How to Fix a Pothole: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Survey the Damage

View the pothole: 

First of all, have a close visual look at the pothole and try to estimate its size and depth. That visual imagination gives one scope of work. The extent of the hole breach will naturally call for more material and maybe a more serious approach to the repair job. Consider, too, whether it is just only a minor pothole that needs patching or a major one that may require more permanent repair. Knowing the extent of the damage can help you in deciding on the material and the repair method.

2. Prepare the Area

• Sweep the Pothole:

Before you use any repair material, the pothole has to be prepared. Use a shovel or broom and clear all the loose debris, dirt, and damaged asphalt from the pothole. On the edges and the bottom of the pothole, scrub to make sure that it is clean. This is important because the clean area allows the repair material to bond more to the area, therefore creating a longer-lasting repair. Any loose material or crumbling edges can weaken the stability of the new repair.

• Don’t let the water stand: 

If there is standing water in the pothole, it may not allow good adhesion of the repair material, thus ensuring a poor-quality repair. The standing water should be removed with a wet/dry vacuum or pushed out of the pothole with a squeegee. The surface of the pothole must be completely dry before beginning the repair. Otherwise, if it is not removed, the water will mix with the repair material and weaken it, thereby making the repair ineffective.

3. Fill the pothole.

• Choose the Right Material: 

Fill the hole with a high-grade cold patch or mix asphalt. A cold mix is easy to use for any type of DIY repair and could be applied straight out of the bag, while a mix requires special apparatuses and most of the time has to be used to create more permanent repairs.

• Patch Hole: 

Fill the hole with repair material, mounding it slightly to compact the material. Compact material using a shovel or tamping tool. Ensure that the hole is filled and even with the face of the surrounding surface.

4. Compact and Smooth

• Compact the Patch Material: 

Tamping of the repair material shall be done with a hand tamper or a mechanical compactor. Avoid settlement or unevenness of the patch with respect to its surroundings.

• Level the Surface: 

Feather the patched area to the surface level so that it doesn’t have bumps and dips. Doing this might require adding a little material and compacting some more.

5. Finishing touches.

• Clean the extra material and rubble from around the area.

• Sweep the mended surface clean and even with the remaining road or driveway.

• Check on the repair a bit by occasionally passing on the patched area to make sure that it’s really holding up well. 

• Add further adjustments or repairs if needed.