How to Repair a Paved Driveway
A paved driveway can last 30 or more years with the right care. Good quality paving materials remain flexible as well as durable, but paved driveways are not maintenance-free. The paving must be sealed every three to five years and any large cracks or potholes should be filled with cold mix patch material that is available at your local home center. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Square-tipped shovel
- Tamping bar
- Broom
- Mild soap
- Scrub brush
- Broom handle
- Garden hose
- Cold patch paving material
- Plywood
Instructions
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1
Use a square-tipped shovel to straighten up the edges of the hole, so that they are vertical, to help the cold patch adhere to your driveway. Use the cutting edge of a large tamping bar to square up smaller holes. Use an up-and-down motion to chip away the unwanted paving and remove any large chunks.
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Sweep the area to be patched thoroughly to remove all loose particles. Use mild soap diluted in a bucket of water if the area to be cleaned is extremely dirty or muddy. Apply the solution with a large scrub brush screwed to a broom handle. Rinse with a garden hose and allow to dry thoroughly.
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3
Add a 1-inch layer of cold patch material to the hole and compact it to 1/2 inch thickness with the flat end of a tamper. Raise the tamper up and bring it down on the cold patch, but let the weight of the tool do most of the work.
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4
Add another 1-inch layer of cold patch to the hole and tamp it down to 1/2 inch. Continue adding layers until you reach the top of the hole. Make sure the last layer is 1/2 inch above the level of the driveway, so that tamping it down will bring it level.
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Tips & Warnings
If the patched area is large, use the weight of your car to compress the last layer of the patch. Place a piece of plywood big enough to cover the patch over top of the repaired area. Drive a car over the plywood to compress the cold patch. Back up, turn the steering wheel slightly and drive over the plywood again. Make sure the car tires reach all areas of the plywood, so the repaired area is evenly compressed.
