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Pothole Repair In Winter

Winter asphalt repair is a big no-no. Winter conditions are less than ideal – the cold and moisture make it impossible to carry out any paving or maintenance project. That is the reason why all asphalt projects are completed by autumn or delayed until spring.

However, what if you can’t wait till spring arrives?

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The thawing and freezing cycle causes a significant amount of damage to asphalt surfaces in winter. And since the winter season in Greater Stockton Area is cold and wet, it is perfect for fostering damage to your pavement.

Tiny cracks are of no consequence as we can wait it out till spring to fix them, but potholes are an entirely different story. If you didn’t repair and seal coat your surface before winter, potholes are more than likely to appear. However, unlike with cracks, we can’t wait till the conditions improve to repair potholes.

Potholes can result in accidents and car damage and are even a hazard for people crossing the road – especially if their visibility is hindered by the layer of snow covering it.

On top of that, if potholes aren’t filled, moisture can enter into the pavement and seep into the base and sub-base layers, causing more damage that might require repaving. Winter pothole repair is about damage control. Since the conditions are unsuitable for a permanent solution like hot asphalt mix, a cold patch is used to fix the issue temporarily.

Applying a cold asphalt patch is relatively simple; the task can be done in four steps.

1. Remove Loose Asphalt & Debris

Clear out all loose asphalt piece, debris, ice, and snow from the pothole (Water removal depends on the type of mix being used). Use a shovel for the large debris and a broom to sweep the loose sand and smaller debris.

2. Cut The Damaged Sides

This isn’t a critical step for throw-and-go asphalt mixes; it is mostly used for a hot mix. Use a pavement saw to cut out the uneven damaged sides of the asphalt from around the pothole. Make a clean cut from where the good pavement starts, and clear out the cut asphalt material.

3. Fill The Pothole With The Cold Mix

Fill the pothole with the cold mix, overfilling the hole by around 25%. Use a flat-edge shovel to flatten the material.

4. Compact The Cold Patch

Tamp the mixture with a tamper or asphalt vibrating plate compactor. You can also put plywood over the area and drive over it. If your pavement is riddled with potholes, all of which you are repairing, then you can even bring in an asphalt roller.

After the cold patch is compacted, you can immediately open the area for traffic. Heavy-duty vehicles will be suitable for the patch as the pressure will help work the cold mix better into every crevice, so the material doesn’t loosen or come out.

Action Asphalt Paving & Maintenance Inc. offers expert pothole repair in the Greater Stockton AreaClick here to get a quote.