Preparing Your Driveway for the Summer Heat

An asphalt driveway that may need repairs.

Summer heat can do a lot of damage to your driveway.

We’ve all heard the heat-related saying “it’s so hot that you could fry an egg on the driveway,” but we haven’t all tried it! We’ve also all heard that you should get your driveway regularly sealed to protect it from the worst effects of the winter snow and the summer heat, but we haven’t all done it! Here are some of our best tips to get your driveway ready for a summer sealing and keep it in great condition.

Pick the Right Weather

The right weather is critical when it comes to properly sealing your driveway. Pay attention to the weather reports in the week leading up to your driveway sealing and adjust the date if necessary. Ideally, you should choose a period where there are 3 to 4 days without rain afterwards and with warm temperatures.

Gather the Right Materials

In order to seal your driveway, you will need to gather asphalt patch, a brush, a squeegee, driveway sealer, and some old clothes that you don’t mind disposing of after the job is done. There are many different driveway sealers on the market that are labeled as 2 year, 5 year, 7 year, and 10 year. The amount of time that they designate on the package is essentially describing how watered down the mixture is. Obviously, choosing the longest lasting sealer will give you the best possible results, even if it costs more in the short term.

Clean Up, Clean Up

Before you try to seal your driveway, make sure that the surface is properly prepared. Make sure that all of the debris is cleared off of the surface of your driveway. Leaves, grass, and even small pieces of gravel can totally ruin your pavement sealing even if you are using high-quality materials. In order to make sure that your pavement sealing lasts as long as possible, clean the surface very well in advance of getting started.

Get Your Driveway Sealed by Testa Paving

Testa Paving is ready to help you repair, replace, or initially install pavement and pavement cracks around your home. For over 35 years, we have provided northern Virginia and Maryland with top-notch expertise and customer service. Interested in learning how we can help with your patio project? Give us a call at (301) 663-5861 or visit us online. To see examples of our work and keep in touch, follow us on Pinterest, Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter today!