Repairing Potholes With An Asphalt Patch

9 March 2016
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog

Potholes are a common problem on major highways, side roads, and even on your own personal property. As your car drives over asphalt, it can disrupt it and cause the material to come loose, resulting in these unsightly and even sometimes dangerous holes. Weather and temperature changes can also contribute to a larger pothole if it's not repaired in a timely manner. If you're dealing with a pothole in your asphalt, here are some easy steps you can take to fix it using a patch. 

Clean The Area

Before you apply any filler material to the pothole, the area should be completely cleaned of any leaves, dirt, and other debris. The pothole does not have to be spotless, but large objects like sticks, leaves, and loose gravel should be cleaned out of it as much as possible. Then, gather up your asphalt patch material and a shovel to prepare for the application. Most asphalt patches come in a single-use bag for residential property owners, and it's very similar to what departments of transportation use on a much larger scale.

Apply The Patch

Open up the bag of asphalt patch material and pour it directly into the pothole. You can use your shovel to scoop it out of you prefer to make it easier and to avoid having to come in contact with it. Pour a little bit of the material in, and then use your shovel or a tamping tool to push it down into the hole. This step is important because you want it to be tightly compressed inside the pothole to provide a sturdy base and prevent it from cracking later. A good rule of thumb to remember is the better the material is compacted, the better and longer lasting the repair will be.

Finishing The Job

After you've applied the initial layer of asphalt patch and compacted it down, continue this step until the hole is completely filled. You should do this several times, and several inches at a time to ensure it's filled tightly. Then, place a heavy brick or concrete block over the hole and let it sit to give it additional compaction. Wait until the asphalt patch cures according to the manufacturer's specifications. Once it has cured, it's recommended that you apply a sealer over top of it to provide a long lasting repair. These simple steps can make repairing potholes simple, easy, and cost effective. 

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