Maintaining your asphalt driveway lengthens the driveways lifespan. There are various pothole repair methods available. Apply a simple cold patch to your asphalt driveway for minor potholes. How do you apply a cold patch to asphalt? Follow these simple instructions below.
What Causes Potholes
You can repair a shallow pothole with a cold patch. This is one of the easier do-it-yourself pothole methods. If you need to repave or replace your driveway, be sure to call the professionals. Potholes often occur due to extreme weather conditions. Snow and ice cover your driveway. When the weather warms, water seeps into the cracks of the driveway. Freezing causes the water to expand, causing cracks and unsightly potholes.
Potholes can cause danger to pedestrians. They can damage your vehicles, mainly the tires. Not only that, they are an eyesore. If you don’t repair a pothole, it grows into a larger problem that can be much costlier.
Applying the Cold Patch
Many homeowners choose a cold patch. The cold patch comes in bags. Patch holes as small as several centimeters across. Originally cold patches were a temporary solution. Newer technologies now make it a more permanent solution. The newer cold patch options have polymers. They increase adhesion overall. The cold patch will stick to the older asphalt in your driveway.
Newer cold patches flow slowly like lava from the bag. The materials start curing immediately. Make sure the bottom of the pothole is larger than the top of the pothole. Use a chisel for constructing vertical faces on the sides of the hole. They need to stretch down to the previous layer of solid asphalt. Make sure the pothole is clear of debris and dust.
Apply at least a few centimeters of material. About five centimeters is ideal. Any more and the material may take too long to harden. Use a hand tamper to compact the patch. Wait at least a day before driving or walking on the cold patch. You do not need to seal a cold patch immediately. Typically, you should wait a month before sealing.
If your pothole damage is severe or you would like an assessment on how to best fix your asphalt driveway, give our professionals a call today. We are here to help you.
