How to Fix Crumbling Asphalt Driveway?

No one wants to see or encounter potholes when driving on the road, which is especially true for your driveway. There’s nothing worse than discovering a damaged hole or crack in your driveway. 

When replacing a portion of the driveway, you might feel powerless. If it comes, it may seem you can’t do about it. It won’t help fill it with asphalt or concrete; ignoring it will worsen matters. What should you do? You need assistance.

To repair a damaged driveway, reliable contractors may use high-quality, professional-grade asphalt patches and crack fillers. What they utilize isn’t the same stuff you can buy in the store, and it’s a high-quality product with a precise procedure to fix your road. 

You shouldn’t rely on store-bought temporary patches because they are only temporary and won’t give a dependable and long-term solution. You’ll probably notice that the hole widens or becomes more of an issue over time.

How you can repair a crumbling driveway

Driveways are typically constructed of asphalt and, just like many roads, require upkeep to fill cracks, mend potholes, and ultimately reseal the surface. Try these DIY modifications on your section of blacktop when you’re the one-person road crew.

HOW TO REPAIR CRACKS IN YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY

Asphalt cracks for various causes, including heavy loads, shifting earth below the subbase, freeze/thaw cycles, and even vegetation growth through the asphalt. Fortunately, there is a solution to repair cracks and help prevent your asphalt driveway from crumbling.

Here’s how:

1. Remove loose materials from the cracks in your asphalt driveway using a wire brush.
2. Make sure you clear away any loose materials with a brush and completely clean the cracks.
3. It’s critical to clean the crack and surrounding area if you don’t since the patch might not adhere correctly and wear away much faster in the future.
4. You may use a garden hose to wipe away any extra dust in the space and scrub the asphalt with a cleaning solution to remove any old oil or grease stains.
5. Now that the gaps have been thoroughly cleaned apply crack sealer as directed on the package.

HOW TO FILL IN DEPRESSED AREAS OF ASPHALT

When vehicles are parked in one place for a long period or the underlying/sub-base is incorrectly installed, depressions in asphalt can develop. Cold temperatures and the accumulation of water in these depressions might make them worse with time.

The repeated flexing of the joints can eventually cause cracks to develop in these valleys, water to enter, and the asphalt to weaken and crumble.

Here’s how you can fix depressions in your asphalt:

1. Before you put down the asphalt, ensure all the low areas are clean. Any dirt may be swept away, and grease or oil can be sprayed with a high-pressure hose. Add some cleaner to the mix to help remove the oil or grease faster.
2. When you’re done cleaning the region, check for any remaining standing water in the depression. You can’t use patching materials on a moist or wet surface.
3. Fill the depression to the same level as the surrounding surface with asphalt patching neatly applied in its location once it’s ready. Use a metal tamper to make it nice and smooth.
4. It will take at least 24 hours for the patches to dry, so until they’re completely dry, keep them off the ground and away from pedestrians and vehicles.

HOW TO FIX CRUMBLING ASPHALT ON YOUR DRIVEWAY

When a crack or depression isn’t repaired immediately, water may enter the asphalt and cause it to disintegrate.

Repairs must be made as soon as possible to extend the life of the existing asphalt. If your asphalt has only recently developed cracks, you can easily mend them using the expertise of a qualified contractor.

When repairing cracks and potholes, you should fill in any depressed regions and seal your driveway to keep it from crumbling again quickly.

HOW TO SEAL YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY

1. After you’ve filled in any cracks, potholes, or depressions on your driveway, wait two to five days before sealing it.
2. Make sure the surface of your asphalt is clean of any oil, dirt, grease, and other debris before applying sealer. After collecting as much oil and pollutants as possible with a broom, wash the area with a solvent or detergent to remove any remaining grease. Rinse the area using a high-pressure hose and a mop to eliminate any
3. It’s fine to begin applying the sealant while your region isn’t totally dry.
4. Make sure to fully mix your sealant while stirring since it won’t function as intended if the components aren’t combined equally.
5. Apply the sealant to each portion of your asphalt, and then use a roller to distribute it uniformly. Make sure any severely weathering areas soak up the sealant. This will aid in the prevention of their deterioration.
6. After you’ve completed the project, seal off the areas you’ve treated to prevent people from disturbing them. Before any vehicle drives over it, allow for approximately 24 hours for the sealant to cure.

Conclusion:

Asphalt driveways require constant care to avoid crumbling. You can fix small fissures and depressions, but hiring a professional contractor for bigger repairs is preferable. Once the repairs are finished, the driveway should be sealed to prevent additional harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is asphalt patching?

It’s repairing or filling a lane in a sidewalk, driveway, or walkway with a temporary asphalt compound. Patching is typically only a short-term solution and should not be used to repair high-traffic regions permanently.

• Can you put new asphalt over old asphalt?

You can, but only if the region you’re covering isn’t too badly damaged. Otherwise, overlaying an already dented area with asphalt will simply make the new layer dented.

• How do you fix a hole in an asphalt driveway?

It’s not as simple as it sounds to patch a hole. You’ll need to cut out a larger hole to provide a clean edge. Then you’ll clean everything and fill the hole with limestone or asphalt, tamp down the mixture, then cover it with the patch material, tamp that down, and let it sit. 

• Can you cold patch asphalt in the rain? 

It is not suggested that you repair or mend an asphalt driveway during rain. There are oils in the asphalt mix that repel water, although if you’re doing this in the rain, there will be unforeseen consequences. There are a few of them with unintended consequences.