As the summer draws to a close and temps finally look like they’ll begin to cool down a bit in the Northeast, schedules and priorities inevitably seem to change for most people.  While the last few months offered a respite from the typical daily grind, with weekends spent relaxing in the sun, this time  of year has many homeowners and business owners turning to the various tasks that need to be accomplished outdoors before the weather sends us hibernating.

One improvement that may be on your to-do list this season is to have your driveway repaired.  Most driveway repairs are best left to professionals who know exactly what is needed not only to repair any cracks, indentations or separations in the surface, but who can do so in a way that allows those repairs to last.  If you have an asphalt driveway, for example, it’s best to call in an asphalt contractor to correctly repair any issues you may have.  On the other hand, if your driveway is made from pavers or another type of material, you should be sure to hire a contractor that is experienced with the type of material you have so the repairs are done properly.

How do you know when your driveway is in need of repair?  Most repairs are pretty obvious – you have a noticeable crack in the asphalt or you see an indentation where an area of pavers seemed to have settled more than the surrounding area.  While you may be tempted to ignore minor repairs because they don’t seem like a big deal, it’s recommended that you take care of problems even when they’re small so they don’t turn into larger, and more expensive, problems down the road.

If you don’t notice cracks or indentations, you may not require repairs to your driveway but that doesn’t mean that you should completely ignore this important exterior feature of your home.  Depending on the material, your driveway should be periodically sealed, coated or treated in some other way.  If, for example, you have a decorative and upscale paver driveway, over time you may notice weeds coming through the cracks and seams between pavers.  This may be due to the erosion of sand that was initially used during installation or a breach of the weed blocking material under the pavers.  While you will not need to remove the pavers to deal with the weed barrier below, a treatment with weed-killer and the addition of some new sand may be warranted to keep your driveway in tip-top condition.

As you’re making your list of projects that need to be tackled outside of your home or business at this time of year, be sure to take a look at your driveway to determine if now is the time that you should consider repairs or maintenance or if your driveway is still in good enough shape to put off any upkeep on it for another year.

For more information about driveway repairs and maintenance, including asphalt repairs, contact Millenium Stoneworks in NJ at 732-519-1112.