Every homeowner wants a smooth and robust driveway in front of their house.
But these driveways don’t stay flat for long and tend to create cracks and potholes. You can repair fill these holes by following some easy steps.
We will show you how to fill depressions in asphalt driveway so that the sinkholes in your driveway don’t make you feel annoyed.
There are several ways to solve this issue.
Sinkholes and cracks appear for different kind of reasons. The method of filling and repairing the driveway will depend on the intensity of the depression.
If your asphalt driveway only has few cracks and potholes, then you can redo your driveway with some equipment. You can buy the equipment and rent it if you want.
On the other hand, if your driveway is in a vulnerable position, it is better to hire a professional to do the job for you.
Because, if you cannot repair it properly, depressions and holes will appear quickly. Below, we have provided a step by step guide.
It will help you to understand how you can repair dips in your asphalt driveway.
How to Fill Depressions in Asphalt Driveway
Everyone use asphalt for driveways and parking lots. This composite material is so strong and durable; it is used in highways and airports as well.
Sometimes low areas appear because of uneven car parking or movement of heavy vehicles. However, these low areas or sinkholes can result in hassle for people.
People easily trip, drivers might lose control while driving at high speed.
However, it is necessary to fill in the depressions and repair a sinkhole to avoid these problems.
These are the ways you can fix the uneven surface and have a smooth driveway.
Step 1: Choose a date when the weather is warm and sunny
You might find this step irrelevant, but it is not. Temperature and climate is a huge factor in this case.
You will get the best result if you can find a suitable time of the year. Find a time when the temperature of more than 50 degrees Fahrenheit and less than 80 degrees.
If you work in cold weather, the materials will freeze.
On the other hand, if you work in too much hot weather, it will not set.
Also, find a day when you will be sure that there will be no snow or rain for the next few days.
We will recommend you to repair your driveway between May to October.
Step 2: Collect the right equipment and tools
Before going into the main stages, you must collect the necessary tools to fill the depressions in your driveway.
You will need a pressure washer, screwdriver, broom, leaf blower, wire brush, flat stirring stick, asphalt patch mix, dish detergent, shovel, etc.
Step 3: Clean the area
You must remove any loose material from the holes. You must remove any dirt or vegetation.
Otherwise, they might get stuck with the asphalt patch. You can use a screwdriver to remove pebbles and rocks.
A leaf blower will also help if you want to get rid of every small particle from the area.
Then wash the driveway with a pressure washer. If you don’t have a pressure washer, you can simply sweep the area with a broom.
If the low area is greasy, you must get rid of the oil. Take a bucket of hot water. Then add some dish detergent in it.
Scrub the low area and let it dry before you apply the mix.
Step 4: Coat the area with a thin mixture of asphalt
After preparing the area, it is time to repair the driveway. Take a flat stirring stick and apply a thin mixture of asphalt in the low area of the driveway.
This step is crucial because it gives a firm base for the asphalt mix. You won’t have to wait for it to dry.
Step 5: Tamp the asphalt repair mix
It is the final step and the most crucial one. Buy the right kind of asphalt mix to repair your driveway.
You will find two types of asphalt mixtures in the market – coarse and fine aggregate. If you are working to fill small holes, use fine aggregate.
In case of bigger holes, use coarse aggregate. Take the asphalt repair mix and add layers in the sunken area.
You can use a shovel to give it a smooth finish. Each time, apply two inches of the mixture in the area and tamp it well.
Do it until the area is filled correctly. After you are done patching the area, it is time to make it smooth. You can use a piece of plywood and place it in the patched area.
It will help to straighten and flatten the driveway. Don’t walk or drive in the area for a few days until it is set correctly.
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Maintenance of Asphalt Driveway
If you follow this process step by step, you will be able to repair your driveway correctly. But you should be careful because a wrong step might put you in trouble.
So you should maintain your driveway well from the beginning. That’s how you won’t have to go through much trouble repairing it.
Here are some tips by which you can maintain your driveway.
- Asphalt driveways usually last for over 15 years, depending on various factors. Extreme weather can affect your driveway so you will need more care in case of too much hot or cold weather.
- It is always a good habit to repair any crack or hole as soon as you see it.
- If the weather is too hot, be careful. If you park your car too long in the same spot on a hot summer day, it might create a depression in the surface.
- Don’t park heavy vehicles in your driveway for too long.
- Be careful while removing snow from the driveway. If you put too much pressure, it will damage the driveway.
Asphalt driveways add a great look to your house. But it also requires proper maintenance and needs to repair once a while.
Make a habit of keeping the driveway clean and maintain it regularly.
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I appreciate you talking about how the proper weather is crucial for asphalt work. It’s still a bit sunny here, but I can bet that the cold weather will eventually creep in and ruin our chance of fixing our driveway. To make use of this opportunity, I’ll go and look for an asphalt paving expert in the area that can stop by and assist me with these repairs while it’s still hot.