How to Repair Potholes in Asphalt Driveways

In time even asphalt driveways will encounter various types of damage, including potholes, cracks, and general wear and tear. Using high-quality materials and advanced techniques can help ensure the longevity and durability of your driveway. This asks the question, what’s the best way to repair potholes when they occur?

 

What Causes Potholes in Asphalt Driveways?

Potholes are formed when water penetrates the surfaces of the driveway, either through cracks or where the surface has worn away. The water then will seep into the base works and weaken the underlying subgrade. Once a vehicle drives over the area, the underlying waterlogged material moves, which then causes failure of the surface, which leads to a pothole forming.

Some driveways, such as commercial driveways or large driveways in semi-rural areas, can be more prone to potholes. For driveways which consist of a high amount of vehicle traffic, damages are more frequent, with added pressure and use to the driveway. Meanwhile, large residential or commercial driveways in Perth’s semi-rural areas are often prone to use by heavy vehicles and are met with extreme weather conditions, both of which wear away at driveways over time. Thankfully, these issues can usually be resolved with an asphalt resurfacing solution.

 

Why are Potholes Common for Gravel, Roadbase and Cement Foundations?

Potholes are particularly common in gravel & roadbase driveways because the top layer is not sealed, and water can easily penetrate the material. Gravel driveways can also have a lot of loose material that moves when driven on, this can lead to bumps and dips in the driveway that fill with water when it rains.

Meanwhile, concrete is not as flexible as asphalt or even gravel, so cracks in concrete driveways form from the expansions and contractions caused by varying temperatures or under the stress of heavy use, two elements which are particularly crucial in large commercial or semi-rural driveways. Once these cracks occur, water can permeate the surface and move the subgrade, resulting in movement and further cracking of the concrete. Concrete driveways do have joints in the concrete to allow for expansion and contraction in cold and hot temperatures, but this also leaves a gap in the surface for water to get through.

Thankfully, when potholes occur on these surfaces there are options available which can leave your driveway looking as good as new. We’ve outlined some of these options in our blog on repairing driveways of all kinds, which can help guide you through the repairs process regardless of what driveway you have.

 

Why You Should Avoid Pothole Patching

For pothole repairs, we recommend asphalt resurfacing instead. When our clients experience potholes in their large residential or commercial driveways, we warn against patching for pothole repairs as it only provides a short-term remedy. Eventually, the adjacent areas will also need further repairs. Excessive pothole repairs can then make it difficult to resurface the old pavement as they can change the overall levels and cause ponding and puddles.

Asphalt compared to other driveway materials like concrete, gravel and recycled asphalt is less likely to need ongoing maintenance that will continue to hit your wallet as the driveway ages. This is especially true for larger driveways, as the expense of ongoing maintenance increases with the size of the surface, making asphalt the best choice for large, semi-rural or commercial driveways.

Depending on the level of damage to the driveway, the best solution will be to either fill the pothole with asphalt, or cut away the damaged section and replace it with a new patch of asphalt. Once that is done, the driveway should be swept and repaired, with a brand new layer of asphalt to be laid over the top.

If done correctly, an asphalt driveway resurfacing will leave you with a brand new driveway that will be the envy of your neighbours. Additionally, it will no longer risk damaging your car or being a trip hazard to your family or friends.

 

How Asphalt Resurfacing Helps Quality and Cost

When it comes to how to repair potholes — an asphalt resurface for your driveway saves you money in the long run and is the best choice for your driveway when it comes to cost and durability. There’s a good reason why our team has chosen to work with asphalt for over 30 years. Across decades of experience, we’ve been able to watch first-hand which driveways last and which ones don’t. In short, the benefits of asphalt resurfacing are unmatched:

• It’s cost-effective – Asphalt is a very affordable driveway choice, especially for medium to large areas. It is a flexible and strong material that doesn’t crack when expanding and contracting as concrete does and as asphalt can be laid more quickly by a paving machine than hand-laid concrete or pavers, it is possible to achieve a more cost-effective result on your large driveway project. Plus, in the long term, it saves you money on maintenance costs. If you choose to resurface your old driveway with asphalt, compared to ongoing pothole repairs or demolition and replacement of old concrete and brick paving, you’ll be making the most cost-effective choice.
• It prevents vehicle damage – Asphalt’s dense surface makes it less likely to have loose material on the surface that will be flicked up as cars drive on the surface when compared to bitumen seals and recycled asphalt. This can lead to chipped windshields or paint on your car. The durable surface of new asphalt will provide a smooth and safe surface for your car which drains water effectively.
• It looks better – Rather than having pothole repairs and patches all over your driveway, when you resurface your driveway with asphalt, you’ll have a new uniform and smooth surface in a colour of your choice. Give your home or business a facelift and impress all your guests or clients with a great first impression of the building.
• It’s a good choice for semi-rural and extreme weather conditions – For semi-rural areas which are prone to high and varying temperatures, an asphalt driveway is the most suitable material available. Unlike concrete or pavers, asphalt doesn’t require joints to allow for expansion in Perth’s hotter months and cooler winters. By using a bitumen composition, Asphalt can become very adaptable to changes in the climate with the ability to installed with minimal joints.
  

  BEFORE AND AFTER A NEW STRATA ASPHALT SURFACING PROJECT BY NK ASPHALT TO REPAIR POTHOLES.

Perth’s Pothole Repairs and Driveway Resurfacing Leaders

We’ve been helping homes and businesses in Perth and the hills, repair potholes and resurface their large residential driveways for over 30 years since 1989 and we have a reputation for delivering outstanding customer service.

We pride ourselves on completing every job on-time and on-budget with excellent communication from the first consultation through to follow-up help.

Speak to our team today to get free advice on your driveway potholes or request a free measure and quote at a time of your choosing.

 

Get a Perth Asphalt Resurfacing Quote

If your job is 150m² or more and in the Perth or surrounding areas.

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