How to Patch a Blacktop Driveway
If you have a blacktop driveway, you know all too well that it needs periodic care. One of the most important tasks, besides sealing the driveway at least once every couple of years, is to patch any holes in the driveway. A hole left untended can deepen and cause your driveway to crack. Patching a blacktop driveway is something a do-it-yourselfer can manage with the right materials. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Sand or crushed gravel
- Tamper
- Emulsified liquid asphalt
- Cold-mix patching product
Instructions
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1
Clean out any loose material from the hole by sweeping out with a stiff broom. Ensure that the edges of the hole are firm and not loose or crumbling.
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2
Fill very deep holes with sand or crushed gravel to within a few inches from the top of the hole. Tamp down to make sure the hole has a solid base.
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3
Prime the area with emulsified liquid asphalt. This helps to bond the new material to the old blacktop. Clean all the debris around the area before application.
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4
Prepare a cold-mix patching product by following manufacturer instructions. Pour 2 inches of the mix into the hole, and tamp it down.
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5
Add the patching material a little at a time, about an inch or two each application. Then tamp down before applying another layer. On the last application, make sure the material mounds over the top of the edges of the hole. Tamp down firmly.
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Allow the material to cure for 12 to 36 hours before driving on it. Wait 30 days before sealing the driveway.
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Tips & Warnings
The bottom of the hole should be the same width as the top of the hole before you apply the patching material. Chisel out the hole, if this isn't so.
Cold-mix patches are nearly as durable and long-lasting as professional hot-mix patches. Years ago, cold-mix patches did not last more than two years, but this is no longer true.
Though you can drive on it within 36 hours, a cold patch takes several weeks to fully cure.
