How To Keep Gravel Driveway Clean

If you live outside of the city, you're more likely to park your car on agravel driveway. While gravel driveways require more maintenance than those made of asphalt, we're here to give you our expert tips. We want to make sure you get the good longevity out of your driveway.

Continue reading to learn how to fix the potholes and other issues in your gravel driveway before the snow flies. Our gravel driveway contractors are here to help. If you have any additional questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us.

Gravel Driveway Maintenance

1.) Rake Your Driveway

Get in the habit of raking your gravel driveway to keep the surface level and remove leaves, twigs, and other debris. Over time, the wind and rain can be enough to make your compacted gravel driveway look neglected.

Debris that's lodged between gravel can also make it more difficult to drive and walk safely on your driveway. Fortunately, taking a few moments to rake your gravel driveway can prevent most of these issues.

2.) Fix Potholes

Potholes can wear the tires on your car, damage the wheel rims, or even jolt the steering system out of alignment. If you have to drive over the same potholes every day in your gravel driveway, you could increase the risk of damaging your car. Fortunately, you can schedule pothole repair with our gravel driveway contractors before that happens.

Gravel has to be spread and compacted with heavy machinery. Otherwise, yourgravel driveway will quickly develop weak spots. If you simply shovel gravel into a pothole and tamp it down, it won't take long for the same pothole to reappear.

Once you notice potholes, you can deal with the hassle of repairing them yourself or calling a gravel driveway contractor. Ourdriveway contractors can come out to your home to fix potholes so they won't return. That way, you can have peace of mind this winter.

3.) Avoid Using Snow Plows

While it may seem like a luxury to hire a snow plow service, you may not feel the same way when you can't recognize yourgravel driveway once the snow melts. Snow plow blades will push gravel out from your driveway, which means you'll be responsible for putting it back where it belongs. We only recommend using a snow plow for longgravel driveways. Otherwise, use a shovel or snow blower.

4.) Leave an Inch of Snow on Driveway

Since gravel provides a lot of traction for driving, you can leave about an inch or two of snow over your driveway without sacrificing safety. Not shoveling as often will help the gravel stay in place longer and keep it looking nice. Once the snow melts, shovel a thin layer of gravel over your driveway to replace what might have been lost over the winter.

5.) Hire a Driveway Contractor

Ourdriveway contractors have the machinery needed to compact and smooth out gravel driveways. Compacting the gravel helps it stay in place and strengthens it so it's less likely to form potholes. There's nothing more frustrating than having agravel driveway filled with potholes and ruts, which is why you should call us as soon as possible to repair damage.

Tired of Gravel Driveway Maintenance?

If you're tired of dealing with agravel driveway, we recommend making the switch to asphalt. An asphalt driveway can last up to 12 to 20 years when given proper maintenance. For example, driveway sealcoating protects asphalt from precipitation, UV rays, and automobile fluids.

Ourdriveway contractors also have experience paving asphalt that'll last for years. Unlike gravel driveways, you won't have to worry about snow plow blades ruining the shape of your asphalt driveway.

Our Michigan driveway contractors can help you maintain yourcompacted gravel driveway so you always have somewhere to park your car. To request your quote for gravel driveway repair, call B&E Coating Services at(989) 352-7305.