3 Driveway Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

The season is a changing, and with it comes a whole new set of driveway maintenance that you might not even be thinking about. As the winter arrives, so does the cold air and snow. While you are preparing for your winter snow removal, here are three things you’ll want to be mindful of as they  could seriously damage your driveway.

Heavy Shoveling

Shoveling might not be your favorite part of winter, but we can assure you it’s not your driveways either! Whether your driveway is concrete or asphalt, shoveling is harming it — especially if you are using a metal shovel. We often tend to shovel down to the surface of the snow and scrape away the ice — this is a driveway no! Instead, switch to a plastic shovel and avoid scraping or digging forcefully.

Leaving Water

Water is your driveways worst enemy, and ignore it can cause you some serious structural issues and even leading to sinking or sloping; this is why it’s vital to ensure that your water drains are clear of the driveway and remove any ice or snow ASAP. You also wanted to repair any driveway cracks as soon as you find them. When water gets into cracks, it can freeze and expand causing a bigger crack or worse, pothole!

Applying Rock Salt

Ice can be a big accident causer, and we thoroughly understand why rock salt might seem like a great winter must have, but it can be lethal to your concrete or asphalt. The rock salt itself isn’t terrible; it’s the rapid thawing that can lead to an early destruction of your driveway. The key to using rock salt is to be sure you remove all the melted water as soon as everything is done melting along with all the salt. Your best option would be to look for a more driveway friendly alternative for snow removal.

Roccie's Asphalt provides driveway installation, repair, repaving, and resurfacing services to homeowners in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY. With more than 50 years of experience, don't trust anyone else with your asphalt paving needs. Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Signs You Have A Drainage Problem

Drainage Issues are something that you want to fix as soon as you notice them. If left untreated, you can do significant structural damage to your home and cost yourself a ton of money in repairs. So if you are unsure if your yard might have a drainage issue, here are three ways to know.

1.Rain Gutters Overflow

Constantly overflowing rain gutters is a good sign that you might have a drainage issue. If you notice that every storm you have water is splashing around your home, it’s probably time to get them cleaned or looked it. It could be a simple clog or a complication due to poor installation, but either way, you’ll want to have them examined.

2. Your Lawn is Constantly Wet

When heavy rain hits, water can sometimes have nowhere to go, but if you continually see pools of water, you probably have an issue. A well-drained yard will allow the water to flow towards the curbs and gutters. If your yard is sloping in the wrong direction, this could be to blame, and you might need to add new drains to fix it.

3. Water Against Foundation

Soil level is also another indicator of how your drainage is going. When it rains, take a good look at how your soil level is before and after. If you are noticing water pooling up where the flower beds are and washing away the soil, you have a drainage problem. Water sitting on your foundation can lead to cracking and even shift your entire home. If water is continually pooling up, you’ll want to speak to an expert.

Roccie's Asphalt provides driveway installation, repair, repaving, and resurfacing services to homeowners in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY. With more than 50 years of experience, don't trust anyone else with your asphalt paving needs. Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

How to Keep Your Property Pothole Free This Year

As the winter comes heading our way,  you will soon begin to notice an increasing number of cracks and potholes in your asphalt driveway, work parking lot, and local roads and highways. But why? The asphalt experts at Roccie's Paving weigh in...

Asphalt is a durable material, but it is not invincible. Asphalt's biggest enemies include ultraviolet rays, gas and oil spills, and above all else – water. As we begin to head towards the winter months, moisture from rain and melting snow penetrates the surface of asphalt, seeping deep into its base. As the winter begins to pass, and the temperature drops, and the water freezes, causing it to expand.

This freeze-thaw cycle continues throughout the spring, and the pressure from the freezing water eventually creates cracks in the asphalt under the surface. As the freezing and thawing continues, more and more water seeps into the base of the asphalt, and the underground cracks continue to grow.

Eventually, this pressure reaches the surface of the asphalt, where some sections are forced up – this is the start of a pothole. As vehicles drive over the pothole, pressure is put on the edges, which causes them to crumble and break away, thus enlarging the pothole.

Potholes are very common, but they are not completely unavoidable. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind if you want to prevent potholes from forming in your driveway:

• Have your driveway installed by a quality contractor. Errors and shortcuts during the driveway installation process can cause the base to be weaker than it should be, leaving it more susceptible to developing cracks and potholes.
• Remove any excess snow. Keeping your driveway properly shoveled will help ensure that no excess water is seeping through the cracks. 
• Fix any cracks ASAP. A driveway riddled with cracks is a perfect spot for water to collect and freeze, and once it does, the cracks worsen and eventually lead to potholes.
• Sealcoat your driveway every few years. Sealcoating adds an extra layer of defense to the surface of your asphalt driveway, and helps prevent water from infiltrating the base.

Small potholes can be sealed using a cold asphalt patch, but if your driveway is riddled with them, it might be best to consider a resurfacing or a complete repaving. If you live in Fairfield County, CT or Westchester County, NY, trust Roccie's Asphalt for all of your paving needs. Visit our website to learn more about us, or call for a free estimate at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Prepping Your Yard for The Holidays and Winter Months Ahead

The holidays can be hectic, and the last thing you want to worry about is yard work, so why not start now? Winter will be here before we know it, and thoroughly preparing your yard now will keep you prepared for holiday guests and that first significant snowfall. So here are just a few ways you can work to get your yard, holiday and winter ready.

Keep it Clean

With the holidays ahead, your yard is going to see a lot of traffic, so you’ll want to keep it look at it’s best. Before the decorations go up, be sure to spend some time getting your yard in shape. Get rid of any fall decor, dispose of leaves and clean up your patio.

