22 February 2026
Surrey winters are mild but wet, and the combined effect of standing water, leaf litter, frost, and rock salt does more damage to driveways than most owners realise. A few habits keep things in good shape until spring.
On block paving, the big enemy is debris stuck in the joints. Wet leaves trap moisture against the kiln-dried sand and the sand starts washing out at the first heavy rain. Sweep regularly through autumn and early winter and you'll save a re-jointing job later.
On resin, the issue is de-icer. Rock salt and aggressive ice-melt products can stain or pit the surface over time. A calcium-magnesium-acetate (CMA) de-icer is safer and works at lower temperatures than rock salt anyway.
On any surface, watch for standing water. If a puddle sits in the same place for more than a day after rain, the falls are off or the drainage isn't coping. It's worth getting fixed — water that sits will get into the base over the winter and lift the surface come spring.
Finally: don't power-wash anything in frost. Even on a sunny morning, the wash water re-freezes in the joints and you'll lift them. Save it for a mild dry day.
