Spring Clean Your Driveway

Spring has officially arrived so it’s time to get started on your spring cleaning! When you’re working through your tasks inside your home, it’s easy to forget the tasks that need to be completed outside. Of course the yard work comes to mind, but getting your driveway ready for the new season should also be a top priority.

Freeze-thaw cycles, rain, snow and daily traffic can all take their toll on a driveway. With a little hard work, you can prepare your asphalt driveway for sealing to protect it for the next season.

How to Clean Your Driveway

To clean an asphalt driveway, mix together detergent and water and use a push broom with a coarse, stiff bristle to scrub the driveway.

If you notice any oil stains, you can try to scrub them out with detergent or bleach, or with a commercial driveway cleaner. Before using a commercial driveway cleaner, try the following household cleaner:

• Using a stiff, long-handled brush, scrub the stain with a solution of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) or phosphate-free substitute.
• After reading the instructions and precautions on the label thoroughly, scrub remaining spots with full-strength household bleach. Be sure to take proper safety precautions including wearing rubber gloves and safety goggles.
• Rinse your driveway thoroughly with a hose.

If you choose to buy a driveway cleaner, make sure you buy one that is made for asphalt. A driveway cleaner made for concrete can cause major damage to your driveway. Be sure to follow the instructions.

Inspect For Damage

Once you’ve finished cleaning the winter grime off your driveway, you can conduct a thorough inspection to locate any breakdowns in asphalt before it worsens. Look for surface cracks, divots or bubbling. Regularly inspecting your driveway for cracks and holes can extend its lifetime. Hairline cracks that go unrepaired can expand and turn into potholes or large areas of crumbling. Divots can lead to puddling of water in areas, also reducing the lifespan of your driveway, while bubbling indicates driveway deterioration.

If you notice any of these issues, contact us for maintenance options that will help you avoid expensive fixes.



With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. We are committed to customer satisfaction through high quality workmanship at a competitive price. Contact us today for a free quote 705.719.0074.

Why you should seal and properly maintain your Asphalt Driveway

We are often asked by homeowners why should they have their driveway sealed and how should the driveway be maintained to make it last.

This is an excellent project for each Spring and you should consider ordering the driveway sealing service early, so you can enjoy your beautiful driveway all summer long.

Our first answer is that nicely asphalt sealed driveways add curb appeal to any home, the subtle beauty of shiny black blends in well with any exterior house finish including brick, siding or stucco. The look of a well maintained house shows that the owners are proud and have taken care of the property.  A well sealed driveway also makes your parked car looked great and the smooth surface will make the tarmac last a lot longer. Best of all, asphalt is affordable. But what type of maintenance is required to keep paved driveways looking good year after year?

To Seal or Not to Seal Your Driveway?

Whether or not you should seal your driveway is a long-debated argument.

Those companies that offer the sealant are keen on pushing the advantages of their product - including an added layer of protection over the asphalt helping it to last longer and resist staining or deterioration as a result of oil and gas spills.



Before and After Driveway Sealing From Road Readie Paving Barrie

There are two reasons that a homeowner could choose to seal their driveway: for a clean, attractive appearance; or to protect the asphalt from damaging spills such as gas or oil.

Both of these reasons are understandable and many homeowners appreciate the appearance and protection that driveway sealants offer.

You can DIY this project easily with a long handled roller and a can of sealant. However the products used by companies that do professional sealing tend to have a base containing higher levels of liquid asphalt, which provides better, thicker protection. Also the sprayers used for application allow for thicker coverage.

Sealing your asphalt driveway should allow it to look better longer.

A Quality Driveway Installation Is Key

It is essential that your asphalt paving be laid by an experienced contractor. This will ensure the area has been properly excavated, an adequate base has been laid for drainage and the very best practices have been applied to installing the asphalt.

When a driveway is paved by an inexperienced company the results are substandard and much more maintenance is required from the outset.

The very best contractors will offer you a thickly laid surface that has been laid, compacted and rolled using the proper machinery. They will also offer you top grade asphalt mix that has been proven to last based on other projects and driveways in your area.

Experienced staff, quality materials and the proper equipment are all absolutely necessary for a top quality driveway paving job.


Tackle Weeds Right Away

It's important that you immediately eliminate weeds that are growing through or into your asphalt.

It may seem unlikely, but even small weeds can seriously deteriorate the overall quality of your driveway. With simple procedures such as physical removal, chemical elimination and installing barriers you can effectively stop weeds from infiltrating your driveway space.

It is much easier to eliminate one or two weeds at a time, since this will allow any asphalt that has been lifted or cracked to settle back down once the weed has been taken out. When you allow the weeds to spread or bunch up, the damage can be much greater.

Driveways finished with asphalt paving are very low maintenance.

Be sure to have them installed by a qualified contractor and you can look forward to a quality job. Decide whether or not sealing the asphalt is desired and keep a close eye out for weeds. With these simple steps you should be able to count on a good looking, reliable asphalt driveway for years.

Road Readie Paving - Barrie / Simoce County - www.roadreadiepaving.com - Our commitment is to deliver an exceptional product at a competitive cost. Road Readie Paving will take care of all of your paving needs- commercial, industrial or residential. With over 25 years of experience, you can be confident in our expertise and professionally trained staff. We will customize each project to suit your individual needs. With Road Readie Paving, you can trust that we will make your asphalt vision a reality.