Are cracks showing up in your Asphalt Driveway? Don’t fret. Cracks are frequent visitors of many asphalt driveways. After a season of snow and ice, or weeks of consistent downpour. They appear suddenly and can quickly spread across your driveway. If ignored, these cracks will play hosts to weeds. And may even widen to potholes wide enough to make you trip while hurrying out of the house.
Cracks in driveways should be repaired before they compromise the integrity of your driveway. Unlike concrete driveway repair – which requires less specialized knowledge and makes for an easy DIY project – asphalt driveway can be more daunting.
Generally, a cold asphalt filler like COAST is recommended for DIY projects. Hot asphalt fillers require prior experience as they are applied at hot temperatures. Cold asphalt fillers (or patches) can be handled by anyone. They do not require special tools to melt, and are suitable for all asphalt driveway repair works.
Dos and Don’ts For Asphalt Driveway
- DON’T start patching without cleaning the cracks. Start by clearing weeds sprouting within the cracks in your asphalt driveway. Pull them by hand, getting as much as you can out of the cracks. Clean out accumulated debris as well. You can use a pressure washer to blow out any dirt or debris that might have gathered in the cracks. Don’t apply your cold asphalt immediately; allow the cracks to dry.
- DON’T forget to gather your work materials. Before you begin, take a stock of all you’ll need – supplies and equipment. Some equipment you’ll need include a trowel, an asphalt saw for removing damaged asphalt, and a pressure washer or garden hose. Supplies include gravel/sand, cold asphalt patch, asphalt sealant,
- DO inspect the damage. Measure the width of the cracks or potholes to g et an estimate of the damage. This will help you know how much cold asphalt you’ll need. As you purchase your materials, remember that excess is safer.
More Dos
- DO fill all cracks. As you work across the surface of your asphalt driveway, you may feel like ignoring the small cracks. Don’t. Fill all cracks. Fill cracks with less than ½” size by using a crack filler tube. Simply squeeze the filler into the cracks till it levels with the asphalt and smooth with your trowel. For larger cracks, fill the cracks with gravel/sand up to within ¼” of the asphalt surface. Tamp down the sand to ensure compactness before applying the COAST cold patch.
- DO allow the asphalt repair cure. Before testing the quality of your repair work (by driving on it), allow the repair cure. Trust the manufacturer’s guide on this. You may need to wait several hours, or a few days, driving on it. Most cold asphalt fillers will cure within a week.
- DO apply a sealant. Preserve the asphalt patch by sealcoating it. This step is crucial for ensuring the holes do not reappear within few weeks of the repair.
With effective maintenance, you can prevent subsequent damages to your asphalt driveway. How often, for instance, do you sweep your asphalt? Got questions on maintenance tips? Schedule a consultation now!
