. Look for signs of small cracks or chips appearing.

Don’t Let Standing Water Stick Around

If there are portions of your asphalt driveway that collect standing water, make sure to get rid of it before it freezes. If you allow standing water to freeze, it will expand and find any cracks or potholes that are forming in your driveway and make them worse. Try using a squeegee to push standing water off your asphalt before it freezes and causes damage.

De-Ice Your Driveway

This is something you’ll likely do anyway in the interest of safety, but it’s important for asphalt maintenance too. Just like standing water can freeze and hurt your driveway, ice that has already formed can make it easier for more ice to form around it, causing a bigger problem. Stay on top of ice by de-icing your driveway whenever it appears.

Have Professionals Sealcoat your Asphalt Driveway

The best defense against winter for an asphalt driveway is a fresh seal coat. This will keep water from getting into the porous asphalt and freezing and expanding. Plus, a fresh seal coat makes your asphalt driveway look brand new again.

Asphalt Driveway Maintenance, Repair & Installation | Total Asphalt Paving

If you want to keep your asphalt driveway safe, good-looking, and long-lasting, let the experts at Total Asphalt Paving help you. We can install an asphalt driveway for you, repair any damage to it, seal coat it, and give you tips on maintaining it throughout the year. We’ll help you get the best value for your money when it comes to a residential asphalt driveway.

To learn more, give us a call at (586) 752-9060 or send in an online contact form now!