Are you thinking about upping the curb appeal of your home? Are you considering a redo of your driveway and walkways? Believe it or not, now is the time. You don’t want to wait for winter weather to set in to schedule this home improvement service, and Hometown Landscape is here to explain why and give you pointers for the project.
Don’t Wait Until Winter to Update Your Driveway and Walkway
You might be tempted to wait until things cool down to update things like your driveway pavers, your gravel driveway, and your walkway. However, you don’t want to book this project for the winter. It’s best to schedule it for warmer weather when temperatures are holding steady above 50 degrees, especially if you’re using asphalt. Here’s why:
- You want the ground to be firm before you start laying down driveway pavers, a gravel driveway, or asphalt walkways. If the ground isn’t firm, it could shift and cause structural integrity issues with your driveway and walkway. You’ll have to shell out more money to fix the problems and keep curb appeal up, so it’s worth the wait for firm ground.
- You want things to be dryer. If you’re using asphalt for your driveway or walkway, you don’t want to pave over moisture. This can damage the base layers and cause structural issues down the road that won’t be cheap to repair. Further, heavy winter precipitation can wash gravel away, leaving you with unsightly and annoying potholes and gulleys in your gravel driveway.
- Warm weather makes paving easier. If you’re using asphalt for your projects, warm weather makes the asphalt more manageable. This leads to smoother application for the best possible results.
- You’ll need to seal your driveway pavers, and spring and summer are the best time to take on this task. If you don’t seal driveway pavers, they can quickly succumb to the elements and suffer cracks and other damage that will cost money to repair.
Now that you know when to install a driveway or walkway, let’s talk about how to prep them for the winter season.
How to Prep Your Driveway and Walkway for Winter
Winter is coming whether we like it or not, so it’s best to be proactive and prep your hardscapes ahead of time. Here are some expert tips on how to prep your driveway and walkway for winter weather.
- Look for cracks and handle them. If you see cracks – whether in driveway pavers or asphalt – you’ll need to seal them immediately. Cracks let in moisture that can then refreeze and cause expansion. This leads to – you guessed it – more cracks and other expensive damage.
- Scope out any drainage issues. You’ll see more precipitation in the winter, so look for drainage issues in your driveway and walkway (like spots where standing water accumulates) and handle them before the first freeze.
- Put salt down before it snows. Rock salt, spread on your driveway, will help to prevent ice formation. Not only does this make things safer for you and your vehicle, but it also makes it easier for you to clear snow later (the snow won’t be able to bond to your driveway and walkway because of the salt).
- Watch for winter storms. Snow can quickly ice over and become dangerous, both to you and to your driveway pavers and walkway, so have a plan to shovel regularly when winter storms start to roll through. Shoveling snow right after it falls is the easiest way to handle it.
Furthermore, you can install a driveway cover to protect your driveway pavers and more from snow and ice. A durable and water-resistant tarp collects the snow and prevents it from bonding to your driveway, and it’s also easier to clean up. Simply keep the tarp in place with weights or stakes.
Let Hometown Landscape Help You With All of Your Driveway Paver Needs and More
Ready to install a driveway or walkway? Need help prepping yours for the upcoming winter season? Contact Hometown Landscape today.