The most commonly used part of your home, and also the most neglected part of your home, is your cement driveway. Most driveways are constructed of grey-tined concrete. This can really make a beautiful sight when it is brand new. But, over time, with the dirt, cracks, weeds growing, and oil build up; these can all be factors which will deter a potential buyer. Here are 5 tips for repairing and updating a concrete driveway.
Do you have drainage problems? You will notice this problem after it rains. Instead of running off the side of the drive way, it will puddle in the middle. This is normally the result of concrete, which has settled into an insufficient foundation. The rule of thumb is for every foot of driveway, it should increase by ¼ of an inch from the road to the house or garage. This will facilitate the drainage away from the house.
If you have oil stains, you can try this. While chalk can be easily removed with a good rain, or even the water hose, oil takes much more work. You can try to use a sprinkle of cat litter or saw dust. Let this sit for about 2 days, and then sweep it up. This will remove all of the top oils. But, for the deeper oils in the concrete, you need something else. Sprinkle a layer of dry concrete powder over the stain. Let this sit for 2 days. This will help absorb the oils deep in the concrete. Then sweep this up. Obviously, check the weather. If it rains on the concrete powder, you will have a permanent concrete patch.
Power washing is a preferred method of getting a nice and even cleaning of your driveway. There are cleaners specific to driveways, sidewalks, or just concrete in general. Use these as they will do a much better job than just hot water and the pressure washer.
Once the driveway is clean, and gives a nice uniform appearance, it is time to apply a sealer, or sealant. Remember, concrete is porous, which means it has little holes in it. Dirt and oils easily get down into these holes, and make the driveway look dirty again. The normal rains you get will not wash these out. The best way to keep these out is to seal the driveway. Sealants can be applied just like paint, and will give a nice glossy look. Some will even make the driveway appear as if it is still wet. A sealant can go a long way. You may need to apply it again once a year or two.
If you are just bored in general with your driveway, then give it a facelift. There are plenty of decorative finished you can use for your driveway. The local hardware stores will have an entire section devoted to concrete finishes. See if any of these have the appeal and appearance you want.
These 5 tips can help you to clean and restore your concrete driveway, and then protect. Most people never pay any attention to this area, but it is the first part of any house you actually step foot on. Just follow the tips above, and you can bring your driveway back to its original appearance.
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