Look for and Fill Holes

Before the snow comes piling on your lawn, you’ll want to take care of any dips or holes in your lawn. Holes in your yard can quickly become a hazard once covered in snow, making them impossible to see and causing an accident that could have easily been avoided. So before the first hint of snow, go around and check that there are now sneaky holes, and fill them in as needed.

Sweep and Mark Your Driveway

Your driveway should always be clear of any obstacles and debris, but when the winter time comes, this becomes even more important. To fully see where you are shoveling and where your lawn ends and your driveway begins, you’ll want to put markers on the layout of your driveway now before the big snowfall hits.

Stock Up

Don’t forget to stock up on all your winter essentials. Check your shovels, your snow blowers, and your car deicers to make sure they will last another season. Make sure they are easily accessible too. Preparing now will make your snow removal later a breeze.

Roccie's Asphalt provides driveway installation, repair, repaving, and resurfacing services to homeowners in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY. With more than 50 years of experience, don't trust anyone else with your asphalt paving needs. Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Questions to Ask Before Paving Your Driveway

If you are looking to spend the money and time to repave your driveway, you’ll want it done right the first time. To choose the right contractor, you’ll have to do your research and ask some questions.  So if you are in the market for a paving company — here are the things you’ll want ask.

How long have you been in business? Reviews are vital when it comes to home services, but so is a company's history. A company with a long history is one that is more likely here to stay. This will allow for updates, and if there are any issues, you’ll know they’ll still be around to fix it.

Does The Estimate Include All Costs? No one wants to be slapped with hidden fees and extra cost. One of the best ways to avoid any of this is to ask right up front what the estimate includes. Beyond that, you should also read all contracts you are given especially the fine print.

Do You have examples of your work? Not only can this help you see quality but it’s a great way to get some ideas too. Seeing the variety and quality of work could be a deciding factor too, so there's nothing wrong with asking.

How long is the process? Having work done on your home should be an improvement, not an inconvenience. A right paver will make sure the job is done in a timely fashion that doesn’t disrupt your life for too long. So before you make a decision, make sure you get a general time frame.

What’s Your Better Business Bureau Rating (BBB)? Though you can look this up, you’ll still want to directly ask them as their response can show a lot about character. Most contractors will have a general idea, and asking them outright will allow you to check if their answer matches up. BBB is also a great resource to see what past customers have to say and how they handle any issues that may occur.

Roccie's Asphalt provides driveway installation, repair, repaving, and resurfacing services to homeowners in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY. With more than 50 years of experience, don't trust anyone else with your asphalt paving needs. Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

These 3 Things Could Be Ruining Your Driveway

There is no reason why your driveway shouldn’t have a long and healthy life, and for that to happen, you have to know how to maintain it.There are many things you can do to keep it new, so here are three things you should be mindful of as they could be ruining your driveway!

DIY Car Washes

Do you like to keep your car spic and span? Are you often washing your car in your driveway? Well, it’s not only bad for your driveway it’s bad for the environment too. When you wash your car on your driveway, the soapy water runs off into the sewer drains. Besides, that water sitting on your driveway can lead to pooling, and if you have existing cracks, this can cause expansion and damage.

Tree Roots

Plants are an excellent way to spruce up your driveway, but it can also be a way to ruin it too! Trees and Bushes close to your driveway can have nowhere to grow, and the roots can begin to expand beneath your driveway causing significant cracks and structure issues. So when it comes time to plant your surrounding plants, make sure you know what you are planting and where to avoid some major driveway issues.

Poor Snow Removal

The first snowfall can be a wonderful thing but the removal, not so much. When it comes to your driveway, you’ll want to be sure that you are fully shoveling everything you can and that any salt placed on it is eventually cleaned off. Salt and water both can break down the top layer and cause cracks and potholes, so make sure you remove it.

Roccie's Asphalt provides driveway installation, repair, repaving, and resurfacing services to homeowners in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY. With more than 50 years of experience, don't trust anyone else with your asphalt paving needs. Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Yard Maintenance That Can Make or Break Your Curb Appeal

First impressions are everything, so think of your yard like the first impression of your home. Keep it clean and well kept and you’ll have significant curb envy, but neglect it, and you’ll have some unhappy neighbors. Beyond a well paved driveway and walkway, here are a few yard maintenance tips that can make or break your curb appeal.

Trim Hedges

One way to give your yard that wow look is by adding in some hedges — just make sure you keep them trimmed! Overgrown hedges can not only be a significant eyesore but a safety hazard too. Wild bushes can lead to a obstructed driveway and walkway, and will also bring down the appearance of your home.

Love Your Lawn

A green and luscious lawn is an excellent compliment to your the driveway and walkway, but not all lawns need the same TLC. One of the best ways to keep your grass greener than the other side is to know what the proper mowing length is for the type of grass you have. Keeping your grass at a reasonable height will give you a dense, less weeded lawn.

Seasonal Reseed

If your lawn isn’t looking so green or you're currently living with more dirt than grass — it’s time to reseed. Reseeding in the Fall and Spring will ensure that your lawn has accurate time to grow. Seeding now will allow for the roots to grow strong during the winter and summer months.

Keep it Leaf Free

The change of color and the falling leaves can be festive, but when it comes to your curb appeal, it’s not very helpful. Leaves can not only be an eyesore but if not cleaned up in a timely matter, they can leave a messy damp mess on your driveway and vehicles. So to have a wow-worthy yard, you’ll want to keep up with raking.

Roccie's Asphalt provides driveway installation, repair, repaving, and resurfacing services to homeowners in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY. With more than 50 years of experience, don't trust anyone else with your asphalt paving needs. Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.