How to Fix an Asphalt Driveway
A well-maintained asphalt driveway can enhance the curb appeal of your home. Over time, cracks may occur. Water can seep through the cracks, erode the sub-surface and eventually cause potholes. While professional repair may be cost prohibitive, simple do-it-yourself asphalt repairs can be accomplished by even the uninitiated homeowner to give your grounds a new look. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Work gloves
- Chisel
- Small sledge hammer
- Can of asphalt emulsion
- Cold-patch asphalt patching material
- Putty knife
- Shovel
- 4 x 4 tamper post
- Scrap of plywood
- Car
Please enter your 10 digit phone number only.
A link to this article has been sent to the phone number provided.
Instructions
-
-
1
Patch potholes on a warm, clear day. Lay the bag of asphalt patching material out in the sun for an hour before work begins to allow for an easier, pliable product.
-
2
Use a chisel and sledge hammer to chip away any loose asphalt from the pothole edges. Sweep out the hole.
-
-
3
Cover the surface of the hole with asphalt emulsion. Use the putty knife to spread the emulsion evenly. This will help the patching material to adhere to the hole.
-
4
Half-fill the hole with the warm cold-patch asphalt patching material. Level it with the shovel and tamp it down with the 4 x 4 post. Add more asphalt patch, level it, and tamp again, until the patch is approximately 1/2 inch above the surface of the driveway.
-
5
Save a lot of hard labor by using your car as the final tamper. Lay a scrap of plywood over the patch. Drive your car over it several times to compact the patch. Add more asphalt patching material if necessary, and repeat the process. The finished patch should be level or just above the surface of the driveway.
-
1
