One of the first things that people notice when they drive by or stop at our homes are our driveways. How our driveway looks can affect the whole appearance of our home. It it is disrepair it will decrease the value of a home somewhat. We come and go using our driveways probably everyday. They are one of the most used things about our homes exterior.

People who have concrete or asphalt driveways are aware of the damage that can be caused to them from a lot of wet weather. This does not necessarily have to be rain. Snow and sleet are major causes of driveway water damage too. If you live in an area that has long hard winters, it can be a chore to keep your driveway in good shape.

Cracks, potholes, and edge erosion are the most common problems with asphalt or concrete driveways and walkways. Prolonged exposure to water can be the beginning causes many of these problems. Once your drive starts to erode along the edge, every time your car goes over it, the damage will worsen. Having edging like a slight curb along the sides of your driveway can help remedy this problem.

When a pothole starts to form, it will only enlarge over time. The more it is driven over and exposed to additional water, the worse it will become. When a crack starts to develop, many times grass will start to grow up through the crack. The longer the grass grows, the roots will spread and continue to broaden the crack. The more water the grass gets, the more it will grow. Weed killer will remove the grass, but it will not repair the crack.

If you get a lot of snow and ice in your area, it is good to shovel it off if possible. Leaving on the asphalt or concrete will increase the possibility of wintertime damage. Sodium chloride, or salt as it is better known, is often used to prevent the snow or ice from sticking to driveway, walkways, and roads. It can damage the paint on your car if it is not removed. It is also not very good for your lawn or plants it may come in contact with, but it does work.

A newer product that is being used to keep snow and ice from sticking to asphalt and concrete is a substance made from magnesium chloride and a vegetable agricultural by product. It is called Liquid magic or Liquid Salt. It is sprayed onto surfaces like would use cooking spray on a pan. It is also environmentally friendly.