LSL Surfacing

Tarmacadam & Surface
Dressing Contractors

Mon – Sat : 8:00 – 17:00

Commercial Services

Residential Services

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East & Greater Anglia

Monday ― Saturday : 8:00 ― 17:00

LSL Surfacing

Tarmacadam & Surface
Dressing Contractors

Servicing East & Greater Anglia

07899 756 373

01223 420 369

Get Quick Quote

LSL Surfacing

Tarmacadam & Surface
Dressing Contractors

Residential Services

Commercial Services

About Us
& Our Work

Asphalt Driveway Care

Asphalt is popular for driveway surfacing, with many people choosing asphalt over concrete because of its durability and cost-effectiveness. But even the most sturdy material isn’t immune to the relentless impact of time and weather. Following proper asphalt driveway care is key if you want to increase the lifespan of your driveway surfacing and maintain its curbside appeal.

At LSL Surfacing, we’re here to assist you if you’re in the market for a new driveway or plan to upgrade your existing one. With 30 years of experience, we’re experts on everything there is to know about proper asphalt driveway maintenance.

How Is An Asphalt Driveway Damaged?

Several factors can damage asphalt driveway over time, including:

Improper Installation: While driveway deterioration over the years is common, sometimes, improper installation can expedite the process. If the surfaces haven’t properly prepared the sub-layer or allowed the asphalt to set properly, it can lead to cracks and fissures early on.

Constant Usage: Driveways are slowly worn out due to constant use and exposure to weather conditions. The older your driveway, the more prone it is to damage and crack formation.

Surrounding Vegetation: If you have a surrounding garden or large trees on your property, your driveway is susceptible to damage from the root systems, which can form bumps under your driveway surface.

Oil spills: Spilling petrol or engine oil can stain the surface and damage the integrity of your asphalt driveway.

Common Types of Asphalt Driveway Damage

Some common signs of asphalt driveway damage to look out for are: Cracking, Pothole Formation, Raveling and Sinkhole Formation. If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to undertake proper asphalt driveway maintenance to prevent further deterioration and damage.

Top Strategies For Asphalt Driveway Care

Wondering how to protect asphalt driveway? Driveways are often the most-used portion of your home and are constantly exposed to weather elements, leading to frequent wear and tear. To keep your driveway in top condition for as long as possible, follow our asphalt driveway maintenance recommendations.

Check For Damage

The first step in asphalt driveway crack repair is to begin with a visual inspection. It’s worth inspecting your driveway regularly, after harsh winter and summer months. Minor damage can be easily remedied and repaired before it becomes a bigger issue. Massive damage and repair can be expensive, so you want to address issues as soon as you spot them.

Keep The Surface Clean

Once you’ve noted the cracks or holes in your driveway, you’ll want to commit to proper asphalt driveway cleaning. Use a broom to remove dirt and vegetation from cracks, then wash the driveway with water and soap. For larger holes, remove loose asphalt and debris using a shovel.

Prevent Water Logging

Water is one of the major reasons for driveway damage. When your driveway has improper drainage, cracks and potholes can form. During asphalt driveway installation, your contractors should make sure it’s still able to drain properly, which will prevent water stagnation and expensive repairs down the line.

Repair Minor Cracks

Cracks aren’t just ugly, but can be highly dangerous as well. Cracks can compromise your driveway’s structural integrity, which might cause you to trip and injure yourself. You can carry out asphalt driveway crack repair on your own, but for larger cracks and holes, it’s best to contact the professionals at LSL Surfacing.

Once you’ve cleaned the crack, you can apply asphalt sealer (available at local hardware stores). Use a spatula or knife to smooth out the putty, then allow it to dry before you use the driveway. For the best outcome, repair cracks and apply sealant on a dry and warm day.

Sealcoat The Driveway Surface

Sealcoating is an essential step in asphalt driveway care to maintain visual appeal and make your driveway more resistant to weather conditions such as rain, snow, freezing temperatures and scorching sun.

Sealcoating should be done every two to five years to improve structural integrity and longevity. If your area experiences heavy rainfall or extreme weather fluctuations, you might need to commit to a more regular driveway sealcoating schedule.

For newly installed driveways, allow the area to completely cure before you seal coat it, which takes about six months to a year.

Avoid Chemicals

You might resort to using industrial-grade chemicals to remove oil stains or other debris, but these can damage the structure of your driveway, making it more prone to cracks and potholes. It’s best to avoid using chemical de-icers on your driveway, instead using cat litter or salt.

Protect The Edges

As driveway maintenance specialists, we know that the weakest part of a driveway is its edge, because it lacks support and is more prone to damage by roots and vegetation. An important asphalt driveway care strategy is to prevent water pooling along the edges, remove weeds and other plants, and ensure the nearby topsoil is at least an inch lower than the driveway edge.

Useful Related Articles

At LSL Surfacing we work continuously to ensure that our customers are more than satisfied with our project deliveries. Learn more by browsing the following related articles :

5 Benefits of Asphalt Surfacing

Asphalt Driveway Care

Asphalt Road Maintenance

Asphalt Surfacing for Farms

Surveyors Footpath Surfacing Guide

Farm Road Construction

Surface Dressing Enhances Road Durability

Maintenance for Tar and Chip Driveways

Resin Surface Driveways

Surface Dressing Process

Tarmac Road Surfacing

Tarmac Surfacing Benefits

Choosing a Playground Surface

Our Customer Testimonials

Thank you LSL Surfacing for your workmanship on re-surfacing the roadway and yard at the grain store. It drains superbly. All this year’s grain had plenty of HGVs on it and it still looks like new. Top job!

Your team have done a marvellous job installing the speed bumps to the estate roadways. They are work perfectly at slowing traffic down. Just what we needed. Thanks again guys.

Well done for fixing our yard. Your team did an excellent job with the drainage system – It works a treat. The tarmac makes such a difference – No more dust Puddles! Thank you!

Please take this letter from all our residents on the park for such a great job in re-surfacing all the park roadways & carparks. At last, we have a surface for all the bikes to ride around the park on. Had some great feedback from visiting guests. Many thanks to all the LSL Surfacing team.

Thank you for completing the resurfacing of our private drive and courtyard. Very professional and reliable company - Would not hesitate to recommend them.

LSL Surfacing have completely transformed the front and side of our property in just 4 days. Courteous, professional and skilled experts, reasonably priced and willing to 'go the extra mile' to provide the very best. Would certainly recommend this company. Many thanks for your hard work.