How To Fix Potholes In Asphalt Driveways
If you have an asphalt driveway, it will develop potholes with time. Asphalt driveways and roads are made from a foundation layer of compact soil and gravel covered by asphalt.
The weight of vehicles and sun cause cracks in the surface, which allows water to get in them. It eventually caves the asphalt making the pothole. You don't need advanced skills to fix potholes. Here are tips to fix potholes in an asphalt driveway.
Prepare to Work
For this project, you need:
- work gloves
- tape measure
- trash bag
- hose with spray nozzle
- broom
- shovel or dustpan
- chisel
- mallet 4 by 4 plywood board or hand tamper
- stirring stick or drill with stir attachment
- sand or dust
- cold-patch asphalt mix
- emulsified liquid asphalt sealer
Use the shovel to dig loose asphalt pieces, and discard them. Sweep the pothole to remove gravel.
Break up loose pieces from the hole with a mallet and chisel. To get rid of loose gravel, or the materials won't bond well. Rinse the hole with the hose, and let it dry.
Mix the Cold Patch
Measure the pothole to determine how much cold-patch mix you need. A pothole smaller than two-square feet commonly needs a fifty-pound bag of mix.
Cold-patch is available in pre-mixed cans or bags. Mix the cold-patch according to directions. If you buy a can, you will need to stir it. Apply a priming layer of sealer with a trowel on the inside of the pothole.
.Seal the Hole
Add the mix until it is a half-inch above the surface. Use the plywood or hand tamper to pack the mixture; beginning from the outside.
Another option is to rent a power tamper from a home improvement store. Compact the cold-patch more by laying a piece of wood over the hole, and driving your vehicle over it several times.Tamping the mixture down is essential to prevent deterioration, so don't be tempted to skip it.
Add another layer of mix, if the hole is deep, and tamp. Continue in the same manner until the mix is flush with the driveway. Repeat the process for other potholes in the driveway.
Add some sand or dust to make the patch job blend with the driveway and to keep your shoes from getting dirty from the repair material. Give the patch area about twelve hours to dry. After several days, apply the sealer over whole driveway.
Fixing potholes in your asphalt driveway makes your driveway safer. If you don't trust your skill, or your driveway is seriously damaged, contact an asphalt service, like Lakeridge Paving Company.