When hosting a gathering, most people seek to impress their guests. As you tidy up your home’s interior, don’t neglect the areas outside your home. Your driveway will be the first surface your guests make contact with upon their arrival — if your asphalt features countless cracks and holes, you’ll be opening at a deficit. Regular asphalt maintenance will help prevent these problems from occurring, and a fresh paving job will certainly “wow” your guests. However, when you’ve only got a few days to prepare, you’ll need a quick fix to your driveway’s deterioration. Here’s how to repair large cracks in your asphalt driveway well before your guests arrive.
How to Repair Cracks in a Driveway
Clean the Cracks
All renovations require some preparation before the process in question, and asphalt crack repair is no exception. You’ll want to make sure the crack is in as pure a state as possible before attempting to repair it. As such, your first step should be to clear away any debris from the area, which includes removing any weeds or moss that may be poking through your driveway’s openings. Then, using a steel brush, firmly go over the crack to clear away any loose material. As a final measure, blast the crack with an air compressor to remove any additional loose material that’s fallen into the crack. While a pressure washer can help with this cleaning process, consider that you want the crack to be completely dry before repairing it, so avoiding water will speed up the process (and also reduce the risk of moisture intrusion, which can cause further damage).
Fills Cracks with the Right Product
Now that your driveway’s cracks are fully excavated, the next course of action is to fill them so they’re secure and level with the rest of the asphalt surface. There are numerous asphalt pothole and crack filler products on the market, and some are better applied in particular conditions. For instance, if you’re filling asphalt cracks in cold weather, you’ll want to apply a filler that remains pliable when temperatures are low and endure despite the cold conditions. If using a liquid filler, it’s also important that you mix it properly so the material maintains a proper consistency when applied. After pouring, use a stirring stick or other flat tool to gently spread the surface-level liquid around the crack to ensure a proper seal. Depending on how deep your driveway’s cracks are and how much filler you pour in, you might need to apply multiple coatings about an hour or so apart, allowing each individual coating to set before adding another. If you’re low on filler, you might consider partially filling the cracks with sand or some other sediment before pouring in your filler solution.
Complete the Project by Sealing Your Driveway
After filling the cracks in your driveway, you’ll be left with a more even surface, but one that appears scarred by the dark, dried filler product. If you don’t want your guests to see your asphalt in such a state, you can re-seal your driveway after filling all cracks. Keep in mind, however, that a complete re-sealing project can take several days to complete, even with the help of professional asphalt paving contractors. Plus, the weather must be right. So, unless you have multiple days in a row (if not weeks) to prepare for your guests’ arrival, you might not get the chance to “seal the deal,” to speak.
Cracks are bound to form on any asphalt surface. At Cassidy Paving, we provide maintenance, repair, and installation services to help prevent asphalt problems, fix them in a timely manner, and provide fresh pavement when the time is right. Whatever your particular needs, call us today at 866-978-9788 for a free estimate on your next New England asphalt project.