Driveway Repair; Potholes

You might be able to dodge some potholes on streets, but when divots open up in your own driveway, they’re hard to steer around and can trip up people on foot. Fortunately, driveway potholes are easy to fix. Here are the simple steps.

Asphalt Driveways

1. Remove any loose asphalt or gravel from the hole with a shovel and then a broom.
2. Use asphalt cold patch to fill the hole half an inch above the surface of the driveway.
3. Tamp the patch material down with a 4x4 post or a tamper (available to rent at most home centers or hardware stores). Then cover the hole with a piece of plywood and drive over it with your car.
4. Throw sand or dust over the patch material to keep it from sticking to shoes or tires.

Gravel Driveways

1. Remove any loose stones or debris from the hole.
2. Fill the hole with coarse gravel up to three inches below the surface.
3. Compact the gravel with a 4x4 post or tamper, as for an asphalt driveway.
4. Fill the rest of the hole with gravel matching the driveway.
5. Add extra gravel on top and rake to blend in.

Cement Driveways

1. Safely remove loose or crumbling concrete from hole. Rinse the hole with water. Allow to dry.
2. Prepare premixed concrete according to manufacturer directions.
3. Coat the hole with liquid concrete bonding agent according to manufacturer directions.
4. Before bond dries, shovel prepared premixed concrete into the hole. Let it set for about an hour.
5. Trowel to remove excess and smooth surface.
6. Mist the filled pothole with water, and then cover with a plastic sheet. Let it dry for several days before walking or driving on it.