After installing a new driveway using ready mix concrete, you want to keep it looking great for as long as possible. An attractive driveway increases curb appeal, as it’s the first thing a person sees when pulling up to your home. Consider the following tips to keep your driveway, and the exterior of your home, looking well-maintained.

What’s the Best Way to Care for a Concrete Driveway?

1. Allow Time for Curing

After your ready mix concrete is poured, it will need time to cure. Wait about a week before driving your vehicle onto a newly poured driveway. When it comes to heavy machinery, give the driveway two weeks to a month to fully cure. This ensures cracks or fissures won’t develop soon after the pour is complete.

2. Apply a Seal

Once the concrete has sufficiently cured, applying sealant is recommended. It keeps water from penetrating deep into the material, which can cause cracks or chips to develop. Over time, these defects may grow until your driveway needs to be patched or replaced altogether. Some are available in spray form, which is very easy to apply and can cover a larger area in a short amount of time. You should reseal every three years to ensure that it maintains a barrier between the driveway and the elements. 

3. Remove Stains

One of the perks of ready mix concrete driveways is how little maintenance they require. Stains made by oils or grease can eat away at your driveway, so it’s beneficial to have equipment in place to remove these chemicals as soon as possible. A power washer is great for general cleaning, but you’ll also need to spot treat tough stains. Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is ideal for concrete, as it removes stains without negatively impacting the material. 

Schreiter Ready Mix & Materials is a proud provider of ready mix concrete in O’Fallon, MO. Both homeowners and contractors rely on this concrete supplier thanks to the quality of their products and reasonable prices. Along with concrete, they also offer many other great construction products. Redi-Rock is ideal for building retaining walls, and they are the only company in the area that provides this material. They also offer decorative aggregate, as well as an excellent selection of Solomon colors. Visit them online for more tips or call (636) 240-2600 to learn more.