With the weather in Milwaukee rapidly dropping, it’s clear that winter is right around the corner! Although winter brings us the jolly holiday times we all enjoy, it also brings with it some unpleasant experiences.
No one enjoys prepping their home for the colder weather, especially not their concrete driveways. Very often neglected, concrete driveways can suffer from cold weather. Taking the necessary precautions to protect your driveway might be annoying, but it is necessary unless you want your driveway to split or crack.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to protect your driveway from the elements as the weather gets increasingly colder, follow along! Prepping can save you some cash down the road.
How to Prepare Your Driveway
Winter time is especially rough on your concrete driveways because, as the snow melts throughout the day, it seeps into the small cracks in your driveway. Once the temperature drops again at night, this water will turn into ice.
As this happens, it expands, taking up much more space than it did when it was in liquid form. This is what will eventually cause large cracks and splits in your driveway. Following these tips will guarantee your driveway remains intact throughout the entire winter season.
Tip 1: Apply a Concrete Driveway Sealer
A concrete contractor can easily seal the existing cracks in your driveway before temperatures start dropping below freezing. This sealer will not only protect your driveway from snow and ice, but also from sun exposure and abrasion.
Sealers should be applied once every one to three years. If you applied a sealer a few years ago, consider re-applying to ensure your driveway survives the colder months.
Tip 2: Check Your Drainage Systems
Make sure there are no places in your driveway in which water can pool. Water should be able to flow directly to your drainage system without collecting in one area.
If you’ve already applied a sealer, your driveway will not crack. However, if a family member walks on the frozen puddle, they might be stuck with a few broken bones.
Tip 3: Clean Up Your Driveway
Keeping a clean driveway can make it easy to spot potential puddles and cracks.
Having a layer of leaves, sticks, or dirt can also deteriorate the concrete, especially when the grime is stuck under a layer of snow or ice for a few months.
Tip 4: Use Sand Instead of Salt
Most people use salt to melt ice and provide traction on a surface. However, salt can also deteriorate concrete. Opting for a cheaper and safer option, like sand instead of salt, will provide the same results while preserving the quality of your concrete driveway.
Saving Concrete Driveways
Following these simple tips will not only make your driveway happy but will also keep your friends and family safe. With the freezing Milwaukee winters, this is especially important.
If you’re interested in learning more about protecting your concrete driveway or need a quick repair before the cold arrives, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d be happy to assist you with all of your concrete driveway needs.
