Top Tips For Driveway Care During Hot Weather

As hot temperatures and sunny conditions sweep across the UK, it’s pretty common to see homeowners watering their gardens more than usual or parking their car in the shade if possible. However, one thing homeowners don’t seem to consider during hot weather is taking care of their driveway. Hot weather can actually cause driveways to crack and fade. 

Your driveway is one of the first things that visitors see when they arrive at your home, so it’s important to keep it looking its best during the summer. Coming from an imprinted concrete driveway contractor, here are some of our top tips for taking care of your driveway during hot weather to help extend its life.

1) Keep It Clean

The most obvious tip is keeping your driveway clean. Dirt and debris can build up over time, causing damage to the surface. Driveways don’t tend to get as dirty as they get during the winter. However, dirt and leaves can always be blown into your driveway from summer breezes. Use a yard brush or a leaf blower to remove any debris and finish it off by using a pressure washer to power wash your driveway. The water from the pressure washer will also help cool down your driveway.

2) Cut Back On Trimming Greenery

If you have trees or hedging along your driveway, it’s common for homeowners to trim them back at this time of year to keep it looking neat. However, it might be worth cutting back on how often you trim them, at least until the hot weather has passed. As your trees or hedging becomes slightly overgrown, it will provide much needed shade for your driveway and protect it from excessive amounts of sunlight. It must be said however that this can’t be achieved on driveways with little or no greenery.

3) Park Heavy Vehicles Elsewhere

One of the main purposes of having a driveway is to have a smooth surface for parking your vehicle on. Parking heavy vehicles on your driveway for long periods of time can dent and crack the surface. If you own a large truck, a caravan or farming machinery that weighs heavier than the average car, you may want to consider parking it elsewhere. If you must park your heavy vehicle on your driveway, move it around occasionally to prevent its weight from causing permanent surface damage.

4) Avoid Spilling Chemicals

Chemicals such as oil or petroleum from mechanic work can easily spill onto your driveway. These chemicals can also cause driveway damage. Mechanic work is usually performed inside a garage but if you must change the oil of your car on your driveway, make sure to clean up any chemical spills as soon as possible to prevent it from penetrating deeper into the surface and causing damage.

5) Reseal Your Driveway

You apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun, so why not do the same for your driveway? A sealant acts like a sunscreen to protect your driveway from the excessive amounts of sun and prevent the colour of the surface from fading. However, sealants don’t last forever, so we recommend resealing your driveway every few years for optimum protection. 

If you decide to reseal your driveway yourself, make sure to use a sealant suitable for your driveway. The best time to reseal your driveway is during the morning or the evening time when temperatures are cooler. Once resealed, please ensure that your driveway stays dry for at least 24 hours. We also advise you not to use your newly sealed driveway for the next few days and park your car elsewhere if possible.

For Driveway Transformations This Summer, Contact Cobblecrete

By following our top tips, your driveway will thank you! If you are looking to resurface and transform your old driveway this summer, look no further than a new pattern imprinted concrete driveway from Cobblecrete. For over 30 years, we have been installing pattern imprinted concrete driveways for homeowners across Wolverhampton, Codsall and Tettenhall in a range of decorative patterns and colours. During the installation, we apply a high-performing sealant on top of the original concrete, keeping the new driveway protected from future sun exposure and vehicle use. For quotations or enquiries, you can contact the Cobblecrete team by calling us on 07814 97939.