Installing a concrete driveway is a fantastic way to reduce the amount of maintenance required to keep your entryway looking clean and stylish. However, like many features around the home, even these durable structures need a little bit of care. Here’s a quick guide to ensure your structure continues to look well-maintained for the next few decades.

Do: 

Reseal the material. 

Concrete driveways are usually sealed as soon as it’s been installed and cured. This seal protects it from fading, stains, and water absorption. To maintain these benefits, you’ll need to reapply the seal every two to three years. 

Remove stains quickly.

Although a concrete sealer prevents oil, gas, and other spills from staining your structure, it’s still possible for them to seep through. If the stains are recent, you can use a water hose to wash them away, but deeper ones require drawing them out of the material. An effective cleaning solution is one ounce of trisodium phosphate and one cup of water. It’ll make a paste that’ll soak into the concrete and break up the offending liquids. After it dries, you can easily scrape it off your driveway.

Don’t:

Ignore cracks or other damage.

Regularly walk the perimeter of your driveway to inspect it for damage. Catching cracks early gives you a chance to have them repaired. Letting them spread will eventually cause problems in the sub grade, which will require the whole structure to be replaced. 

Plow snow with a metal shovel.

When removing snow off your driveway in the winter, avoid using metal shovels because the heads can accidentally scratch and damage the surface. For best results, swap to a plastic shovel or push the snow off to the side and then shovel it away.

When you want a durable, low maintenance concrete driveway, contact the professionals at B.H. Hall Ready Mix Concrete in Hawkinsville, GA. Since 1945, these concrete contractors have produced high-quality materials at their state-of-the-art batch plant for all of Middle Georgia. To learn more about their concrete repair and installation services, send a message online or call (478) 272-7700 to schedule an appointment.