Concrete, or coloured concrete is a popular driveway material among Australians for its unrivalled durability. The tough, resistant, and long-lasting construction material can survive decades with very little maintenance, making it ideal for those who want to install a driveway and just forget about it. But that’s not to say you can neglect to maintain it completely; concrete driveways do require a little tender love and care from time to time. And given Australian summers are notoriously harsh, it’s essential to adhere to a sensible seasonal maintenance routine.

Here’s how to take proper care of your driveway over the summer to ensure it remains in tip-top shape for years to come.

Keep It Clean

Keeping your Melbourne driveway looking clean and orderly will enhance its aesthetics immeasurably. After all, your driveway is the first thing guests will see as they enter your property, so any unkempt debris will subtract significantly from your curb appeal.

Thankfully, cleaning a driveway is a pretty straightforward task. Simply sweep away any dirt or organic matter with a broom and scoop it up and bin it with a dustpan. If you’ve got access to a leaf blower, the task becomes substantially easier.

Mop Up Those Spills

Given the durable nature of concrete, it might be tempting to forget about a spill as you can always clean it up at a later date. However, certain liquids such as motor oil can stain a concrete driveway and proof challenging to get out. In fact, cleaning oil from a driveway may require specialist cleaning products and a high-pressure hose. The process typically requires enlisting a professional, which will cost a considerable sum.

Soak up your spills straight away to avoid having to fork out to fix it further down the track.

Keep an Eye Out For Cracks

Over time, cracks will begin to appear in your driveway, either from wear and tear or the natural shifting of the ground below. An exposed aggregate concrete driveway in a high traffic area will be more susceptible to cracks. Not only do cracks look bad, but they also worsen with time. If left unattended, a crack will expand and could eventually become a pothole. Roots and weeds will make their way inside, which compounds the problem and can result in permanent damage to your driveway.

Essentially, the longer you ignore a crack, the more trouble it’ll cause in the long run. With that in mind, it’s prudent to repair cracks as they appear by using a concrete patcher to close them up.

Seal the Deal

We recommend sealing your concrete driveway every two years on average, and summer is the best time to do so. Applying a fresh new coat of sealant to your driveway in the early stages of summer is a sure-fire way to ensure it’ll withstand the harsh elements to come.

Radiation from the sun and extreme heat during the summer will cause cracks and fissures in the surface of a concrete driveway, which only worsen over time. Scheduling a driveway sealing session before the season gets into full swing is the best way to mitigate the issue.

Sealing your driveway also helps reduce damage from wear and tear, ultimately increasing the longevity of your driveway. Do be sure, however, to repair any existing cracks and fissures before resealing your driveway.

Maintaining a Concrete Driveway

The beautiful thing about concrete driveways is they require far less maintenance than other popular driveway types. Furthermore, the maintenance needed is often simple enough to DIY.

If you’d like help looking after your concrete driveway or are interested in getting one installed in your home, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the professional team at Simply Driveways, the most sought-after and experienced driveway concreters in Melbourne.