Summer means backyard barbecues, outdoor adventures, and hosting lots of guests at your home. As a result, you must ensure your driveway is up to par. Excessive heat and sunshine can do a number on your asphalt, but the proper care will prevent major issues. Ensuring your driveway remains in good condition requires a combination of DIY best practices and skilled service from a paving contractor, as explained below.
How to Care for Your Driveway During the Summer Months
1. Be Careful With Heavy & Sharp Objects
While a sturdy and durable material, the summer sun can soften asphalt a bit. This won't be an issue unless a heavy or sharp object is dropped on the driveway, in which case defects might form.
Exercise caution when carrying things like paint cans, tools, landscaping rocks, and other materials out of your garage. If something is too heavy to carry comfortably on your own, enlist help from a family member to prevent any mishaps.
2. Clean the Pavement Regularly
With summer heat comes the accelerated growth of plants, grass, and trees. That means your lawn care duties will also kick into overdrive, which might leave you asphalt covered in plant debris and other organic materials.
If left to linger on pavement, organic materials can trap water underneath and cause accelerated wear as well as mold growth. After lawn mowing and tree trimming, be sure to sweep any debris off your driveway.
3. Have Cracks & Potholes Repaired Immediately
Along with high temperatures, summer rainstorms can also cause damage to your pavement. If there are existing cracks, rainwater will penetrate the surface and cause damage to the underlying subbase. If you notice obvious defects, a paving contractor can fill in gaps to protect the lower levels of the driveway from water damage. Scheduling crack repair will also boost your home's curb appeal exponentially.
