You may have always dreamed of living in a rural area where the only way to gain access is via a long dirt road, but the fact is, unpaved roads come with their own issues that you have to be mindful of as a property owner–specifically in the form of road dust. Even though most residential property owners living near an unpaved road can tell you what road dust is, many have these misunderstandings about it overall that get in the way. Here is a quick look at a few of the misguided assumptions you should stay away from if your home is situated near an unpaved road where road dust is an issue.
Assumption: Road dust is just dirt, so it really isn't a big deal.
Truth: Road dust may look like just dirt, but in all truth, it is filled with all kinds of problematic contaminants. depending on your location, the dust that is set adrift when cars travel down an unpaved road can contain things like:
- toxic chemical components from oil and fuel from vehicles
- animal droppings
- fertilizer and other agriculturally-related compounds
Because road dust can contain things that are not considered friendly, it is a danger to breathe in and ingest. Therefore, road dust is one problem that definitely deserves your attention as a property owner to ensure the atmosphere around your home is safe for you and your family.
Assumption: The easiest way to control road dust is to add gravel to the unpaved road.
Truth: Adding a hefty layer of gravel to an unpaved roadway is a good start to road dust control, but this is far from a fix-all solution. Gravel alone does not usually contain road dust enough to keep it from being set airborne if it is driven over. This is especially the case if the area where you live is especially dry.
Assumption: Road dust control is an expensive endeavor if you hire a contractor for help.
Truth: Controlling road dust does not have to be an expensive feat. In fact there are road dust control products you can pick up at your local home improvement store. However, working with a contractor who specializes in road dust control is the best way to achieve long-term control.
At the end of the day, road dust actually can be a big deal, but it is one that can be controlled. If you have issues with road dust at your home, make sure to talk to a road dust control professional for advice about what steps you need to take.
