Asphalt Driveway Water Damage Repair And Prevention

Have you ever driven past a really pretty house and then noticed what bad disrepair the driveway was in? The only thing worse than seeing someone else's driveway looking like this, is if it is your driveway that looks like this.

It is a proven fact that if you are going to put your house on the market for sale, a bad driveway can be a drawback. It is one of the first things that a person sees when they pull up to your home.

If you are lucky and have a driveway that is in great condition, depending on where you live it might not stay that way. People who live in areas that have hard winters or heavy rains will have the worst driveway problems.

There are several things that can help prevent your driveway from chipping, cracking and breaking apart. Reseal your driveway before cracks start appearing or when the deep black color starts to fade. Once the cracks are there, water gets in underneath and when it freezes it will expand and cause more cracking.

Resealing your driveway is a messy job, but possible to do yourself. If the driveway does have cracks already, this is what you. If possible, dig the base of the crack so it is wider at the bottom of the crack than the top surface of the crack. If you have deep cracks, you may need to use sand or backer rod crack first, it is more moisture resistant crack filler.

Fill the crack to within a half inch of the crack's surface. Now you are ready to regular crack filler. These fillers are available in a liquid form that can be poured into the cracks or a tube of denser solution that is applied with a caulking gun. When the filler is put in, use a piece of wood or trowel to smooth the surface.

Make sure you have a few rain free days before you start the resealing process. Clean the driveway thoroughly with an asphalt cleaning solution. This special solution will clean oil spills that can eventually cause soft spots because of its petroleum content.

Allow it to dry thoroughly. The tools you will need to apply the actual sealer you have purchased are much the same as those used for rolling on paint. A long roller handle and a long nap roller sleeve will work well or you can use a large squeegee. A brush will be useful to get places that are hard to cover easily like the edges.

Be sure to cover all areas thoroughly and always follow the directions carefully. This should keep your driveway safe from cracking from water damage for the time allotted by the product you chose.

Jim Corkern is a writer and respected contributor to the Water damage restoration and mold remediation Industry. Visit his sites for more information.
http://www.localrestoration.com
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