How to Keep Your Concrete Driveway Looking New

Now that you finally have it, you want to keep your concrete driveway looking new. Whether you have opted for a designed driveway or not, it still needs to be looked after.

The weather, oil stains, and everyday wear and tear can damage your concrete. But luckily, concrete doesn’t require a great deal of attention to remain looking new and fresh.

How to Keep Your Concrete Driveway Looking New

Your concrete driveway will last for many years, and with a bit of care, it will remain looking new, as well.

Wash it Regularly

Keep the driveway cleaned off. Leaves, grass, flowers, paper wrappers, and other debris like animal droppings can clutter and stain the concrete. Remove excess debris with a broom, leaf blower, and take the garden hose to it now and then.

If you want to take the power washer to it now and then, it will help clear out the small crevices where dirt gets in, where moisture sits and where mold and mildew can start to form.

Remove Stains

Keeping stains off your concrete driveway will help it stay looking new. Stains should be removed as soon as you notice them. Grass, flowers, leaves, and dyed paper can leave large stains and discoloration on your driveway.

This will include mold and mildew, as well. They can grow where there is too much dampness and they spread quickly. If you are using something like bleach to remove it, be aware that this can harm your grass and plants.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals

You can also keep your concrete driveway looking new by not putting harsh cleaners, deicers, and other chemicals on it. Use a mild detergent when removing stains, and make sure chemicals from the lawn, the car, or other areas around the house don’t get onto the driveway.

This includes rock salt for melting ice, or other deicers containing ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate, and other chemicals that can run off your work area and down the driveway.

Apply Sealer

Keeping your driveway clean and applying sealer will help preserve it and keep it looking new. Sealing it and resealing it helps keep the excess moisture out, helps prevent stains and makes them easier to remove, and makes it easier to clean and maintain.

The heat of the summer and the cold of the winter can cause the sealant to crack or lift. Using a shovel in the winter can damage the surface of the driveway, and that will allow more moisture and dirt to get in.

Avoid Heavy Vehicles

Even the weight of a standard car can start to cause cracks along the driveway and along the sides. To keep your concrete driveway looking new, don’t park your holiday trailer, moving van, or larger construction vehicles there for too long.

Make Repairs

If you find small cracks or other surface damage, make sure you get them fixed right away. Small holes or crumbling concrete may be a sign of other problems, so get them inspected and repaired right away. Keeping these holes and cracks filled can also prevent small mishaps like tripping or allowing the cracks to get bigger.

Keep Your Concrete Driveway Looking New

You have invested in your new driveway and you want to keep it looking new. Give us a call if you need a new driveway or need tips for maintaining it. Here at Johnson Concrete, we can install your new driveway and make it look fantastic, as well. We have the ability and expertise to manage commercial projects; large and small.