3 Types of Asphalt Driveway Repair Methods
A driveway in need of repair. Untreated cracks in an asphalt driveway will get worse and untreated potholes will grow bigger.
So your driveway has some large cracks that are getting more unsightly by the month. Or maybe you’ve already got a pothole or two where water collects during heavy rains.
If you don’t do something to repair the cracks and small potholes in your driveway, you may eventually be dealing with a much more expensive remedy sooner than you’d like. So it’s a good idea to take care of things as quickly as possible if you would like to minimize having to pay for more costly solutions.
Driveway repair can be an attractive option when you just have some relatively minor issues and can wait to resurface the driveway.
Signs of asphalt damage to look for
Cracks are often the first sign of damage going on with asphalt. There are several types of cracks that reveal what may be causing the problem. Your driveway repair contractor can evaluate whether you are dealing with reflection cracking, fatigue cracking, or other types of cracking to help you decide what to do to treat your driveway.
Another type of damage is distortions. These things tend to get worse over time. Depressions, bumps, tire ruts, or signs of root upheaval need to be addressed before things get out of control.
Potholes also reveal damage to your asphalt. And if they get big enough, they can also damage your car or even be a tripping hazard.
3 ways to repair an asphalt driveway
There are 3 basic ways to fix a damaged asphalt driveway:
Filling in the cracks in the asphalt with crack filler.
Adding a new coat of blacktop/sealcoating.
Applying a driveway patch.
We’ll talk about the details of your asphalt driveway repair options below. As well as tips on how you can know when it’s time to resurface or replace your asphalt driveway.
If you are looking for asphalt or concrete driveway repair (Columbia, SC area), we can help with residential and commercial driveway paving needs. Please call us today at 803-521-4978 or email us at bootsonenterprises@gmail.com.
Asphalt driveway crack filler being applied by hand to a large driveway crack.
Asphalt driveway crack filler
Filling asphalt driveway cracks is an important part of routine asphalt repair and maintenance. If you allow cracks to continue unchecked for a long time, water, minerals, and weeds can cause more damage to the surface of your asphalt but also to the base underneath. This can sadly turn your small driveway repair job into a much bigger job.
Repairing an asphalt driveway with crack filler is a great first step to deal with driveway cracks that haven’t progressed to something more serious.
Workers raking and tamping down a fresh driveway asphalt patch.
Asphalt driveway patch
If you have a pothole in your asphalt driveway, crack filler isn’t going to cut it. At this point, you’ll want to consider getting an asphalt driveway repair patch. It’s a lot more affordable than resurfacing or replacing your driveway if you only have one or just a few potholes.
What is an asphalt patch?
An asphalt patch is a method of repairing only the area affected by a pothole. This way, you avoid the cost of completely resurfacing or replacing your asphalt driveway and just take care of the one small problem area.
There are cold asphalt patches that last a year or two. And there are hot asphalt patches that are a more permanent fix.
The downside of an asphalt patch is that, although it restores the structural integrity of your driveway in that area, it will not completely match the rest of your asphalt’s appearance.
What is the best way to patch asphalt?
A driveway contractor near you can quickly repair your driveway by removing any weeds in the affected area and cleaning the cracks thoroughly. Then they’ll probably apply weed killer to prevent future weed issues from springing up.
If the pothole/damaged area is deep, the contractor may add sand or another type of filler and then compress it. Then they’ll apply the asphalt patching compound.
Once the compound cures, you’ll be ready to drive on the asphalt patch again — worry-free.
It may be a good idea to go ahead and do a new sealcoat on your entire driveway while you are patching large cracks or potholes. If you get all the routine maintenance done at the same time, your driveway will look great and you’ll be set for a while.
A fresh asphalt seal coat is being applied to an existing asphalt driveway.
Asphalt sealcoating/seal coating
Sealing an asphalt driveway is also known as putting on “blacktop” or “hot top.” It looks like tar that is spread with a squeegee or brushed over the surface of the asphalt.
What does asphalt sealer do?
Asphalt sealing coats your driveway, filling up any little cracks and small holes to protect it from temperature changes, water damage, erosion, and harmful chemicals.
Routine asphalt maintenance keeps your investment looking its best and performing well. If you want to prevent damaging the foundation under your driveway, we highly recommend sealcoating your driveway. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to keep your asphalt in top condition and regular sealcoating may extend the life of your driveway by many years.
How often should asphalt sealer be applied?
The exact amount of time can vary depending on the climate and the quality of your original asphalt driveway installation. It’s often about every 1-3 years. The telltale sign is that the black color of the asphalt is fading and you can see more and more of the gravel matrix inside. Or, of course, if you are seeing a lot of small cracks, it may be time to contact a contractor about driveway repair near you.
What time of year should you sealcoat your asphalt driveway?
