4 Tips For Maintaining Your Asphalt Driveway

NatraTex |

At NatraTex, our asphalt-based surfacing products are durable and very low maintenance, making them ideal for all types of domestic and commercial driveways. However, all driveways can benefit from a small amount of maintenance and care for two main reasons. It keeps your property looking tidy and neat, thus improving your overall curb appeal and It can also prolong the lifespan of your asphalt material, preventing damage and avoiding costly repairs. With that said, here are our top 4 tips for maintaining your asphalt driveway. 

1) Keep It Clean

One of the most underestimated ways of looking after your asphalt driveway is simply keeping it clean. Dirt and debris can build up on your driveway and can make your property look unattractive as well as cause surface damage. Prevent this from happening with regular brushing so that it’s clear of leaves, dirt and other debris. For effective cleaning results, use a power washer and a suitable cleaning agent to remove stubborn stains. We will discuss the appropriate cleaning agents later in this article.

2) Avoid Heavy Objects

A high point load on any asphalt surface can cause some form of damage. This refers to the amount of weight or pressure that is placed on a smaller area of surface such as a driveway. Examples of high point load on asphalt driveways include parked heavy vehicles such as trucks and lorries, large equipment or machinery as well as heavy footfall. 

High point load damage occurs when a heavy object is placed on a small area for an extended period of time and causes the asphalt to deform or crack, leading to more serious damage. To prevent this, we recommend avoiding parking or placing heavy objects on your asphalt driveway. If this is unavoidable, we recommend moving the position of heavy objects regularly to distribute the weight as evenly as possible.

3) Choose Your Chemicals Wisely

If the surface becomes marked from spillages or debris, you can remove these stains by spot cleaning and scrubbing them with a citrus-based cleaning agent. We recommend avoiding the use of any solvent-based cleaners as they can weaken the surface. A citrus-based cleaning agent is great on asphalt driveways for two main reasons. 

Firstly, citrus-based cleaning agents are very acidic and this will easily dissolve grease and other residue buildup. Using a citrus-based cleaning agent usually gives noticeably better cleaning results than water and other cleaning agents. Secondly, insects such as ants, spiders and cockroaches dislike the smell of citrus. As such, they tend to avoid any areas with a strong smell of citrus. This means, there will be less presence of insects soiling your driveway. It’s also a more gentle solution on asphalt driveway than harsh chemical insect killers. 

It’s also worth noting tyre marks and other black markings will be more visible on surfaces with a clear binder. However, these markings are usually found on the protective binder film which covers the asphalt surface once it’s laid, and will become less obvious after some time.

4) Fill In Cracks & Potholes

Although NatraTex surfacing is crack and pothole resistant, if not maintained properly, the surface may develop cracks and potholes. These can be unsightly to home and business owners as well as causing damage to the property owner’s vehicles. To maintain your driveway, it’s best to repair early signs of cracks and potholes sooner rather than later with a suitable asphalt patching material. In other cases, asphalt may have to be taken up due to works and repairs. For this reason, we created NatraTex ColdLay for quick and easy repair of small areas following raised ironworks or bollard replacement to name a few. Restoring your original asphalt surface has never been easier than with NatraTex ColdLay!

Consider A New Driveway With NatraTex

By following these 4 driveway care and maintenance tips, you can keep your asphalt driveway not only looking its best, but also ensure the surface’s integrity is upheld for years to come. No matter how much you maintain your old driveway, once permanent damage is visible, it might be time to consider a new asphalt driveway. At NatraTex, we have a wide range of durable and attractive surfacing materials for driveways, for example, NatraTex Cotswold and NatraTex Colour. For more information on our surfacing products, please get in touch with us by sending an enquiry or calling us on 01594 820250.