What material are you using for parking lots, roads, driveways, and various other surfaces? Asphalt! It is smooth black when fresh, long-lasting, and reasonably priced. But with time, exposure to the environment and frequent vehicle traffic can still cause even the best asphalt to age.

Any asphalt surface will eventually develop cracks, pits, potholes, and collapsing edges. Every one of these represents a degeneration. Breakdown and deterioration are revved by the harsh Australian climate, which includes heat, sun, and even intense downpours.

Understanding appropriate asphalt repair and maintenance strategies is crucial for both businesses and households. Asphalt can be made to last longer before more costly resurfacing or replacement is needed by detecting and filling holes or cracks early on.

Of course, not all asphalt damage is created equal. Smaller cracks and potholes are relatively straightforward for a motivated DIYer to patch up as a temporary repair job. But once the damage becomes more widespread, it's wise to call in professional asphalt repair Central Coast contractors with the equipment and expertise to do it right.

The Proper Way to Fix Cracks, Potholes and Other Minor Asphalt Damage

1. For minor hairline cracks, use a pourable crack filler product from your local hardware store. It comes in a caulking tube and contains a rubberised material that you simply squirt directly into the crack. These fillers remain flexible, so they can expand and contract along with the asphalt as temperatures change without re-cracking.

2. Larger cracks up to around 1/2 inch wide require a thicker crack filler material that comes as a dry powder mix. Mix it with water to form a paste-like compound that can be firmly packed into the crack using a putty knife or similar tool. This type of filler hardens and cures to create a permanent bond adhering the crack together.

3. For bigger asphalt issues like potholes or extremely wide gaps, first thoroughly clean out the damaged area, removing any loose debris, vegetation growth, or compromised existing asphalt until you have a sound base to adhere to.

4. Next, apply an asphalt tack coat around the interior perimeter using an industrial-grade tacking material. This helps the new patch material properly bond to the existing asphalt surface once it cures. Wait until the tack coat is no longer wet and tacky before proceeding.

5. Larger repairs often use hot mix asphalt rather than cold patch mix for the patching material. Hot mix asphalt provides better density, compaction, and bonding.

6. Pack the patching material firmly into the pothole or crack using a tamper, slightly overfilling to allow for compaction under traffic. As much as possible, try to smooth and integrate the top surface with the surrounding asphalt.

7. To ensure that the patched area dries completely and hardens for optimal strength, avoid driving over it for at least one week.

Of course, that covers asphalt patching and repairs on a relatively small scale. So, for roads and larger projects, read the following…

Patching Asphalt Roads

Although mending potholes and cracks in asphalt driveways and parking lots are covered in the following steps, the procedure is comparable to fixing damage on larger asphalt road surfaces. There are, nevertheless, a few more things to think about and safety measures to follow.

For one, safety is paramount when working on active roadways. You'll need proper signage, cones, barricades and other traffic control measures to clearly mark off the work area and protect the repair crew from passing vehicles. Having a designated flagger to control traffic flow is also critical.

The cleaning and preparation of the repair area are essentially the same: remove any loose material, vegetation overgrowth, or severely deteriorated existing asphalt until you have a solid base to adhere to the new patch. An asphalt tack coat should then be applied around the perimeter.

For the patching material itself, most road crews use a hot mix of asphalt rather than the cold patch mixes recommended for small residential jobs. The hot mix provides better density, compaction and bonding to the existing asphalt.

It gets delivered hot from an asphalt plant and has to be quickly transferred to the pothole or trench using shovels or a paving machine. Rakes and lutes are then used to level and smooth it before compacting it with a road roller.

Depending on the extent of the repair, different compaction methods may be required - from vibratory rollers for larger patches to just a hand tamper for smaller potholes.

Proper compaction is key to maximising the density and longevity of the asphalt patch on a high-traffic road surface. The crew must meticulously roll until no more visible deformation occurs.

Once fully compacted, the repair can be opened back up to traffic right away. However, larger trenches or patches may benefit from a specialised asphalt roller truck to achieve optimum compaction.

Know When to Call in the Pros

Going the DIY route for basic asphalt crack and pothole repairs can save money versus hiring a pro, as long as the damage is relatively minor and contained. The step-by-step methods outlined above will allow you to properly patch and extend the lifespan of your asphalt driveway or parking lot.

However, there's a point when the deterioration becomes too large for a DIY project. Widespread alligatoring, ravelling, crumbling edges, sunken areas, and large potholes are signs that it's time to call in an experienced asphalt repair Central Coast company like Whitleah Asphalt.

Attempting to patch a severely compromised asphalt surface is throwing good money after bad. It will continue degrading until you end up having to resurface or replace it anyway completely. At that stage, you're better off having it done professionally from the start.

The trained crews from an established paving contractor can properly repair and resurface any asphalt area to restore a smooth, uniform, long-lasting finish. From parking lots to sports courts, roads, driveways and more.

So practice preventative maintenance with DIY patching for minor damages. But when aging asphalt surfaces are nearing the end of their life, contact Whitleah Asphalt. With their expertise, your asphalt will look new again!