Four Easy Driveway Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

If you have a newly installed or aging concrete driveway, you may be wondering about driveway maintenance tips for homeowners. Concrete driveways can last up to 30 years on average when properly installed and with maintenance. 

At Johnson Concrete, we want our customers to enjoy their new concrete driveways for decades to come, and so we have compiled these 4 easy maintenance tips. These tips will keep your concrete driveway looking great and maximize its service life. 

Pressure Wash Your Driveway Once A Year 

We recommend you power wash your driveway once a year to keep it in great shape. Concrete driveways are fairly low maintenance and don’t require frequent washing. In fact, power washing your driveway too often can cause damage and cause the surface of the driveway to begin breaking down. 

Before pressure washing, completely clear the driveway and sweep or use a leaf blower to remove leaves, stones, etc off the path. Once the driveway is prepped, you can scrub in a degreaser to loosen up stains either through an attachment on the pressure washer or with a stiff brush or broom. 

Start from the high point of your driveway and work downhill with the pressure washer to remove grease, grime, and dirt buildup. Pressure washing can transform the look of an older driveway and removes buildup that can degrade the concrete. 

One of our Driveway Maintenance Tips for Homeowners is to Seal Your Driveway 

Sealing a concrete driveway is a great way to keep your driveway durable and looking great. We recommend that a high-quality concrete sealer is applied to your driveway every two to three years. 

Sealing the driveway will help protect the surface against stains, harmful chemicals, and UV rays (sun exposure can particularly lighten the color of stained driveways). A good sealer should stop water from seeping into the concrete and causing cracks and flaking by freezing and thawing in the concrete. 

Concrete sealers are available in varying degrees of glossiness and tint that can match the aesthetics of your home and driveway. We recommend that you invest in a concrete sealer that penetrates below the surface of the driveway for added protection. 

Follow our Driveway Maintenance Tips for Homeowners by Avoiding the Use of Harmful Deicing Chemicals

Using salt to melt ice and snow is a common practice on roads. You may be tempted to use chlorides such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride to remove ice and snow from your concrete driveway. However, all chlorides, especially sodium chloride, can cause corrosive damage to your concrete. 

Instead of using chlorides, we recommend using calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) to help thaw ice and snow from your driveway. It is effective down to around negative 25 degrees Fahrenheit and is as corrosive as normal tap water. CMA is also much more environmentally friendly and safer for pets than traditional deicing products. 

Address Spills As They Happen

Spilling liquids onto our driveways as we carry in groceries or perform vehicle maintenance simply happens from time to time. However, letting those spills soak into the concrete not only creates unsightly stains but can cause corrosion damage. Additionally, unaddressed spilled motor oils and chemicals can run off in rainy weather into storm drains and yards, contributing to environmental pollution. 

We always recommend that spills onto your concrete driveway are addressed as soon as they happen to prevent damage and unsightly stains. 

Contact The Pros at Johnson Concrete 

While concrete driveways only require minimal maintenance, you can extend the life and appearance of your driveway by following maintenance guidelines. If a new driveway is in your future, contact our pros here at Johnson Concrete. By following these four easy driveway maintenance tips for homeowners, our clients can get the most out of their new concrete driveways.