How to Fix a Hole in an Asphalt Driveway

Co-authored by Sina Kamran

Last Updated: January 29, 2024

Potholes or other damage to an asphalt driveway can often be filled in with cold asphalt filler. Here are some steps to help you have a successful project repairing your driveway.

Steps

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A small pothole, less than two feet square can be repaired with about 50 pounds of cold mix asphalt filler.
Cold asphalt filler (a mixture of asphalt tar and rocks) is sold in plastic bags similar in size to cement bags weighing 50 pounds, and buckets ranging from one gallon to five gallons.

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If the material in the hole is dry soil, you may want to use a garden hose to dampen it because the tar will not stick to dry dirt.^{[1]
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You can also use a fan or blow dryer if you are in a hurry.
Fill in holes that are more than three or four inches deep with a material that can be compacted tightly, such as clay, crushed concrete, or crushed limestone. For repairs where the material underneath the patch is not capable of being compacted with normal methods, you may want to over-excavate the hole and pour concrete to about two inches below the finished pavement grade to stabilize the area.^{[2]
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This will leave the finished patch level with the pavement after it is packed.^{[3]
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Make sure the cold asphalt mix is packed firmly into the hole or you will find the patch will fail quickly when it is exposed to traffic.^{[4]
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You can put a board or piece of plywood over the fix for a few days to ensure that it hardens more but this is optional. If you packed it down tightly, it can be driven over immediately.^{[5]
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Question

What should the outside temperature be to use a coldpatch?

Community Answer

Above 65F, but I caution that really warm weather would keep it soft for a long time. A lot of people have an issue with it not setting up for a long time.

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What if the patch doesn't harden? Ours is still sticky and soft after two weeks.

Community Answer

You can use Aquapatch, which provides a permanent repair and hardens within an hour.

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Question

Should I apply a sealer coat after packing/tamping it down?

Community Answer

You could. However, the asphalt in cold patch needs time to set up -- sometimes up to six months. Read the curing time on the package before applying a sealer on top of it. It is not necessary to put sealer on top of a patch, though.

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Tips

For repairs larger than two square feet, a plate compactor is very useful.

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If you want, you can undermine the pavement adjacent to the patch so the new patch material will support edges weakened by the event that caused the original pothole.

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Tar will wash off of your hands with a good mechanic's hand cleaner, be careful using solvents like mineral spirits, lubricants, or other chemicals as they can be harmful to your skin.

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Warnings

Big holes will sag a little when cars drive over them so don't be afraid to fill the hole ¹⁄₄ inch (0.6 cm) higher in the center. The cars driving over will lower the filler with time.

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