Filling the Gap: 3 Pothole Repair Mistakes You're Making and How to Correct Them

Car park potholes, especially smaller ones, are likely something your business may want to handle on its own. You may think they are too expensive to have professionally maintained or you may just want to accept the challenge of handling it yourself. Either way, if you have been repairing the same pothole or area more than once recently, then you are probably making one of the three common mistakes people make with DIY pothole repairs. Here are those three mistakes and how you can correct them on your next repair. 

Tamping Down Improperly

One of the main steps to repairing a pothole on your own is to tamp down the new asphalt once the hole is filled. In some cases, you may think the hole is filled with the asphalt and you are done. The truth is, the asphalt will settle as it cools down and it can leave gaps behind during that process. Tapping down the asphalt and smoothing it out will ensure that there is enough to fill the hole, that it settles properly, and that no air bubbles are in the hole that would cause uneven drying. You can use a trowel and tamping tool to make sure you have a clean flat surface of asphalt. Also, make sure you fill the hole just slightly over so the patch actually covers slightly over the outer rim of the pothole.

Reapplication of the Asphalt

There is a misconception that one fill of the hole is enough. The truth is this mistake can lead to uneven asphalt and can lead to the pothole happening again. To avoid this, make sure that you allow the first amount of asphalt to dry and then apply a second layer to even out the pothole and make sure that you have filled it completely. You may notice some gaps where the asphalt has dried and this second application will help fill those in and avoid the pothole from reoccurring quickly.

Using the Right Tools

Using the right tools doesn't apply just to the tamping tool and asphalt. You also want to make sure you use the right tools during the drying process as well. For example, you want to use an asphalt crown to sit on top of the repaired pothole during drying time. This will tamp down the asphalt further and make sure that it stays even during the last steps of the drying phase. It also works to keep debris and other items from entering the repaired area during the drying process.

These are just a few of the mistakes you may be making when you handle your own pothole repairs. If you have several potholes in your car park that keep occurring, you may want to consider professional assistance with the pothole repairs. A professional can give you expert advice on repair options and suggest if a new car park may be necessary.

 

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