Ideally, you’ll want to apply a fresh sealcoat on your asphalt driveway in the fall or spring. Moderate temperatures work best. If it’s too cold or too hot, asphalt doesn’t do as well. Thankfully, there are ways for an asphalt contractor to make adjustments, so if it’s summer or winter, you can still get work done. Not to worry.
If you are looking for driveway repair in Columbia, SC, you are in luck because we may have days, even in the winter season, that aren’t too cold for sealcoating.
Why is my driveway sealer peeling?
If the pavement was not thoroughly cleaned and the oil spots weren’t properly treated, the asphalt driveway sealer could peel. That’s why it can be really helpful to have an expert driveway repair company apply your asphalt sealant rather than attempting to do it yourself.
Also, it’s critical that you use an asphalt sealer on asphalt. Don’t use concrete sealers on asphalt or asphalt sealers on concrete. They are not the same thing.
How long does an asphalt sealer take to cure?
Your driveway repair contractor can give you the exact time that your particular asphalt sealer needs before you can walk on it and before you can drive on it.
Usually, it’s safe to walk on in a few hours. But you don’t want to drive cars on it for 24-28 hours. The last thing you want for a beautifully treated driveway is to see ugly tire marks running through it.
What kind of weather do you need for sealcoating asphalt?
It’s important to avoid applying sealcoat to asphalt if you are expecting rainy weather in your area. Ideally, you’ll want a three-day period of dry weather so that the day before sealcoating is dry, the day of application is dry, and then the day after is also dry.
How long does driveway seal coating last?
The first coat of asphalt sealant should be applied about one year to a year and a half after your asphalt driveway is installed. After that, you’ll want to think about redoing the sealer every few years.
Professional asphalt contractors resurface asphalt pavement.
Driveway repair vs driveway resurfacing
Driveway repair is a good solution for minor asphalt damage. And it is less expensive, which is a huge advantage if you are able to go that route. But if the top layer of asphalt on your driveway is crumbling and the base layer is still intact or only has minor damage, you may want to opt for driveway resurfacing rather than repair or replacement.
What is driveway resurfacing?
Asphalt driveway resurfacing involves removing the surface layer of asphalt but keeping the base layer in place. (You may also see resurfacing referred to as an asphalt overlay.) It can add a decade to the life of your driveway.
Another advantage of resurfaced asphalt is that it looks amazing, especially compared to an asphalt patch. If you want maximum curb appeal, this can be a great option.
You’ve probably driven on interstates where crews are resurfacing the asphalt and have had to drive on the road after a layer was removed. It has a lot of ridges and is very bumpy at that point because the top layer of asphalt was scraped off with a machine. Driving on just the scraped road isn’t very pleasant. But once the new asphalt layer is added, driving on that brand-new asphalt feels silky smooth.
The same type of process is available for resurfacing an asphalt driveway where you can only replace the top layer of your asphalt pavement. Your local driveway repair company can help you decide what is best for your situation.
When you resurface an asphalt driveway, the contractor will generally also patch areas in the base layer that need attention before adding the new surface layer of asphalt.
Why resurface an asphalt driveway?
Resurfacing a driveway and just adding an asphalt overlay can be a lot more economical than completely replacing a driveway. So if your local driveway contractor can do resurfacing for you, you may buy a lot of time for yourself before the asphalt driveway has to be replaced.
Resurfacing has other advantages, as well, in that it is a lot faster than completely replacing your driveway.
A disadvantage of resurfacing your driveway is that if the foundation is no longer structurally sound, it wouldn’t work well to put new pavement on top. Without a strong foundation, nothing built on top of it can last very long.
Also, if your asphalt is 20-30 years old or so, it may need to be replaced rather than resurfaced. Driveways undergo incredible stress every day from weather and pressure. They don’t last indefinitely, unfortunately.
Driveway drainage
You may want to also look into any drainage issues while the driveway is being resurfaced. That’s a great time to install a new driveway drainage system and take care of any ponding to help keep your new driveway looking great for as long as possible.
An asphalt driveway with a lot of potholes and erosion that needs more than just simple repair work.
Driveway repair vs driveway replacement
There comes a time when driveway repair methods are just not enough. If you have serious erosion of your driveway and potholes or very large cracks all over the place and significant damage clear down into the base layer, it may be time to think about replacing your asphalt driveway.
What is asphalt driveway replacement?
With asphalt replacement, the entire old pavement including the base layer is torn out and removed and everything is redone from scratch.
This is more expensive than other driveway repair measures or resurfacing. But for very old and degraded asphalt, it may be the best option. There is a point at which completely starting over will give you the best results and even be more economical in the long run.
Need driveway repair in the Columbia, SC area?
We’ve got you covered. At Boots On Enterprises, we can handle all your driveway paving needs (repair, resurfacing, and replacement) as well as drainage solutions, landscaping, tree services, and wood fencing installation.
Please call us today for a FREE QUOTE at 803-521-4978 or email us at bootsonenterprises@gmail.com.
We’ll put our boots on and get to work for you in Lexington, Irmo, and the Greater Columbia area.
