How to get your driveway ready for winter

Winter is hard on driveways. Water gets into small cracks, freezes, expands and makes them bigger. Road salt eats at the surface, and plows and shovels scrape the edges. A few fall steps make a real difference.

1. Clean it

Leaves, oil and dirt hold moisture against the surface and stop sealer from bonding. A driveway cleaning in early fall gives you a clean slate.

2. Fill the cracks

Small cracks are where winter damage starts. Filling them keeps water out. Do this on a dry day when temperatures are mild.

3. Seal it, if it’s due

Sealer helps keep water and salt out of the surface. Most sealers need warm, dry weather, so plan driveway sealing before temperatures drop in the fall. Asphalt usually needs sealing every two to three years and concrete every three to five.

4. Mark the edges

Before the first snow, put reflective stakes along the edges of the driveway and walkways. They show where the pavement ends so lawn edges, sprinklers and garden beds don’t get damaged.

5. Choose your ice melt

Rock salt is cheap but hard on concrete, plants and pets’ paws. Gentler blends cost more but cause less damage. Whatever you use, shovel first and use less melt.

6. Plan your snow clearing

If you don’t want to shovel, sign up for a driveway snow clearing route in the fall. Routes fill up before the first storm.