3 Tips For Repairing Potholes In Your Driveway
If you have an asphalt driveway, then it is inevitable that things like cracks and potholes are eventually going to happen. Between traffic, debris, and different kinds of weathering, these types of things are going to occur naturally. Thankfully, these cracks and potholes can be repaired without having to replace your entire driveway. However, when you are performing these repairs, it is important that you go about doing them the correct way. This article will discuss 3 tips for repairing potholes in your driveway.
Clean The Pothole Beforehand
Before you begin the process of filling in your pothole, it is important that you clean it out. This means that you should remove any debris in the hole, such as leaves, trash, sticks, rocks, etc. This is important because these things can get in the way when you are pouring the asphalt paste into the pothole. They can also potentially stick out of the hole once it is filled, creating an uneven surface that may harm your tires or cause those who are walking on your asphalt to trip and fall.
Use A Trowel
When you are scooping the asphalt mixture out of the container and into the pothole, it is important that you use the correct tool. A great tool to use for this is going to be a trowel. A trowel is a small, handheld tool that has a flat metal surface with a pointed tip. The flat shape of the trowel makes it perfect for scooping up the asphalt mixture, putting it inside of the pothole, and smoothing it out. The pointed tip is also perfect for pushing the mixture into the different crevices inside of the pothole. When it comes to finding a trowel to use, most can be purchased either at your local home improvement store or online at multiple retailers.
Remember That Compaction Is Key
When it comes to filling in your pothole, compaction is going to be the main thing to remember. You can compact the asphalt by continually pushing it into the hole after each layer. You will just use your trowel to press down on the asphalt mixture before pouring more asphalt mixture on top of it. This ensures that are no air pockets in the hole where the asphalt will later settle into, making the surface uneven and sunken in from the rest of your driveway. Also, since the asphalt is going to settle no matter what as it dries, you are going to want to put an extra layer of the asphalt mixture above the level surface because it is going to settle and become level with the rest of your driveway as it dries and hardens.