If you get a lot of ice where you live this can cause many problems. One thing ice can easily damage is a driveway. Before your driveway is affected, below are three tips to get it ready for the cold weather.

Repair the Driveway

The first thing you should do is to repair the driveway. First, clean the driveway using a pressure washer making sure all stuck on dirt and grime is removed. Once it is clean, inspect the driveway closely for damage. You may find cracks, small holes, etc. If so, you can purchase concrete crack filler to repair these. If you do not, these cracks or holes will become much larger. Once this happens, you may have to have the driveway replaced or repaired by a professional contractor. 

If there is grease on the driveway, you can purchase a cleaner that is made specifically to clean this. In most cases, you pour the cleaner on the stain and let it sit for a certain amount of time. You then rinse the cleaner away and the stain should be gone.

If there is grass close to the edge of the driveway you should remove it. Place a weed killer along the edge of the driveway so the grass will not grow back. This will also make your driveway look much neater. 

Sealcoat the Driveway

Sealcoating the driveway is important as this puts a layer of protection between the ice and your driveway. You can purchase sealcoating at a home improvement store. It is brushed onto the driveway in an even layer. Start at the beginning and move your way to the end. Once the sealcoating is dry you can put another layer on it, if you prefer. This will give even more protection.

If you have a very large driveway, hire a professional driveway sealcoating service to do this job for you. They have professional equipment they use that allows them to sealcoat the driveway much faster. This will also ensure the job is done correctly. 

The sealcoating service will likely inspect your driveway for you before they start. This is because there may be damage that you missed. If damage is found, the contractor will repair it or hire a concrete contractor to do this.

Talk with a driveway sealcoating service to learn more. They can also give you many more tips on protecting your driveway this winter.