You might want a striking driveway for your home, but you might be worried about how you can commit to keeping up with the maintenance of the driveways Essex. A clean driveway surface makes your house look attractive and offers an enjoyable experience to drive on. One of the most popular choices of driveway material is tarmac. Tarmac or also known as ‘Tarmacadam,’ is a strong material, and people choose it for their driveways as it is low-cost and practical compared to other types of driveways materials available in the market. Since you can drive over your tarmac driveway on a regular basis, it can get crumbly and will have wear and tear. Even the weather can create an impact on tarmac driveway surfaces and make it look old and tired after a few years down the line. There are things that you should know on how you need to maintain it properly so that they remain as good as new for a longer period and do not show signs of wear and tear.
Drying time for a new tarmac driveway
If you have a new tarmac driveway installed, you need to let it rest for at least three days. It is best not to drive over it during that time. The tarmac material remains soft for a couple of days, and heavy vehicular traffic over it can cause damage to it. However, it is completely fine to walk over it about 4-5 hours after the new tarmac has been laid.
Take care of driveway in hot weather condition
High temperatures can greatly affect the condition of the tarmac driveway. It can soften the tarmac and cause damage to it. Thus, it is important that you take care of your tarmac driveway, particularly during those hot summer days. You can hose cool water over the driveway to allow the soft tarmac to harden up again.
Different ways tarmac can be damaged
Tarmac driveways Essex can be damaged in a few common ways. When you know what beating your tarmac driveway is expected to take, it will become easier for you to maintain it.
Tarmac scuffs – As tarmac driveway ages, the black part of the material will fade away. One of the reasons for tarmac scuffing is the turning of vehicle wheels while it is standing on the driveway. You can reduce the amount of beating that the driveway takes by simply avoiding turning wheels when it is stationary.
Spillage on tarmac driveway – Even though a small amount of spillage of gasoline or oil will not adversely affect your tarmac driveway, a large amount will greatly weaken the base and also cause cracks on the surface which then has to be repaired by a professional. It is best to remove any oil spillage using sand or sawdust that can soak it from the surface. If there is a gasoline spillage, it is best to use water to wash it.
Tarmac indentation and spot damage – A newly laid tarmac driveway will be prone to dents if heavy items are administered over it before it sets. Even after that, constant use of weighty products such as ladders, caravans, trailers, car jacks, and others can cause depression on the driveway. You can avoid it by using a piece of plywood before using heavy items so that the weight is more evenly distributed.
Protect tarmac with a sealant
To extend the life of your tarmac driveway, you can apply a sealant to its surface. Most professionals will apply it after a year of its installation. The sealant works as a barrier to the elements that can cause damage to the surface and allow the driveway to stay fresh and clean.
By maintaining your tarmac driveway properly, you are protecting your investment. You are also allowing your property to look good and not have to think about replacing the driveway entirely for a long time to come. If you do not have time to do everything on your own, it is best to bring in a professional who can come in and check your driveway from time to time. They have knowledge and expertise to maintain your tarmac driveway in a way that it looks good all the time.