The front of your house is not the only thing people see when they pass or visit your home — your driveway can make your house look well maintained and inviting, or worn around the edges. If your driveway is faded with various stains and blemishes that detract from the appearance of your property, wait! Don't call a contractor yet! There are lots of affordable ways to restore your driveway without the expense of repaving.


Cleaning Your Driveway
Before you begin any repairs or refurbishing of your driveway, clean the asphalt surface thoroughly. Use a push-broom to sweep the driveway very well, then apply a soap-and-water solution to clean it using a stiff-bristle brush or broom to scrub the area well. Let the driveway dry thoroughly before addressing specific repairs.


Treating and Removing Stains
If your asphalt driveway is stained with paint, the best approach is to coat the driveway (or just the offending area) with a black asphalt sealer. This coal-tar based product will easily mask paint stains and leave an attractive black finish.

A large oil spot in the middle of a concrete driveway can detract from the appearance of the most meticulously maintained home. Usually caused by a leak from your car, it can actually be lightened enough to be barely visible, if you act quickly. Bare concrete floors are porous and can permanently stain if oil, grease and dirt are not removed right away.

To deal with this type of stain, try a concrete cleaner or surface cleaner like Concrete Buster by Surf-Pro and follow the instructions on the package.

If a stain still remains, sprinkle Dynamic Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) on the oily concrete. (If the stain is dry, wet it first). Let it stand for 30 minutes then scrub using a stiff broom. TSP is a dangerous product, so if you do use it be sure to wear Dynamic Rubbies heavy duty gloves or paint & stripping gloves and safety goggles and protective clothing. Also, never wash a TSP product down storm drains.

As a last resort, combat tough spills with muriatic acid and a pressure washer. Apply the acid following the manufacturer's directions, and let it soak for several seconds. Follow with a pressure washer set at 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. per square inch (psi), or 176 to 211 kg per square cm. Muriatic acid is also a dangerous product like TSP so take the appropriate safety precautions.

After using the products described above, sprinkle baking soda over the cleaned area to neutralize the solution you used.


Repairing Cracks
Once you've cleaned the driveway surface and treated any stubborn stains, begin repairs. To repair a crack in the pavement, patch it with crack-filler, a caulk-like compound available at home centres and hardware stores. Apply a bead of filler directly into the crack and smooth it out using a Dynamic putty knife. The filler not only hides the crack but prevents moisture from getting into the crack and causing further damage.

To repair larger holes in the asphalt surface, use a cold-patch compound. First, wet the asphalt surface in the area of the repair and apply the first layer of compound using a trowel. Once the patch compound has been applied, tamp it down flat with a tamping tool or make a simple one from a scrap of wood. More than one layer may be needed, in which case be sure to tamp each layer and allow it to dry before adding the next. Cold-patch compound requires about 48 hours to cure.

Tip: The simplest way to flatten the patch compound is to wet the compound, lay a piece of scrap plywood over the repair and simply drive your car over it. The weight of the car will flatten the compound immediately!


Sealing Your Driveway
Once you've patched the holes and cracks in the asphalt, it's a good idea to seal your driveway. In fact, sealing is a good idea even if your driveway doesn't need repairs because the sealer repels moisture and may prevent cracks from forming in the first place. Sealing the entire driveway with a driveway sealer will result in a smooth, nonporous surface that makes snow removal easier and lengthens the life of the driveway, too.

To apply sealer, begin by blocking off your driveway with barricades or tape, since you won't be able to use the driveway for 2-3 days. Also, you may need to cover any plants or landscaping with plastic to prevent the chemicals from spilling into unwanted areas.

Apply the sealer using a Dynamic Driveway applicator (a roller designed specifically for use with these types of coatings) rolling it onto your driveway as per the instructions on the label. It is very important that this protective coating is applied in the appropriate manner to ensure that it bonds properly and gives you the protection and lifespan you desire. Be sure to wear Dynamic protective gear while performing this task — goggles, heavy duty gloves and PMF (polymicrofibre) disposable coveralls.

Tip: To provide increased traction in your driveway, you can spread sand onto the wet sealer solution before it dries.


Final Step
Once you've finished refurbishing your driveway, to complete the job you'll need a lawn chair, a cool drink and shady spot — so you can admire your work!

For more information, visit a Dynamic Dealer near you!