Frost is the quiet test of every driveway. Water seeps into joints, freezes, expands — and a surface that looked perfect in October can be rocking by February. The good news: a well-built drive plus a little winter sense will shrug off the coldest snap.
Choose The Right De-Icer
Plain rock salt works, but it can stain light stone and attack mortar joints over time. For block paving and natural stone, look for a magnesium or calcium-based de-icer: effective to lower temperatures and far kinder to the surface. Scatter sparingly — a mugful across a whole drive beats a shovelful in one patch.
Clear Snow Early, Gently
A plastic shovel or a stiff yard brush is all you need. Metal blades gouge jointing sand and chip arrises, opening the door for the next freeze. Clear before the morning traffic compacts snow into ice, and pile it on planting beds, not in drifts against the garage.
- Brush, don't chop — protect joints and sealers
- Keep drainage channels and gullies clear of slush
- Top up kiln-dried sand in open joints each spring
- Book a reseal every 3–4 years on exposed drives
Watch For Frost Heave
If a slab or block starts rocking after a hard frost, don't force it down — the base needs attention. Call us in spring and we'll lift, re-bed and re-joint the affected area, usually in a single visit. Small repairs now stop big lips and trip edges later.
Built on a proper compacted foundation, a Crestone driveway is designed for exactly this weather. If yours wasn't built by us, a winter health-check is still the cheapest insurance you can buy.
