The word “driveway” is somewhat open ended in so much as it could (theoretically) apply to any sort of passage that allows wheeled vehicles to be driven over it. Although this would seem to cover everything from our roads and streets; through entrances to parking lots or garages; along with and including that part of our property where we leave the road and commence to drive on our own property.
Some Vehicles Can Drive Anywhere
However, if you need some sort of all wheel drive SUV or pickup to drive there; this would not qualify as a driveway. There might be some people who are prepared to drive home in a standard sedan car and simply turn off the road at their house and drive the vehicle onto the front yard and park it there. Hopefully, such people are very much a minority.
When you have some sort of prepared drive off that leads from the road and up to your home parking space, car port, or garage; this presents a far more pleasing aspect to the neighborhood and is also beneficial to your vehicle. Such an arrangement is the most popular use of the word “driveway”.
Constructing A Driveway
The first step is to decide the best route for it and, then, prepare the underlying ground in readiness for surfacing. Some people prefer cement based concrete; others loose gravel stones; but, probably the most popular is bitumen in the form of asphalt concrete (i.e. much the same as the blacktop found on many of our roads). This work can be carried out on your own; but, most people will prefer to use the services of a driveway contractor – especially if they have chosen asphalt for the surfacing.
Maintaining Your Driveway
Unlike the highway, your driveway is never going to see a heavy volume of traffic and it is unlikely that any very heavy vehicles will use it; therefore, you might think that, once laid down, it will last forever. While that might be the case in an ideal world under ideal climatic conditions; it is not likely to happen in St Louis. Plant and tree roots can interfere with the soil beneath the driveway and cause its surface to lift up and crack; moisture can seep into the asphalt and freeze in winter causing expansion and weathering cracks in the surface.
Precautions
In fact there are many factors that can affect the integrity of your driveway. However, much can be prevented by application of asphalt Driveway Sealing In St Louis. A special compound is applied (by specialists such as Business Name) which will keep the worst of the moisture out of the asphalt. Unfortunately, this is not a permanent solution and fresh sealant will need to be applied from time to time.
