Asphalt Driveway Repair Basics: How To Repair Shallow Cracks

You do not have to be an environmentalist to identify first hand the effects of extreme weather changes that have been happening more frequently in recent times. Those effects can be seen right at your own home or property. For example, if you have an asphalt driveway, sudden and extreme changes in the weather will cause cracks to form often. The asphalt contracts when temperatures drop and expands when it rises. This material can usually withstand temperature changes brought about by different weather conditions. However, when the change happens at a rate that is too fast, cracks will form on the asphalt.

Basic knowledge on asphalt driveway repair is a must for every homeowner. Repairing shallow cracks resulting from rapid change in outdoor temperatures is pretty much straightforward and doesn’t require having to pay for professional services. Knowing what to do will enable a homeowner to act immediately before the problem worsens. Cracks often start shallow and will become deeper when left unattended, which is why one has to perform a repair job before it worsens and becomes more expensive to fix.

A crack is considered shallow if it is about half an inch deep or less. The first step in this asphalt driveway repair procedure is to clean the crack completely, removing loose soil and other debris that may have entered it. Removing loose particles from the crack will make sure that the repair job will last for a long time. Once it is cleaned out, just pour the crack filler product of your choice into the crack, making sure that it completely fills it up all the way to the surface.

Generally speaking, liquid crack filler is used for the narrow ones while a more solid crack filler is required for wider cracks. If you used the liquid type for this asphalt driveway repair DIY project, you will need a squeegee to even out the filler that have reached the surface. Using a square nosed shovel or a trowel will work better on cracks that have been filled with a more solid type of crack filler. Whichever material you use, you will have to let it cure for at least one to two days before doing the final step.

This final step is called seal coating. This simply means applying a seal coat product over the repaired crack. It will make sure that the asphalt driveway repair job you did will last long. Seal coating allow the asphalt to retain its flexible properties so that it can adjust better to the outdoor environmental conditions. The consequence of not doing this is the frequent reappearance of cracks because the crack filler or the asphalt itself has become brittle. Seal coating a repaired shallow crack is as simple as applying the seal coat over the repaired spot using a squeegee or broom.

It is recommended to check any repairs made after six months, making sure that the filler and seal coat are still intact. There are cases when the asphalt driveway repair was not properly done, causing water to seep into the crack. This in turn will cause bigger problems such as making the crack deeper or even causing potholes to develop.