If you have a driveway, you’ll already appreciate all the associated benefits, from guaranteed off-street parking to heightened property value. You also create an excellent first impression of your home when viewed from the street if your drive is clean and orderly, enhancing what estate agents call ‘kerb appeal’.
The Importance of Modern Driveways
What’s more, modern driveways built with permeable materials such as gravel or a resin-bound surface allow the ground to absorb rainwater naturally, preventing localised flooding. Not only that, but you have safer access to your front door from your car, especially when unloading shopping or children.
But this space requires a little care and attention from time to time to keep it looking its best and to maintain that kerb appeal. At the same time, you’ll want to avoid cracking to the surface in winter and prevent moss growth.
Dirt on your driveway not only looks pretty unsightly after a while, but uncleaned surfaces can become dangerously slippery if they’re covered in algae. What’s more, grime can build up in nooks and cracks, potentially leading to more cracks and, in the worst-case scenarios, structural damage.
How can I Care for my Driveway or Similar Space?
While your maintenance regime will depend to a large extent on the material from which your driveway is made, general care and cleaning should include regular sweeping with a stiff broom to remove leaves, dirt and other debris. Doing this means seeds won’t germinate in cracks, and slippery moss won’t grow.
You can also scrub the surface of your driveway with warm water and mild washing-up liquid plus a firm nylon brush, or try a pressure washer. However, proceed with caution – having the washer on a setting that’s too high can damage concrete, for example, or take off the jointing sand on block paving.
Deal with oil and grease stains as soon as you can using degreasers, laundry detergent or a specialist cleaner and, again, a brush with stiff bristles.
Particularly ahead of winter, check your driveway for any signs of cracking. You can fill in small cracks with a driveway sealant to prevent water ingress and then expansion as it freezes.
Every few years, reseal your drive with a protective sealant to prevent fading due to UV rays, oil staining and water penetration.
Why Hire a Professional?
Call in professional driveway cleaning services if your exterior surface has been badly damaged by extreme weather, moss or oil stains.
The professionals know what they’re doing when it comes to residential driveway cleaning with pressure washers, plus they have the commercial-grade equipment and treatments (such as alkaline degreasers) to rid the space of slippery algae, shift stubborn stains and stop degradation of block paving. They typically work more quickly than you could yourself and may, for example, also use rotary surface cleaners.
This ultimately eliminates the need for costly structural repairs and boosts your home’s kerb appeal. At the same time, the pros can make the surface of your driveway ready for sealing.
So while you may be able to keep on top of the day-to-day stuff yourself, regular professional deep-cleans remove grime from tricky areas, along with mould and bacteria.
Driveway Cleaning in Essex from Clear Drains 4 U
At Clear Drains 4 U, we’ve been specialising in driveway and patio cleaning in and around Essex for years – including Brightlingsea, Chelmsford, Clacton-On-Sea, Colchester, Tiptree, East & West Bergholt, West Mersea and Wivenhoe. So let us ensure your outdoor areas are spotless ahead of the summer, allowing you to look forward to spending warm days outside with family and friends.
All our methods are free from chemicals, while our innovative pressure rotary cleaning solutions effortlessly restore patios and driveways and get rid of everything from tyre marks and oil stains to weeds, moss and algae.
Not only that, but we work hard to keep this service as affordable as possible. Plus, while we’re at it, we can also work on other parts of your home, including drainage unblocking or installation.
Get in touch today for a quote, with no obligation or charge.
