Asphalt Paving and Sealcoat  Blog

4 steps to create a pothole

For the most part, knowing how a problem is started helps you understand how to prevent it again in the future. So let's take a look at how to create a pothole. I know, you're thinking pour oil on the ground and smash it with a hammer. Not really...

First, you have your soil, then your sub-base, and on top your pavement. The other ingredients are cracks, moisture,and the weather.

1. Allow pavement to become damaged, escpecially cracked. Moisture will work its way into the cracks and material beneath the surface will become saturated.

2. When wet material beneath the pavement freezes it expands, pushing the pavement surface up, weakening the pavement.

3. As temperatures rise, the frozen material contracts, leaving a space beneath the pavement surface. The weakened surface is unsupported creating a cavity between the pavement and the sub-base and/or soil. 

4. The weakened surface collapses into the space beneath it, often as a result of traffic. The pothole is now created and without proper repair will expand.

Now how would you go about fixing this on your own, as opposed to using a contractor like Alaniz. It's best to fix a pothole on a warm dry day. (Remember sweat equity is required).

 

Use your shovel to dig out any loose asphalt or gravel in the hole itself. Be sure to get rid of loose (but still slightly attached pieces of asphalt). You want to get right down to the compacted gravel base of your driveway.
After you've removed the loose pieces, use your broom or shop vac to clean up the hole. Make sure you get rid of all the loose gravel in the hole, or your repair won't bond well.
Once your pothole has been cleaned up, give it a quick spray with your hose. You don't want to soak the hole, just make sure you wet it enough to keep any dust settled.
Fill your newly cleaned up and dampened hole with asphalt cold patch to about 1/2 inch above the surface.
Starting at the outside, tamp the patch down using the end of your 4" by 4". Tamping is hard work but it's important you compact the cold patch compound or it will quickly deteriorate and you'll be back doing the same job in a year.
If you have a tough time getting your hands around a piece of 4" by 4", you can buy hand tools specially designed for tamping. Another alternative (although it doesn't really do a great job of tamping around the edges of the hole) is to lay a piece of plywood over the repair and drive your car over it a few times.
Finally throw some sand or sweep some dust over your patch so it will blend in with your parking lot or driveway and the patch material won't stick to your shoes or tires.

 

Fixing a pothole is hot, messy dirty job. However, the upside is you've probably already most of the tools you need and cold patch is readily available and cheap. If you take the time to do it right you'll save yourself some bucks. If you have several potholes to be done, why not call a professional.