Asphalt Repair and Patching: Potholes, Cracks and Failed Edges
Most asphalt damage is repairable for a fraction of replacement cost, and catching it early is the difference between a patch and a new driveway. Water is the enemy in every case. Once it gets through the surface and into the base, the repair stops being cosmetic.
What we repair
Potholes. A proper pothole repair means cutting back to sound asphalt with straight edges, cleaning out the failed material, and compacting new hot mix into the void. Throwing cold patch into a dirty hole is why so many potholes come back in the same place every spring.
Cracks. Anything wider than about a quarter inch should be cleaned and sealed rather than left open. Sealing is cheap. Letting water run down a crack into the base is what turns it into a pothole.
Crumbling edges. Driveway edges fail first because there is nothing supporting them laterally. Rebuilding the edge and backfilling against it stops the failure spreading inward.
Sunken areas and birdbaths. Standing water means either the base has settled or the grade was wrong. Both are fixable, but the fix depends on which one it is.
Repair, resurface or replace
These are three different jobs with very different prices, and the right one depends on how much of the damage is structural.
Repair suits isolated problems on a driveway that is otherwise sound. Resurfacing suits widespread surface wear over a base that still holds. Replacement is for driveways where the base itself has failed, which shows up as recurring potholes, sunken sections and alligator cracking over large areas.
We would rather quote a repair that holds than sell a replacement that was not needed. If a driveway genuinely needs replacing we will say so and show you why.
Other asphalt & paving we handle
Asphalt Driveway Paving
New asphalt driveways and full replacements, built on a compacted stone base so the surface lasts.
Asphalt Driveway Paving detailsSealcoating
Sealcoating on a schedule that actually protects the asphalt instead of just darkening it.
Sealcoating detailsResurfacing
An overlay when the base is still good, at a fraction of full replacement cost.
Resurfacing detailsTowns we cover for asphalt repair
Asphalt Repair questions
Why do my potholes keep coming back in the same spot?
A pothole that returns in the same place almost always means the base underneath has failed, not the surface. Patching the top over a soft base gives water somewhere to keep working, and the patch pushes down or breaks apart again.
The durable fix is to excavate that section down through the failed base, rebuild and compact it, then repave. It costs more than a patch and it does not come back.
How much does asphalt repair cost compared to replacement?
Repair is typically a small fraction of replacement cost, which is why catching damage early matters so much financially.
Pricing depends on the number of areas, how deep the failure goes and whether the base needs rebuilding. Photos of the problem areas are usually enough for us to give a real number rather than a wide range.
Can you repair asphalt in winter?
Emergency and temporary repairs can be done in cold weather using cold patch material, which is worth doing when a pothole is a hazard.
Permanent hot mix repair needs warmer conditions to compact properly. If a repair can safely wait for spring, waiting produces a better result.
Should I seal cracks myself or have them done?
Sealing a few narrow cracks with a quality product from a hardware store is reasonable homeowner maintenance, and doing it is much better than leaving them open.
It is worth calling someone when cracks are wide, when they branch into connected patterns, or when the edges around them are crumbling. Those signs point to base movement, and sealant on the surface does not address it.
Get a free estimate
Send a few photos of the driveway, patio or drainage problem and we will come back with a real number, not a range.
- Most estimates come back within one business day.
- Photos usually get you a real number without a site visit.
- If you need less work than you asked about, we will say so.
Prefer to talk? (610) 646-1187