In January 2021, we gave you six tips to prepare your driveway for the winter. While we didn’t know it then, the first big winter storm was coming. Once it did, taking care of your driveway was still important to prevent damage.
Here are some things you can do to help minimize damage to and increase the longevity of your driveway.
- Shoveling Snow – This may seem like a no-brainer, but clearing the snow and ice off your driveway as quickly as possible is ideal. Leaving snow on your driveway for days can cause damage as it melts. Water leaking into cracks and freezing will damage your driveway as the ice expands. You don’t need to clear off your snow every five minutes during a snow storm but getting it cleared off in a timely manner is important.
- Plowing Service Can Do More Damage than Good – We understand you may be too busy to clear your driveway after a long snowstorm, or you may be physically unable to do so. Plowing services can greatly help during the winter, but you should also consider the damage a powerful truck can cause. If your driveway is uneven, a snowplow can cause significant damage. Especially with several inches of snow on the ground, a snowplow uses a lot of force to clear snow. That force can dig into your driveway, which could leverage pieces of it to be unearthed. That is why getting your driveway prepared for winter is very important. If you notice pieces of your driveway are being damaged following a plow, you may want to reconsider your plowing service. You might want to shift to clearing the snow yourself or hire a kid in your neighborhood. You might also discuss lifting the blades higher off the ground with your snow plow driver to prevent damage.
- Salt on Cement Driveways May Cause Damage Salt can lead to cracks in cement and cause other damage, specifically in the first year of it being down. If you use salt on your cement driveway, you may want to consider power washing your driveway consistently during the winter to clear off the salt (of course, power washing it during freezing weather would be counterproductive).
- Avoid Parking Equipment On the Driveway in Winter – Heavy vehicles, equipment, boats, etc., cause unnecessary weight on your driveway. Snow and ice are already heavy. Adding other vehicles on top of that weight can provide further pressure, which can cause your driveway to be uneven.
- Use Proper Tools – Using the proper tools to clear your driveway is also very important. Using a broken shovel can cause damage to your driveway, as well as damage to yourself. Look for chips in the blade of your shovel. Even the smallest chips can dig into your concrete or asphalt. Additionally, use a shovel that has an appropriate length for your height. This will give you the proper amount of leverage to clear your driveway.
Make sure you contact Concrete Raising Systems of Kansas City if you have any questions about the state of your driveway after this winter. We can take a look and repair your driveway by raising it if the concrete slabs are uneven. If you notice any damage during the winter, feel free to let us know when we are onsite. We can let you know if we see if it could be a recurring problem. Mark your calendar to schedule us out the spring to ensure your driveway gets repaired as soon as possible. Call us at (816) 419-8306.
This article was originally posted in November 2015 and has been updated.
Great article, I personally never thought too much about leaving ice on the driveway for days until now. Thanks.
Wow I never considered that snow may be damaging my driveway.
My sister would like to have her home’s driveway fixed, which is why she has decided to start looking for the best paving contractor. Well, I also agree with you that it would be smarter to avoid parking heavy trucks in it. Thank you for sharing here as well that it’s best to have the driveway checked regularly.
I appreciate that this post shared that when looking for concrete leveling, it is important to choose a trusted professional. It makes sense as they are trained and qualified. I will definitely make a point to ensure in choosing someone qualified.
Thanks for pointing out that the proper tools should be used to ensure that your driveway will not be damaged as well. I guess I will hire snow removal services instead to ensure that the driveway will not get issues when the snowfall ends in the winter. It is also our first time to be living in an area where it will snow, so it would be best to hire professionals.
Thanks for helping me understand that salt can lead to cracks in the cement and other damages as well even if it’s the first year of being built. With that in mind, I would like to as residential concrete services if I could opt for that kind of material in our location. We are not too close to the sea in the new property we moved into that is why I think it may work.
I would like to clean my driveway since the snow is starting to fill the space up. Thank you for sharing here as well the importance of proper maintenance. I also agree with you that it would be smarter to choose a company that is equipped with the necessary equipment.