Asphalt is an excellent material for roads and your driveway at home. However, despite their durability and strength, asphalt surfaces are still prone to gaps, cracks, and holes. This sort of damage happens naturally and occurs as a result of groundwater expanding and contracting beneath the surface, weakening it. 

This can cause problems both from an aesthetic point of view and, more importantly, from a practical perspective. Gaping holes in your driveway will only ever get bigger unless they are dealt with quickly. When they do, they can damage the tires of your cars and compromise the driveway’s structural integrity. 

Thankfully, patching asphalt isn’t as hard as it might first appear. In fact, with the right tools and materials, it’s a relatively easy thing to do. Here’s everything you need to know about how to patch an asphalt driveway. 

What Is the Best Way to Patch an Asphalt Driveway? 

The best way to patch an asphalt driveway is to do it yourself. You see, if you do it yourself, chances are the problem will be tackled far faster than if you had to call out a contractor. When it comes to patching concrete driveway, speed is of the essence. The longer you leave it, the worse the hole is going to get. 

A DIY approach to asphalt patching is also likely to be cheaper. Once you have all the tools and the right products to complete your driveway patch and seal, you’ll be more than ready to do a high-quality job without the need to pay call-out fees. Then, when new holes and cracks crop up (which they will sooner or later), you won’t have to worry about footing another big bill. 

You might be concerned that a do it yourself asphalt patch might not be as robust as one completed by a professional. However, as long as you purchase a product that is designed for permanent repairs and follow the step-by-step guide below, your end result should be indistinguishable from that of the experts.

What Is the Best Asphalt Patch? 

There are plenty of asphalt patch products out there. So, no matter the type of hole or crack you’ve got in your driveway, there will be one that suits your needs. If, for example, you have a pothole, then cold patch asphalt repair is your best bet, while gator patch is ideal for interconnecting cracks, known more widely as alligator cracks. 

Whatever product you opt for, though, just be sure that it’s good quality. The materials you use need to create a long-lasting seal with a smooth finish, so that you can feel confident that your repair won’t buckle under the strain of cars or other heavy loads. 

What Other Materials Are Needed For a Do It Yourself Asphalt Patch?  

In addition to your pothole patch and gator patch products, you will also need to buy some handling equipment. Depending on the product you’re using this could include: 

• A drywall mixing paddle.

• A drill motor. 

• A trowel or shovel. 

• A street broom. 

• A tamper. 

Safety should be of the utmost importance when handling industrial-strength patching products. So, ensure you always keep safety gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask in your shed. In addition, if you’re feeling particularly cautious, you could also invest in aprons, boot covers, and similar gear. However, this isn’t strictly necessary if you’re not using hot crack filler. 

Asphalt Patching DIY: A How-To Guide  

Now, it’s time to learn how to patch an asphalt driveway yourself. So, pull up your safety gloves, gather your materials, and follow these simple asphalt patching DIY steps. 

1. Prepare the Area 

Prepare your surface following the instructions that come with your product of choice. The approach will vary depending on the type of repair you’re completing. In the case of potholes, you might only need to sweep the area to remove debris. On the other hand, with alligator cracks, you may have to do a more thorough clean-up job before you can begin application. 

2. Apply the Asphalt Patch

Pothole Patch

The best asphalt patch products for potholes won’t need mixing. So, scoop the product from its container and shovel it straight into the pothole. For deeper potholes of more than six inches, apply asphalt patch one layer at a time. 

Gator Patch 

Use a mixing paddle and drill motor to mix your gator patch. Once it’s ready, scoop it out and sling it out onto the cracked surface, then work it into the cracks with your trowel. Or, for larger areas of cracking, dump up to two gallons of product onto the area before working it in. 

For deeper cracking that is over one-quarter of an inch, apply your gator patch product in thin layers. 

3. Smooth Out the Product

Using either a tamper (for potholes) or a street broom (for gator cracks), compress and smooth out the product. This will help to ensure that it bonds effectively with the crevices in your driveway’s surface and creates a tight seal. Plus, it creates a neater, more professional-looking finish. 

And, with that, you’re done! It really is as simple as one, two, three. 

How Much Does It Cost to Patch an Asphalt Driveway?  

Patching asphalt driveway doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Unfortunately, though, a lot of people believe that it’s a job that can only be done effectively by the experts. As such, every time they get a new crack or pothole, they pass the job over to contractors. The cost of doing so can add up fast. 

The most cost-effective way of repairing an asphalt driveway is to do it yourself. You can purchase top-of-the-range asphalt patch products for around $100 or less, and each container will allow you to complete several repairs yourself. 

How to Patch an Asphalt Driveway 

Cracks and potholes in the asphalt are bound to happen. But, they can cause problems, particularly if they’re left for a long time. If they are, they’re all too likely to expand, and this has the potential to create expensive issues further down the line. 

So, if your asphalt driveway requires repair, it’s a good idea to learn how to fix it yourself. It’s easy to do a great job using quality products and the right approach. Do so to avoid having to spend unnecessary money on pricey contractors.