Determine Wear and Tear vs. Damage
First, it’s significant to know why your driveway looks a bit worse for wear. Is the surface starting to crack, stain, or develop potholes? Or has natural erosion done a real number on your rental’s driveway surface? Something as minor as a water pipe leak in the yard could erode the soil under a driveway, resulting in breaks, holes – and a major eyesore. Contingent on how damaged your driveway is, you may be able to resurface it, or, in more severe cases, it could be time to replace the whole thing.
Options for Replacement
One of the more budget-friendly driveway materials is asphalt. However, asphalt also doesn’t last as long as concrete and can begin to display considerable wear after just a few years. Assuming you catch the damage early, it’s usually only surface deep. If so, you may be able to add another layer to your existing driveway to recover its functionality and appearance. But on the other hand, if the dilemmas and problems go deeper or affect the soil beneath the driveway, you may need to re-do the entire thing.
Spring or early fall is the ideal time to mend or replace an asphalt driveway. Outside temperatures play a major role in the quality of the asphalt as it is laid down, so it is essential to pick a time when extreme temperatures won’t be a hindering element. Moreover, ensure to use a professional paving company with quality guarantees. A mismanaged asphalt job can waste your property values instead of developing them!
The initial costs are most likely higher, as concrete driveways generally last longer. Concrete will still reveal indicators of wear and tear over time, and you need to decide when the time is right to address dilemmas or issues that have formed. One of the major problems with concrete is cracking and flaking. Whenever visible cracks form, it’s a mark that the surface integrity is failing. Repairing the surface may be a great (although temporary) option for small cracks. You can even refinish the entire surface to restore a concrete driveway’s solid appearance.
Though, if you have drainage concerns or cracks wider than a quarter-inch, a patch job won’t work. Water will continue to seep under the concrete, freezing, thawing, and wreaking havoc on your driveway’s foundation. If you see wide cracks, uneven surfaces, pooling water, or other complications, it’s perhaps time to replace all or part of the driveway.
Obligation for Landlords
In the long run, landlord-tenant laws in most places state that it is the property owner’s responsibility to keep the property in a habitable condition. If your rental’s driveway is so damaged that it is unsafe to walk or drive on, it’s time to replace it. Holes and cracks can fill with ice and be safety hazards for your tenants, while potholes can damage their vehicles (and yours!).
Along with the rest of the property, it’s vital to heedfully monitor the condition of your rental property’s driveway, listen to tenant concerns, and take necessary measures. It’s not worth the legal and financial risks to let unsafe conditions go unregarded.
Knowing when to repair or replace a rental’s driveway can be difficult. But the good news is that you don’t have to make important decisions like these on your own. Rather, think of giving our Worcester property managers a call. We can help you budget for larger repairs and renovations your property needs and even watch over the project itself. To learn more, contact us online.