What Should Property Owners Know About Keeping Their Driveways as Long as Possible?

If you want your Greeley, CO driveway to last, it’s important to understand how Colorado weather actually attacks your asphalt and why getting asphalt crack repair and regular sealing can make such a difference.

How to Keep Greeley, CO Driveways In Good Shape For as Long as Possible

We face a tough climate with destructive freeze-thaw cycles. Those cycles allow water through even a tiny opening to expand when the temperatures drop and force the pavement apart from inside. Then there’s our intense sun at elevation. That tends to quickly oxidize the binder that holds asphalt together, which turns what was a flexible surface brittle and gray. Without steady care, an asphalt driveway often lasts only 12 to 15 years; with consistent attention, many reach 25 years or more.

Asphalt Crack Repair

Once moisture reaches the base of the driveway, it starts to soften the support layer. When that happens, the next freeze will expand the crack, and the cycle will repeat until you have alligator patterns or potholes throughout your driveway. Sealing cracks before they widen beyond a quarter inch will block most of that damage and can more than double the useful life of the pavement.

To deal with cracks, we’ll typically use hot-applied rubberized materials that stay flexible through temperature swings, and these can last three to five years under normal residential traffic conditions. Cold-applied products you get yourself from the hardware store can handle light use, but they will shrink and crack much sooner.

Sealcoating

After the cracks are sealed up, sealcoating adds another layer of defense. A quality emulsion seals the surface pores, blocks ultraviolet light, and sheds water so new cracks form more slowly. Most Colorado driveways benefit from a fresh coat every two to three years. 

Drainage

Drainage matters as much as the surface treatments because standing water will find every weak spot. Make sure the driveway slopes away from the house and that your gutters and downspouts carry all the runoff clear of the edges. Edge vegetation can also pry asphalt apart, so keep the grass and weeds trimmed back so their roots stay out of the pavement. 

Regular Cleaning

You can handle light cleaning and very minor crack filling yourself, and doing that will also help extend pavement life. Never allow oil or a spill of any type to sit around on your driveway. Power wash it once a year, and never allow fall leaf cover to just sit on it, either. 

In the winter, use eco-friendly calcium magnesium acetate rather than rock salt to keep the driveway clear. It’s more expensive, but it’s much safer for the pavement. It’s also biodegradable and safe for wildlife, your pets, and kids. 

When the work your driveway needs is more than you want to tackle with a weekend and a few tubes of filler, call in a local crew that really understands Front Range conditions, uses commercial-grade materials, and stands behind the results with a guarantee. Call us today at Affordable Sealing and Striping for help in the Loveland, Fort Collins, Utah, or Greeley areas. We serve all of Northern Colorado.

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