HOW TO: Blacktop Driveway Pothole Repair

Springtime pothole repair on 'this old driveway' using Quikcrete Commercial Grade Blacktop Repair.
Bob has been a KZbinr since 2010, sharing decades of landscaping and gardening experience in videos on BOBscaping (the "channel"). We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the channel, provided that you comply fully with these Terms & Conditions. All data and information provided on BOBscaping is for informational and entertainment purposes only. BOBscaping makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of information on this site and will not be held liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. Use your discretion before making any decisions based on anything you have seen here.

[@Ben-xm6li]

Great video-- thanks! Planning to do this to some spots on my driveway soon.

[@bobscaping]

This patch has held well and it's that time of year to apply some asphalt sealer to that area and others.

[@Demebeso714]

Thank You!!!!!

[@bobscaping]

You're welcome!

[@cpldet]

Thank you.

[@bobscaping]

You're welcome!

[@dch.projects]

That tamper is genius.

[@bobscaping]

LOL... glad you noticed! The fancy, store-bought metal one I had was too wide for the job, so that former wooden post hole dirt tamper filled the bill.

[@lanceprzybyla7662]

I have a propane torch...heat the materials and tamper up...them tamp it in...a first application of " tac coat " helps...then when dry...trowel Crack fill..let it dry...then sealcoating for the win!

[@bobscaping]

Thanks for sharing! I had to redo that pothole repair after our brutal freeze-thaw winter of 2021-22, using the same techniques as the first time, so we'll see how long that lasts. The driveway has so many cracks now, that sealing them just about covers the entire driveway. LOL

[@lanceprzybyla7662]

@@bobscaping .......yup always something....have you tried " gator patch ".....I haven't.... but some I've seen gave and liked it... cheaper than ripping it all up.... Have a great day Bud 👍!

[@andrewcampbell6276]

When I worked on the roads , we used diesel to clean the tools .

[@bobscaping]

Thanks for the tip!

[@stitchedpumpkin5905]

A new driveway costs $16k. Just had ours estimated. A repair and reseal costs $5 to $6k. DO NOT COAT TOOLS WITH OILY MATERIAL - THIS WILL CAUSE FAILURE TO SEAL. Not vacuuming or washing the hole will cause failure to bond, initially, ever, at all - like painting on sawdust, you basically filled over top dirt, and now it can't adhere to the material that's already present. There is not a sufficient amount in that hole. That is alligator cracking meaning it needs to be dug up and have a new sub base installed. Basically, you'll need a new driveway in 5 to 10 years, so you're short cutting and not spending much money, time, or effort. I'd suggest to anyone else in a similar boat to try JUST A BIT MORE than this but... not much. If this isn't sealed, it'll start bucking / upheaving, and you'll need leveler.

[@bobscaping]

Thank you for all your comments. This pothole patch has actually held-up extremely well (need to do another follow-up video I guess). The patched area and the entire driveway were sealed a year later, as you recommended, and it's due again in September/October before the leaves fall, especially since it was skipped last year. Sunken "ruts" in the two tire track areas clearly prove your point -- that a better stone base is needed -- of course running heavy trucks over it daily for years sure didn't help! I've been sealing it every year or two, throwing on $100 bandaids so to speak, to avoid spending the thousands of dollars you mentioned. No plans to change that strategy yet! Latest investment was a Tesla solar system for the roof, which lowered our last electric bill to $7, even with car charging and heavy AC use in 80 to 90 degree weather. Thanks for watching the Bobscaping channel.

[@TheoSakoutis]

Great video, thanks for posting. A couple of questions. First, how long does the remaining product keep once the bag has been opened? Second, how long does the repair need to cure before you can apply a sealer? Any and all advice will be appreciated..

[@bobscaping]

That product seemed to keep pretty well with the bag tightly closed for storage. That patched area stayed rather soft for longer than I expected, and I waited a full year before applying asphalt sealer. BTW, that patch is still holding up very well.

[@twinntibbsdiesel7141]

I feel you old timer lol I'm 51yrs old and need a kneeling pad too or I sit on a 5 gallon bucket lmao

[@bobscaping]

Roger that! Just preparing to upload the latest asphalt sealing video of "this old driveway", spent part of two days on it, and can barely walk, charley horse, etc! LOL

[@bobscaping]

New asphalt sealing video now live with a fresh look at this pothole repair: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmrXd2qcja-bgs0

[@chiefbiglew]

it would take 6 guys 2 hours to flii a hole that size on our road crews

[@bobscaping]

They're looking for snowplow drivers here in PA

[@jaydean7924]

YINZER!

[@bobscaping]

...and we know potholes, eh!

[@professorstein5855]

This appears to be step 1. Wouldn't you want to put a sealer on it and fix all the other cracks around it as well?

[@bobscaping]

Correct. It needed to fully "cure" and harden before it could be sealed along with the rest of the driveway, and here is a follow-up video prior to that work being completed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZPSomuYp9R_h7c

[@Anthony-bl5rm]

So i have the task of fixink about 8 pot holes that are about 3 to 4 times bigger then this. How would i calculate the job just for labor if they provide materials?

