Driveway damage can start as a small crumbling spot in Tukwila, WA. If you live around Tukwila, you already know how our local weather treats pavement. Between the constant winter dampness and those heavy delivery trucks rumbling through neighborhoods near Tukwila International Boulevard, asphalt takes a very heavy beating.
Before you grab a bag of cold patch from the hardware store, Mighty Asphalt Solutions wants you to look at what you can realistically tackle on a Saturday afternoon versus when you need to bring in a crew like Mighty Asphalt Solutions.
Before You Start: Assessing the Damage
Take a close look at the problem area in your Asphalt. Is it a shallow surface depression or a small surface-level pothole? If it is less than a couple of inches deep and the surrounding pavement is still solid, you are a good candidate for a do-it-yourself fix. But if the ground underneath is sinking, or if you see alligator cracking spreading out like a web across half your Asphalt driveway, a simple patch will not cut it. That usually points to a failing sub-base, which requires heavy equipment and professional Asphalt grading in Tukwila.
During the Project: Doing It Right
If you are tackling a minor hole yourself, preparation is very important. You cannot just dump Asphalt patching material into a dirty hole and expect it to stick. Here is our checklist for getting Asphalt Repair right:
- Clear out all dirt, loose gravel, and old crumbling Asphalt using a stiff wire brush.
- Make sure the hole is completely dry. If it rained yesterday—which happens about every other day around Tukwila—give the Asphalt time to dry out.
- Pack your Asphalt cold mix down in layers rather than filling a deep hole all at once. Tamping it tight with a heavy tamper tool makes all the difference for Asphalt Paving durability.
If you skip the cleaning and compacting steps, that Asphalt patch will pop right back out the first time someone drives over it.
After the Patch: Curing and Protection
Once your Asphalt patch is packed down flat, give the Asphalt time to cure. Cold mix can take a few weeks to fully harden under traffic weight. Keep heavy vehicles off the patched Asphalt spot for at least a few days. Once the weather warms up and the Asphalt patch has cured, applying a quality Asphalt sealcoat helps lock out moisture and protects your hard work from breaking down.
When the Asphalt job is too big for a shovel and a bag of mix, homeowners in Tukwila do not need to waste their weekends fighting it. Mighty Asphalt Solutions provides Asphalt services for homes in Tukwila, WA.