What's The Best Way To Fill Potholes In Driveway?

If you have ever driven down the road and hit a pothole, you will know the kind of damage it can do to your car. 

If you have potholes (even minor ones) in your driveway, you are driving over them every day-and could subject your car to this damage constantly. 

They can cause damage, but they also look unattractive too. 

Fixing the potholes in your driveway can be tricky. You can go for short term solutions, or the more expensive long term options, but one thing is for sure - you need to get them fixed. 

Here, we show you a few ways to do the job right and your options if you want a pothole-free driveway for good...

Most potholes start as small cracks or holes in the surface of your driveway. In the Winter months, these cracks can fill with water that then freezes, causing potholes to appear

How Are Potholes Formed?

Have you ever noticed that the roads are always littered with potholes after a particularly bad spell of weather? 

This is because a pothole is almost always the result of water combined with a failure to fix small problems when they arise.

Most potholes start as small cracks or holes in the surface of your driveway. In the Winter months, these cracks can fill with water that then freezes. 

As the water inside the crack freezes, it expands and can make the crack larger. The larger the crack, the more prone it will be to crumbling around the edges. As your car drives over it, the hole becomes larger and larger and turns into a nasty pothole.

The other main issue is that the opening crack becomes susceptible to water getting in and under the surface of your driveway.

If there is no suitable drainage in place, the water will erode the ground beneath the crack, causing holes and uneven sections that will cause damage to the top surface. 

As you drive over it, more cracks appear, and before you know it, a huge hole has suddenly appeared.

Asphalt surfaces are particularly prone to crumbling; consequently, potholes will quickly begin to form if the ground beneath starts to subside

How Can I Repair Potholes In My Drive?

The way you approach repairing potholes in your driveway will depend on the type of surface you already have:

●    Gravel - It is easy to repair a pothole in your gravel driveway. Most of these will be caused by erosion of the soil beneath the gravel and by the sinking of the stones into the soft earth as you drive over it. You simply need to expose the earth beneath, add some extra soil to make it more level, compact this and then add extra gravel over the top. You are likely to need to do this regularly as it is hard to control how water will affect a gravel driveway.
●    Concrete - Potholes in a concrete driveway are almost always due to cracks that have expanded or possibly due to a substandard concrete mix. If it is the former - you should repair the cracks while they are small, if it is the latter, you may need to lay a new driveway. You can buy concrete repair kits from your DIY store and it can be done as a DIY job. You simply need to remove the old concrete from the hole, neaten the edges by chipping away until there is no more crumbling and then pour in new concrete, feathering the edges.
●    Asphalt - This surface is prone to crumbling and potholes will easily form if the ground beneath starts to subside. The holes can usually be patched relatively easily by adding in new asphalt material to a cleaned and prepared pothole.These areas should blend quite well with the existing, however it is wise to look into why this is happening as you might need to do some remedial work on the ground beneath to avoid it for the future.
●    Paved - You are unlikely to see potholes as such on a paved driveway as the pavers will not individually crack or crumble. However you may see sunken sections that start to shift and move. The best way to fix these is to remove the pavers, refill and level the earth below and replace the paving stones.

As potholes are mainly formed by water getting into places it shouldn't, your focus should be on using a porous surface, which will ensure adequate drainage for your drive

What's The Best Way To Fill Potholes In Driveway For Good?

Of course the best way to avoid having to fix a pothole is to avoid one developing in the first place. Ultimately, this comes down to the way that your driveway is constructed. 

As potholes are mostly formed by water getting into places it shouldn’t, your focus on your driveway should be on using a porous surface, and having excellent drainage as well.

The drainage to your driveway can be supplied in a number of ways. The easiest and most common is to ensure there is a good layer of compacted hard core beneath the top surface. 

This can include rubble and stones that capture the water, redistribute it, and allow it to trickle slowly to the earth beneath, where it is absorbed slowly, and will not cause subsidence.

Another form of drainage for your driveway is to make sure the slope of the drive is towards a garden or lawned area.

Alternatively, you can include drainage pipework to funnel water away from the driveway and towards waste water drains or a soakaway.

Fixing small cracks and holes as soon as they appear is also an excellent way to prevent potholes from forming. 

This should be done before every Winter as this is the time when those cracks will expand. Most driveway surfaces can be repaired at least superficially in the short term. 

Of course the very best way to prevent potholes is to choose a driveway surface that will last and will not crack, such as resin bound material.

Resin bound driveways are known for their longevity, and can last as long as 30 years with no cracking, fading, or crumbling-making them the perfect long-term investment!

Put Potholes To Rest One And For All With Resin Bound Surfacing

A resin bound driveway consists of aggregate of your colour choice that has been mixed in a special mixer with a hard wearing yet flexible resin. 

This mixture is pressed onto an asphalt base that has, in turn, been laid onto a hard core base for excellent drainage. 

The overall process focuses on the parts of the driveway you don’t really see - such as the compacted earth, the hard core for drainage, and an asphalt base that is strong and level. The result is a top coat that will truly last.

Resin bound driveways are known for their longevity, and can last as long as 30 years with no cracking, fading or crumbling. 

When correctly laid by a professional contractor, the results are also stunning - making them increasingly popular for those looking for a hardwearing and attractive driveway.

When it comes to potholes, resin bound virtually eliminate them. The surface is porous and will allow water to seep through easily. No water sits on the surface of your driveway and therefore it cannot cause any damage. 

Additionally, the material is flexible enough to remain crack-free, even when under pressure from heavy vehicles. 

But the main reason resin bound works so well to avoid potholes is the fact it is laid on a solid foundation-and one that is professionally prepared to do a long term job.

Potholes are an expensive and annoying issue to fix (just ask any city council!) so surely, the extra money spent at the start of the job to do it right, and with the best materials, is a very worthwhile investment. Prevent them from the outset by investing in resin bound surfacing. Simply call 0800 1700 636 to get the ball rolling today!