[@bobscaping]

Do you think it would take you half a day (4 hours?) If so, multiply that times your hourly rate.

[@stevesiefken6432]

How long until it dries? Does it stick to the tires of your car? Shoes?

[@bobscaping]

This product did stay soft and sticky longer than expected, so the solution was adding more grit on top of the patch, and driving around the repaired area for one week.

[@johnmaynard8884]

You almost hert the asphalt.

[@bobscaping]

Just got done repeating that procedure on that same area since winter here was pretty harsh.

[@dooshman13]

Grandfather! go home, you can hardly breathe, ...

[@bobscaping]

LOL.... harder to breath when bending over with a big stomach!

[@williamjackson5942]

An excellent example of how not to do it!

[@bobscaping]

That patch has actually held up very well.

[@jackdoyle3863]

Any suggestions as to how to improve this example? Or just a useless comment on your part?

[@jlocke62]

From personal experience, I recommend digging out to at least two inches, and filling to 1/2 inch above surrounding asphalt before tamping. I have made several patches, and this method has shown the best (longest lasting) results.

[@bobscaping]

Thanks for the input, I added some other follow-up comments on this project below, but will add that the "height" of this patch worked out well, not too high or low. Now that this patch fully hardened and cooler fall weather is due, it's time to think about seal-coating this patch and the surrounding cracks.

[@Anthony-bl5rm]

In doing patch jobs like this. How can i calculate the job . they are providing the material.

[@reaper-sz5tm]

@@Anthony-bl5rm just charge them $50 an hour

[@janebrady2204]

thanks!

[@bobscaping]

Even though that asphalt patch material stayed soft longer than I expected, it finally cured to a very solid repair.

[@themalvinasargentinas]

I have used a torch before to do little patches like this......heating it up with a torch bonds very well and better. Good video tho.

[@bobscaping]

Jonatan - I just posted a follow-up video on this repair: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZPSomuYp9R_h7c Thanks for watching BOBscaping on KZbin!

[@jorgehidalgo9480]

Good video sir. Any chance you do a follow-up with the filler 30 days later?

[@bobscaping]

Great idea, will work on doing that. In the meantime, a follow-up report... This product stayed "soft" much longer than I expected, it took a month to fully harden, which would be much more of an issue with a larger patch. It looks great now, has held well so far.

[@jorgehidalgo9480]

Agree. I used a similar product a few days ago and it's still fairly soft. Guess I'll have to wait the 30 days to fully harden.

[@gabrielgonzales8163]

construcciones concreto guud wor

[@bobscaping]

Follow-up video on this driveway repair has been posted: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZPSomuYp9R_h7c Thanks for watching BOBscaping!

[@hardset-vi3ze]

Not too bad but my guess is, this is your first repair? Time will tell shortly but water is going to get down in the checking and "spider cracks" and cause further damage over the winter. Also build it up higher than the surrounding areas and as it settles and compacts further, hopefully it will be the same level as the existing surface.

[@bobscaping]

Hello Jack, I just posted a follow-up video for you to see how well this blacktop pothole repair has held up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZPSomuYp9R_h7c Thanks for watching the BOBscaping Channel on KZbin!

[@BobJones-fc3ef]

@@bobscaping lots of trolls and hecklers on here. If they could do better they should be making their own video!

[@NateAlex10]

I was begging to see the shop-vac suck it clean!

[@bobscaping]

Ha, must be a holdover from my younger days when our boss at the gas station had us sweep out car interiors with a whisk broom after we washed them. Just to date that further for you, gas was 35-cents a gallon!

[@NateAlex10]

... I just like the sound of shop-vac sucking up such debris. Now I have to search for "shop vac sucking up debris" video.

[@thomasstoys7688]

Would have been better off using Aquaphalt, it's much more durable. Quikcrete is flimsy.

[@bobscaping]

Even though this patch material remained soft longer than I expected it has hardened to a nice patch that has held very well.

[@bobscaping]

Still looks good after a harsh 2017-18 winter!

[@NytronX]

$100 for 3.5 gallons. Yeah no thanks.

[@williamjackson5942]

@@NytronX The Sakcrete US cold patch product was second to Aquaphalt in consumer reports and is much cheaper. The product that was used here was not even mentioned.

[@NytronX]

No need to work off your knees. Get a pointy and a flat shovel, a real broom, and a proper steel tamper @ Harbor Freight.

[@bobscaping]

I hear you... sold my metal tamper long ago, but it would have been too wide.

[@williamjackson5942]

@@bobscaping The digging bar with tamper on the other end would be the way to go if you insist on doing it this way, but it should be dug out squared off and tamped properly.

[@BraiytryeneGibbons]

Lol 😂 sounds like your out of breath

[@bobscaping]

My pants were probably too tight (-;