Do It Yourself (DIY) Asphalt Driveway Repair

Asphalt driveway repair is one of the most searched queries by homeowners whose driveways are paved with asphalt. In this article, we will tell you everything that you need to know about repairing your driveway.

While there are professional services that offer their services at reasonable rates so that you don't have to get your hands dirty, for people who like to do things themselves, the process of repair is quite simple. You need to follow the steps that are discussed throughout this article.

Driveway Repair - Asphalt vs. Concrete

Asphalt driveway repair is more common than concrete repair. This is because concrete driveways are more challenging to repair than asphalt. It is pretty easy to repair it by putting a new top coating on your cracked asphalt driveway. Both materials crack and deteriorate when exposed to the elements over a while.

The cracks in asphalt are repairable, and these repairs are unobtrusive. They blend in with the rest of the driveway. On the contrary, the repaired spots in concrete are pretty visible and stand out. To make it entirely right, you have to invest in resurfacing your whole driveway.

Sealing of Asphalt Driveways

One of the steps in asphalt driveway repair is sealing. An asphalt driveway requires sealing in the intervals of every 3-5 years. In this process, you need to cordon off your driveway, clean it and pour the sealant. It is then spread evenly and allowed to dry for a few days. You will realize asphalt is better than concrete when you compare them according to this.

You can use the driveway right afterwards. After 2-3 days of setting the driveway, one can drive on it. Concrete, on the other hand, takes longer to cure completely. One has to wait at least for a week or so for it to set enough so that you can drive on it. This might cause some hassle in packing and moving to and fro. You might also have to fend off animals and children or any foreign objects and make sure it is entirely covered and uncontaminated by dirt.

How to Repair Asphalt Driveways

You can follow the following steps for asphalt driveway repair:

For regular cleaning:

1. Make sure to clean your driveway thoroughly.

2. Remove all the dirt by sweeping and scrubbing.

3. If any other objects are lying around, remove them.

In case weeds are growing out of the cracks:

1. Uproot them.

2. Spray the whole driveway and especially the cracks with a hose.

3. Use weed-killing chemicals to kill any stray weeds that might have been left or retard their further growth after being uprooted.

In case of a deep crack:

1. Fill 1/4th of it with sand

2. Pat it down and make it even

3. Pour the patching compound on the cracks

4. Allow it to settle

5. Pour the sealant and again allow it to settle

When your driveway has started to appear old, aged, stained, dull and cracked, and you want to give it a new lease of life, then the chances are that you may have to install a new one (in case of concrete) or repair the old one (in case of asphalt).

Concrete and asphalt appear similar on a cursory look since both of these materials are made of gravel, sand and stone but have some significant differences. If you consider materials of use for renovating your driveway, then the point that needs to be kept in mind is that asphalt requires more repairs, but these repairs are easy to carry out. Asphalt might be the better choice for people who can manage to carry out these repairs by themselves.