Winter Is Coming: How Bensalem Homeowners Can Protect Their Driveways

Winter in Bensalem can be brutal on driveways. Snow, ice, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles can lead to cracks, potholes, and surface deterioration. Many homeowners think snow is the only threat, but the real damage often happens quietly over months. Here’s how to protect your driveway with professional-level insight.

1. Clean and Inspect Thoroughly

Dirt, leaves, and debris aren’t just unsightly, they trap moisture against your driveway. Moisture is the biggest enemy of asphalt and concrete. When water gets under the surface and freezes, it expands up to 9%, gradually widening cracks and creating new ones.

• Professional tip: Even tiny cracks allow water to seep under the surface. Filling them early prevents small issues from turning into expensive repairs.
• Sweep or blow away debris, and pay special attention to edges and joints where water tends to collect.

2. Seal Your Driveway

Sealing is more than a cosmetic step. For asphalt, a good sealant forms a waterproof barrier, preventing water and ice from penetrating the surface. For concrete, sealing reduces porosity, slowing water absorption and protecting against chemical damage from salts. A good driveway sealant can go a long way, helping protect your driveway from water seeping in as well as protecting it from harsh chemicals that can get dragged onto the driveway by car tires.

• Timing matters: Apply in fall when temperatures are consistently above 50°F so the sealer can cure properly.
• Insider tip: Sealing every 2-3 years is usually sufficient.

3. Check and Improve Drainage

Water that pools on your driveway is a ticking time bomb. Standing water freezes overnight, creating ice patches that not only are hazardous but also expand under your surface. Water that infiltrates beneath your driveway contributes to heaving and cracking.

• Gutters and downspouts: Blocked downspouts that dump water onto your driveway accelerate freeze-thaw damage. Divert water using extensions or channels if needed.

4. Protect Edges and Landscaping

The edges of a driveway are often the most vulnerable. Snow blowers, plows, and shovels can chip or break edges, which exposes the interior of asphalt or concrete to water infiltration. Even small chips can grow into significant cracks. They can also damage things that are not visible when there is snow on the ground - the stakes can protect flower beds, landscaping stones, landscaping lighting and more.

• Professional tip: Use reflective stakes or markers to guide snow removal. This preserves edges and helps prevent landscaping damage.

5. Stock Up on the Right Tools and Products

Having the right tools and materials is essential-not just for convenience, but for protecting your driveway from unnecessary damage during winter. It's never fun trying to shop for deicing agents or shovels on the day of snowfall - you'd be lucky to find it. That's why keeping some tools and a few bags of deicer sufficient enough for at least one storm, is definitely a good idea. But make sure you buy the right tools and deicers for your property:

Shovels and snow blowers: Metal blades can scrape and weaken both concrete and asphalt over time. To reduce wear, choose plastic or rubber-edged shovels and snow blowers, especially when clearing newly poured concrete or asphalt.

Deicing chemicals: Not all ice melt is created equal. Rock salt (sodium chloride) can accelerate surface scaling on concrete and may also degrade asphalt binder if overused. Safer alternatives include magnesium chloride or calcium magnesium acetate, which are gentler on both concrete and asphalt while still effectively melting ice. Use sparingly and primarily after mechanical snow removal.

Traction materials: For low spots or icy patches, sand or kitty litter provide traction without chemically stressing the surface. Unlike salts or harsh chemicals, these materials won’t cause pitting, scaling, or binder breakdown.

Pro tip: Always clear as much snow as possible first-deicers should supplement, not replace, mechanical snow removal. This minimizes chemical exposure and extends the life of your driveway.

6. Stay on Top of Snow and Ice

Proactive snow management is critical. Waiting until snow compacts into ice requires scraping, which can damage your driveway. Compacted ice also allows water to seep into cracks, worsening damage over the winter.

• Insider tip: Remove snow after each storm, not just when it’s inconvenient. Early removal reduces surface stress.
• Refreeze prevention: Sweep slush and ice melt off the surface to prevent nighttime refreezing, which forms dangerous black ice and promotes cracking.
• Don't compact snow with vehicles: If it's possible, clear the snow before moving any vehicles. Vehicles driving over snow can compact the snow, helping it turn into ice sooner and making it harder to remove.

7. Extra Tips

• Tree coverage: Branches overhanging driveways can drop ice or break under snow weight. Check for loose branches and trim and easily trimmable branches or call a professional company.
• Slope management: Driveways sloping toward the house can pool water near the garage. If the slope is very strong, consider temporary channels or gravel to redirect water to safer areas.
• Edge reinforcement: In older driveways, consider small edging stones or driveway borders; these reduce lateral cracking from snowplows. And definitely mark the driveway with reflective stakes if you plan on using a snow plow or snow blower, especially if it's a company that is not familiar with your property.

Bottom Line:

Winter damage isn’t just about snow, it’s also about moisture, freeze-thaw cycles, chemical exposure, and mechanical stress. By cleaning, sealing, improving drainage, marking edges, using proper snow-removal techniques, and understanding the science behind the damage, Bensalem homeowners can protect their driveways for years to come.