You just spent real money on a new interlock driveway, and the first Ontario winter is when it's most exposed. The joint sand hasn't fully settled, the base is still compacting, and the pavers haven't been through a freeze-thaw cycle yet. A few simple steps make a big difference.
Before the first snowfall
- Top up the joint sand. New joints settle in the first few months. Polymeric sand that's fully filled keeps pavers locked together and stops water getting underneath.
- Consider sealing. Ask your installer whether your pavers should be sealed before winter. A good sealer helps them shed water and resist salt and staining.
- Mark the edges. Driveway markers along both sides show anyone clearing snow where the pavers end and the lawn begins.
During the winter
- Keep the plow blade off it. A steel blade is the quickest way to chip a brand-new border. Snowblowers and shovels lift snow off without scraping; see snowblower versus plow.
- Go easy on salt. Use a gentler ice melt, sparingly. Heavy rock salt speeds up freeze-thaw flaking and washes out joint sand. Details in will road salt damage my interlock driveway.
- Don't chip ice with a metal tool. An ice chopper or a sharp shovel edge can gouge new pavers. Let a little ice melt do the work instead.
- Clear promptly. Snow that gets packed down by tires turns to ice, which leads to more salt and more scraping.
In the spring
Walk the driveway once the snow is gone. Look for low spots, pavers that have lifted, and joints that have lost sand. Small fixes in April stop them turning into a relay job later.
Let us handle the winter
We clear new and established interlock driveways with snowblowers and shovels, never a plow blade, mark your edges before the first snowfall, and send a photo after every visit. See interlock driveway snow removal, or if you're still planning the driveway itself, look at our interlock and patio installation.