Potholes are a common occurrence for any older driveway, be it gravel, bitumen, asphalt, brick paving or roadbase. This asks the question, what’s the best solution to pothole repairs?
Asphalt Driveway Repair
In time asphalt driveways will encounter various types of damage, including potholes, cracks, and general wear and tear. At NK Asphalt, we provide comprehensive repair services for asphalt driveways. Our team of experienced professionals uses high-quality materials and advanced techniques to ensure a long-lasting and durable repair.
What Causes Potholes?
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.
Why Potholes are Common in Old Driveways?
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.
Concrete is not as flexible as asphalt or even gravel, so cracks in concrete driveways form from either expansion and contraction caused by varying temperatures or under the stress of heavy use. Once these cracks occur, water can permeate the surface and move the subgrade, resulting in movement and further cracking of the concrete.
Concrete driveways have joints in the concrete to allow expansion and contraction. This allows the concrete to change size in cold and hot temperatures, but it also leaves a gap in the surface for water to get through.
How We Help with Pothole Repairs to Old Bitumen and Asphalt Driveways
When we’re called in to quote on driveway pothole repairs, we often end up recommending a complete asphalt driveway resurfacing, to prevent future potholes forming and save the client money in the long run.
If only pothole repairs are required as a short-term repair, we can recommend a competitive, reliable contractor to deal with you direct, as the size of our equipment and crew is not required for pothole only repairs.

A drum roller compacting a new asphalt driveway in Perth.
Depending on the level of damage to the driveway, we will 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 will be swept and repaired, and a brand new layer of asphalt will be laid over the top in one of three colour choices.
You’ll be left with a brand new driveway that will be the envy of your neighbours and no longer risk damaging your car or being a trip hazard to your family or friends.
Why Asphalt Resurfacing is Better Than Pothole Repairs
We recommend asphalt resurfacing to clients with driveway potholes because pothole repairs will provide a short term remedy, but eventually the adjacent areas will also need 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.

Before and after a new strata asphalt surfacing project by NK Asphalt.
Prevents Damage to Vehicles
Because asphalt has a dense surface, it is 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. Asphalt is a durable surface material that will provide a smooth and safe surface for your car which drains water effectively.
Cost-Effective
Asphalt is a very affordable driveway choice, especially for medium to large areas. Asphalt is a flexible and strong material that doesn’t crack when expanding and contracting as concrete does. Because asphalt can be laid more quickly by paving machine than hand-laid concrete or pavers, it is possible to achieve a more cost-effective result when area sizes increase above 200m2, for instance.
In the long term, you will also save 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.
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.
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 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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