Potholes are a plague on drivers just about everywhere — particularly for those who live in colder, snowier locations.
Let’s talk about what causes potholes in the first place, what the repair process looks like, and how using mixed asphalt can not only help fix them now, but also prevent them from creeping back up down the road.
What Causes Potholes?
Potholes form as a result of expansion and contraction during freeze-thaw water cycles, combined with the amount of traffic on the pavement. Water enters the ground beneath the pavement, and as the weight of cars and trucks pass over that weakened spot in the road, pieces of the pavement succumb to the pressure. This causes the material to break down, resulting in the foundational gaps we know as potholes.
For anyone who lives in colder climates, it won’t surprise you to learn that winter is prime time for asphalt damage, especially in cases of repeated melting and freezing. These conditions can quickly cause eggshell cracks or potholes to occur.
Fixing Potholes: the Repair Process
While spring is the optimal time to fix potholes for a number of reasons, repairs can still be made in winter as well, just with a bit more difficulty. If your driveway or roadway is presenting a public safety hazard, you may have no other choice.
If pothole repair cannot wait until spring, cold mix asphalt can be used to patch potholes at any time of year.
4 Steps for Repairing Potholes with Asphalt:
- CLEAN — Dirt and debris that can get in and under the pavement needs to be removed. Having pieces of broken pavement mixed in with the new pavement can weaken the repair.
- HEAT — Heating the hole removes any extra moisture that may be in the existing pavement and also softens the area so the new asphalt can be applied. The pothole can also be reshaped once it is softened and old asphalt can be removed or rejuvenated.
- FILL — Typically, hot mix asphalt is used for this repair. The asphalt needs to be compacted after applied to ensure the reduction of water penetration and to increase its resistance. The compaction creates a bond between the old and new asphalt pavement.
- COOL — The newly-laid asphalt will need time to cool before the repair can be considered “complete.” Any debris left around the repair is also removed. Most pothole repairs can be driven on immediately.
Using Cold-Mix Asphalt to Prevent Potholes
Potholes come in all shapes and sizes and your pothole repair mix should, too. In fact, the quality of the asphalt mix used to repair your pothole makes a big difference in the aesthetics and durability of your pothole repair.
Cold mix asphalt is more workable in colder weather than hot or warm mix asphalt. Cold mix is produced by mixing bitumen emulsion or cutback with cold aggregates, sometimes also with the addition of anti-stripping agents. Cold mix asphalt can also be used as a temporary patching material, or if hot mix asphalt is not available.
More benefits of cold mix asphalt:
- It can be used at low temperatures.
- It can also be put in stockpiles for six months or so after production.
- It remains more flexible than hot mix because of the extended cure time.
At Rock Road, we’re proud to use premium asphalt aggregates and innovative paving solutions for any and all repairs we make to the roads our communities depend on. And, because we source those materials from our own quarries, we’re able to create custom, top-of-line asphalt mixes and maintain the highest quality standards throughout our entire repair process.
Looking for an experienced partner to trust with your next project? Contact our team today and let Rock Road’s paving and infrastructure experts help you get things moving!