Potholes are the scourge of drivers, with their capacity to damage wheels, tires, steering and suspension. Councils and local authorities are often lobbied to deal with potholes and poor road surfaces, but how are potholes repaired and which method is best? The team at UK Surfacings are on hand to explain it all. 

What are potholes?

Potholes are holes in the road caused by the expansion and contraction of water in the ground. As water freezes, it expands, and this causes the road to crack. The ice then melts, and the loss of volume then leaves a gap, which means the road surface is weaker. Over time, this process is repeated which leads to potholes forming. 

How do you repair potholes?

There are two common methods of repairing potholes; cold patch repair and hot asphalt repair. Here, we’ll look at both and run through their benefits and disadvantages.

Cold patch repair

Cold patch repair makes use of pre-mixed asphalt to fill the pothole. The mix is poured into the pothole and packed as tightly as possible – that’s all there is to it. This is a popular choice with property owners as it’s very straightforward and can be done without any professional assistance. A drawback of cold patch repair is that it isn’t too effective; the pothole isn’t sealed through this method, so you may find that the asphalt comes loose and you’ll need to fill the pothole again.

Hot mix asphalt repair

This is a lengthy process, but the end results are worth the time. Before the pothole is filled, the pavement around it is excavated. This excavated area is then filled with hot asphalt – this means that the causes of the pothole are dealt with, as well as the crater in the surface itself. Hot mix asphalt repair is long-lasting, too – the problem will be permanently solved, so the pothole won’t need repairing again. 

Overall, it is advisable to opt for hot mix asphalt repair when it comes to fixing potholes. The initial cost of a hot asphalt repair is higher than cold patch repair, but with the former the pothole will be permanently fixed, whereas the latter only provides a temporary solution.

UK Surfacings Ltd are proud to provide comprehensive professional surfacing works for customers across Surrey, Croydon and the surrounding areas. We deliver the highest standard of work for domestic and commercial customers alike, whether it’s road repairs or driveways, playground resurfacings or pavement lowering. Get in touch with us today to find out more.