Asphalt patching and pothole repair

A pothole is almost always the last stage of a problem that started with water getting under the pavement. Filling the hole with cold patch buys a few weeks. Fixing the area around it keeps it from coming back.

For lasting repairs we saw-cut a clean rectangle around the damaged area, remove the broken asphalt, check and compact the base, tack the edges and fill it with hot mix in lifts, compacting each one. The result is a flush patch with tight edges that water can't easily get under.

When the damage is shallow and the base is sound, a skin patch or infrared-style surface repair may be enough, and we will tell you when that is the smarter spend. When the base underneath is soft, we dig it out and replace it with stone before paving, because putting new asphalt over a wet base just moves the problem.

Patching is also the first step before sealcoating a lot that has a few failed spots. Repairing those areas first means the whole lot can be sealed and striped at once, and the money you spend on sealcoat actually protects sound pavement.

Frequently asked questions

Can you patch in the winter?

Hot mix plants in the region cut back in winter, so winter repairs are usually temporary until warmer weather. We can make a safe temporary fix and come back for a permanent patch in spring.

Why do my potholes keep coming back?

Usually because the base under them is wet or broken. Cutting out the area and repairing the base, not just the surface, is what stops that cycle.