How to Repair an Asphalt Driveway

By
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

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Updated on 03/31/24
Reviewed by
Deane Biermeier
Deane Biermeier
Reviewed by Deane Biermeier
Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Barricade tape for a newly-sealed driveway to keep cars away

The Spruce / David Beaulieu

In This Article
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 2 - 4 days
  • Total Time: 2 wks
  • Yield: Repair medium-sized asphalt driveway
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $450 to $600

Repairing an asphalt driveway is necessary when the surface is extremely rough and crumbling, wide cracks develop, potholes open, or the edges crumble. The longer you wait, the worse these problems become.

The cost of repairing your own asphalt, from crack sealing to driveway sealer/filler, runs between $450 and $600. To avoid far costlier repairs in the future, learn about asphalt repair options, both DIY and professional.

Reasons to Repair an Asphalt Driveway

Repair an asphalt driveway when you notice:

  • Deep pits
  • Large holes
  • Rough pitting, difficult to sweep
  • Cracks wider than 1/4-inch

It is not time to repair the driveway when there is light pitting, oil stains, sealant peeling in small areas, the color has changed from black to gray, or when there are hairline cracks. These are typical conditions when an asphalt driveway ages.

Tip

A new driveway costs about $7,500, on average, so it's worth repairing the driveway to avoid replacement.

Best Time to Repair an Asphalt Driveway

Avoid temperature extremes, either hot or cold. While hot weather helps the cold patch asphalt pour easier, the filler can remain viscous for a long time before it cures. When outside temperatures are too cold, the cold patch will not pour freely. 

In cold seasons, store the cold patch filler in a conditioned space like a basement or mudroom to keep it warm. Move each bag outside as it is needed to fill the asphalt.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Tamping tool
  • Trowel
  • Old broom
  • Squeegee
  • Old screwdriver or putty knife
  • Caulking gun
  • Leaf blower

Materials

  • Cold patch asphalt filler
  • Liquid sealer
  • Trowel patch

Instructions

Repair your own asphalt driveway to extend its life by sealing cracks, troweling on patch material to smooth the rough surface, filling potholes, and surface-sealing it. Depending on the condition of the asphalt, you can use any of the repairs individually or all steps in succession as a complete DIY asphalt repair project.

  1. Plan for the Repair

    Plan well ahead since the entire timeline for this type of repair is three months. The cold patch asphalt needs a significant amount of time to cure before the driveway sealer/filler can be applied. Plan to fill the cracks, trowel on the patch material (if needed), and fill the potholes in one session, followed at least three months later with driveway sealing.

  2. Kill the Weeds

    Apply herbicide to weeds growing through cracks in the asphalt and give the weeds a week or two to die off.

  3. Fill the Cracks

    Cut dead weeds with a string trimmer. Scrape out the cracks with an old screwdriver or putty knife. Use a shop vacuum or leaf blower to remove debris from the cracks. Apply asphalt filler/sealer with a caulking gun.

  4. Trowel on the Patch Material

    With a trowel or a wide drywall knife, apply the trowel-on patch to low spots. Let the patch material cure for at least 48 hours.

  5. Fill the Large Holes With Cold Patch

    Pour the cold patch into holes as deep as 4 inches. For deeper holes, add base gravel to reduce the hole depth to 4 inches or less.

  6. Tamp the Cold Patch

    Cold patch asphalt must be firmly compacted for it to cure solidly. Let the patches cure for 3 months before applying driveway sealer/filler, though it can be walked on and driven on immediately afterward.

  7. Clean the Asphalt

    Clean off the asphalt by sweeping it with a push broom or by using a leaf blower. Dry cleaning methods are preferable over power washing to prevent trapping water under the sealant.

  8. Add the Driveway Sealer/Filler

    Sweep or squeegee on one or two coats of driveway sealer/filler.

When to Call a Professional

Holes over 2 feet by 2 feet wide are challenging to repair with cold patch asphalt. Asphalt that is severely crumbling on the edges is also difficult to repair since the asphalt edge continues to crumble. Call an asphalt contractor for more than a few spot repairs or resurfacing.

On potholes, an asphalt contractor will cut back asphalt to get to a stable edge to add hot-mix asphalt. Cracks will be repaired with asphalt filler/sealer. To smooth the surface, a sticky tack coat may be applied, followed by an overlay of hot-mix asphalt to a depth of up to 2 inches or more.

Asphalt driveway repairs by a contractor may cost from $1,000 to $3,800 for 600 square feet of driveway. Each pothole filled will cost about $100 to $300 per hole, depending on the size. Full replacement will cost from $2,800 to $6,500.

FAQ
  • How frequently should an asphalt driveway be sealed or recoated?

    As asphalt driveway should be sealed and recoated as needed or about every 15 to 20 years. Otherwise, there is no calendar schedule for sealing and recoating an asphalt driveway. If the driveway is in good condition, it's best not to seal and recoat it.

  • Can you put a new asphalt driveway over an old one?

    Yes, in many cases, you can put a new asphalt driveway over an old one. If the old driveway is deteriorated but still in substantially good condition, an asphalt overlay can be laid on top of the old asphalt. Asphalt overlays are up to 2 inches thick and less expensive to install than full-depth asphalt.

  • Can you replace a portion of an asphalt driveway?

    Yes, you can usually replace a portion of an asphalt driveway. The deteriorated section can be cut out or otherwise removed and filler or new asphalt added to that area.

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  1. How Much Does It Cost To Repair An Asphalt Driveway? HomeAdvisor