How Do You Look After a New Driveway?

Having a new driveway installed always looks fantastic, but without proper maintenance, it can start looking old and tired fast. Keeping your new drive looking its best only takes minimal maintenance and will ensure your drive looks good and functions well for years to come. In this post, our driveway experts in Brighton will share their best tips for looking after a new driveway after it’s installed.

Initial cleaning tips for your new driveway

For the first month, don’t do any vigorous cleaning on your driveway. Jet washing or scrubbing could remove the jointing material and impact the performance of the new paving. Instead, stick to sweeping for the first month to give the materials ample time to settle and harden.

If you have block paving, you may need to top up the jointing with sand since it can settle and drop. All you need to do is sweep some sand across the pavers. Make sure you’ve removed any debris first, so it doesn’t get lodged with the sand.

General cleaning and maintenance

No matter the quality of your driveway, you’ll always get weeds, moss, and algae build-up over time. But with a simple cleaning routine for your new driveway, it’s much easier to keep these at bay.

• On a dry day, brush your driveway with a stiff-bristled brush to remove dust, dirt, and loose debris.
• Pull out and scrape away weeds and moss that have grown in the gaps or around the edges.
• Use soapy water and your brush to scrub the driveway.
• Hose it down with clean water.

You don’t need to regularly jet wash your driveway unless it’s stained or the dirt won’t lift with soapy water and a brush.

Don’t use acid-based cleaning solutions, as these can erode away the materials of your new drive and cause premature cracking.

Removing weeds from your driveway

Weeds usually establish in the joints of block paving and are less common on tarmac or resin driveways. Pull out weeds regularly to keep them at bay and replace and jointing sand that’s removed with the weeds.

If you have a significant weed problem, weedkillers are usually safe to use on driveways. However, use sparingly and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Removing oil and grease stains

Oil leaks will quickly penetrate a driveway and become difficult to remove, so it’s best to act quickly.

• Blot the stain with kitchen roll or old cloths to absorb as much of the stain as possible.
• Scrub the area with soapy water and rinse with hot water. The soap will bind to the oil and lift it away if it’s soaked into the driveway.
• Repeat this step a number of times if the stain is stubborn.

For stubborn oil and grease stains that won’t budge, you can use a degreaser. However, do a patch test first to make sure it doesn’t remove the colour from your new driveway.

In need of a new driveway?

If your driveway is old and past the point of saving, it might be time to replace it with a modern alternative. At J Davies Building, we specialise in resin, tarmac, and block paving driveways and serve clients throughout Sussex and beyond. To get some free, no-obligation advice about your driveway, call our team today: 01444 873 080