How To Restore And Repair Your Driveway

Your driveway is often the first thing you see when you enter a property and as such, it is important to ensure tit is in good condition.

Many home owners will take good care of their home on the inside, but forget to put equal effort into taking care of the exterior. A driveway not only acts as a greeting area for everyone who turns up to your home, but it is also a functional part of a property as you will need to drive your car onto it.

When it is full of potholes, you run the risk of getting a flat tyre or damaging the underneath of your vehicle, which is another good reason why you should keep on top of maintaining your driveway.

Here are a few things that you can do to improve the appearance and functionality of your driveway:

Paint It

A great way to improve the appearance of your driveway is to paint it with special paints from companies such as Rawlins Paints.

A job like this should ideally be done in the summer, so that it has time to dry properly. However, you will need to strip off any protective coating that is already on your driveway in order for the paint to absorb properly and the easiest way to test for a sealant is to sprinkle some water onto the surface.

If the water remains on the surface it has a coating on it and will need to be removed with a specialist stripper. Adding an anti-skid additive to the paint will help to keep the new surface safer, especially in the icy winter months.

Fill in Large Holes

Pot holes not only look untidy but they are also dangerous – you can trip over when walking to your house, put your car tyre down the hole or come off your bicycle, so you will need to make sure large holes get filled in with something strong such as concrete. A good way to avoid holes in the future is to improve your drainage as most potholes are caused by trapped water.

Repair Small Holes

If you concentrate on repairing small holes and nicks in the surface, then you should be able to avoid bigger, more dangerous holes from forming. Catch the problem while it is still small and easy to manage by clearing the hole of any debris and stones before ensuring the hole has solid sides.

Clean Algae and Dirt

Using a pressure washer on your driveway is the easiest way to clean it properly. Algae, dirt and general grime quickly forms on a driveway and it is important to clean it vigorously in order to create a safe, slip-resistant surface. Pressure washing a driveway will not only ensure it is safe to walk on but it will also make it look clean and you should add a sealant after you clean it to ensure it will be as water resistant as possible in the future.

Etching

A modern way to improve the appearance of a driveway is to etch a pattern onto the surface. These designs can be etched onto the surface of your driveway using specialist tools and they will create a permanent pattern to give it a unique look.

You can choose between a stone-esque design, special logos and various graphics, and this should be finished off with a stain on the top of the etching to protect it from damage. The key to getting this right is to choose a design that works in harmony with the design of your home, so that the driveway simply compliments the property.

Decorating a house and the surrounding property is a great way to ensure that it retains its value in the housing market, as well as makes it a place that you are proud to call your home.