5 Signs You Need a New Driveway

If your driveway has become damaged, then it should always be a cause for concern. 

Not only can a damaged driveway look unsightly and negatively impact your property’s kerb appeal, but it may even be a potential hazard to you or your vehicle.

With this in mind, it’s important to know what signs to look out for that may suggest a driveway repair or even a driveway replacement is required. 

In this article, the team here at R&J Landscapes (London) will outline the five key signs that suggest you need a new driveway. 

5 signs you need a new driveway

Whether you use your driveway as a safe place to park your car, as an area for your kids to play or simply as an aesthetic design feature for your property, it’s important that it is kept in the very best condition.  

On average, a driveway that has been properly installed and is well maintained should last you between 25 and 30 years. 

However, if you notice any of these signs, it may be time to invest in a new one:

Cracks

A cracked driveway is perhaps the most obvious sign that your driveway needs to be replaced with a new one. 

Most likely to appear in driveways that are made from concrete or asphalt, they usually appear in driveways that are old or already showing signs of disrepair.

These cracks can worsen if ignored, as oil, salt and other contaminants will likely enter the crack and can make things worse. 

Not only do cracks look bad, but they can also cause further structural damage to your property and may also be hazardous to vehicles and people.

While it might be possible to repair small cracks, a new driveway will be required if they are particularly deep or long. 

Potholes 

The UK is full of potholes at the minute, with more than a million predicted to be plaguing British roads in 2024.

It is not only roads where they can appear though, as it is not uncommon for them to feature on driveways. 

While driving over a pothole once or twice is unlikely to do too much damage, regularly doing so can create problems with your vehicle’s wheels, suspension and other features. 

Even if a small pothole has been repaired, it increases the likelihood of more reappearing, so installing a new driveway is usually required to put a robust structure back in place. 

Poor drainage 

Good quality driveways usually have drainage systems built into them to stop water from pooling or flooding the area. 

But, if a driveway is not correctly sloped or has become uneven in any way, it may not drain correctly. This is a problem, as persistent wet spots can damage a driveway, creating cracks or potholes which, as we’ve already mentioned, can create more severe problems. 

Frequent weed growth 

While the odd weed here or there breaking through your driveway isn’t a huge problem, persistent weed growth in large quantities can be more damaging. 

You will likely see weed growth on the edges of the driveway close to grass and other plants without causing a problem. However, if you start to see weeds growing in the middle of the driveway- ones that continuously return even once you have removed them – it requires immediate attention.

If not properly dealt with, the entire driveway’s foundation could soon be damaged as a result. 

It’s lost its original aesthetic 

As well as the functional role that driveways can play, a driveway can often be used to boost the aesthetics and kerb appeal of a property. 

While a standard driveway will last between 25 to 30 years, if you feel that yours has lost its original quality or its appearance has deteriorated, you may consider a replacement earlier than this. This can make for a more appealing welcome every time you come home and could increase the value of your property.

At R&J Landscapes (London), we have more than 30 years of experience providing leading landscaping services to properties in Watford, Harrow and the surrounding areas. This includes quality driveways that can be tailored to your exact needs and preferences. Whether you want block paving, a permeable driveway or anything in between, our specialists can make it a reality. Simply get in touch with us today to find out more.