Asphalt is a proven, long-lasting and cost effective paving material. Regular maintenance can significantly extend the life of your driveway, but, nothing lasts forever. Eventually the the day will come that your driveway needs repair. If you catch the damage early enough, you may be able to handle those repairs yourself.
So what does asphalt deterioration look like?
Asphalt deterioration can take many forms but on a residential driveway you will most likely first notice cracks, depressions or crumbling. If you catch a problem early enough, there is a good chance that you can make the repairs yourself.
Here we provide advice for repairing common residential driveway issues yourself.
HOW TO REPAIR CRACKS IN YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY
Asphalt cracks for a variety of reasons including heavy loads, shifting of earth below the sub base, freeze/thaw cycles, and even the growth of vegetation through the asphalt.
Fortunately, there is a way to fill cracks and help prevent your asphalt driveway from crumbling.
Here’s how:
- Use a wire brush to clean out all loose material from each of the cracks in your asphalt driveway.
- Make sure you sweep away any loose materials with a brush and clean out the cracks completely.
- It’s important to clean the crack and the surrounding area, or the patch might not take properly and end up wearing away a lot quicker in the future.
- You can use a garden hose to clean off any excess dust in the area and scrub the asphalt with a cleaning agent to remove any past oil or grease spills.
- Now that the cracks are completely cleaned out, apply crack sealer according to package directions.
If you’re not confident tackling the job yourself, call in the professionals to help you complete the job – our crew are great!
HOW TO FILL IN DEPRESSED AREAS OF ASPHALT
Depressions in asphalt can form where vehicles are parked in one place for a long time or where the base/sub base in incorrectly laid. Cold weather and the collection of water in these depressions can cause them to get a lot worse over time.
Eventually, cracks will form in these depressions, water will penetrate, and the asphalt will weaken and begin to crumble.
Here’s how you can fix depressions in your asphalt:
- Make sure that the low areas in your asphalt are cleaned thoroughly before you begin filling them. You can remove any dirt by sweeping it away and any grease or oil can be sprayed with a high-pressure hose. You can also add some cleaner to the mix to help get rid of the oil or grease faster.
- When you’re finished cleaning the area, make sure there’s no standing water left in the depression. You can’t apply the patching materials to a surface that is waterlogged – or even damp.
- Now that the area is primed and ready to go, fill the depression to the level of the surrounding surface by spreading asphalt patching carefully in the area. To make it smooth use a metal tamper.
- It’ll take at least 24 hours for the patches to dry, so fence them off, for now, to make sure nobody steps on them or drives over them.
If you’re not entirely sure how to patch an asphalt depression, or don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, talk to us about the help you need to get the job done right.
HOW TO FIX CRUMBLING ASPHALT ON YOUR DRIVEWAY
Crumbling asphalt typically happens when a crack or depression isn’t fixed right away and water is allowed to penetrate the asphalt.
Repairs need to be done immediately to lengthen the life of the remaining asphalt. If the asphalt has only had cracks appearing recently, you can easily repair them with the help of a reliable contractor.
When you’re repairing cracks and potholes, it’s best to fill in any depressed areas and seal your driveway afterward to stop it from crumbling again any time soon.
HOW TO SEAL YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY
- After you’ve repaired any cracks, potholes, and depressions you should wait between two to five days to seal your driveway.
- To prepare your asphalt’s surface, make sure it’s clean of any oil, dirt, grease, and any other debris. Use a broom to collect as much oil and debris as possible, then use a cleaner or detergent to remove any remaining grease in the area. Rinse the area with a high-pressure hose and mop up any large puddles.
- It’s okay to begin applying the sealant if your area isn’t completely dry.
- Stir your sealant thoroughly as you’ll need to make sure that the ingredients are mixed together properly or it won’t work correctly.
- Then apply the sealant to each section of your asphalt and use a roller to spread the sealant around so it’s evenly spread. Make sure that any areas that are extremely weathered soak in the sealant. This will help prevent them from getting any worse.
- After you’re finished, block off the areas you’ve sealed so people don’t disturb it. You need to let the sealant cure for about 24 hours before any vehicle drives over it.
At Murphree Paving, we provide high-quality asphalt paving, asphalt repair, and asphalt maintenance to residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial clients.
Call (662) 844-2331 during business hours and get a guaranteed same-day response.
Get in touch with us today to request your free quote.
