Potholes breed. In no time at all, potholes on the street outside your home can breed smaller potholes in your driveway or even a walkway. Fortunately, you don't have to wait for the road crew to get an asphalt surface repaired. You can fix it. Here's how.

How Does It Work?

Asphalt is a dark brown or black tarlike substance found in petroleum deposits. Heated up and mixed with crushed rock or other materials, asphalt becomes a relatively hard, smooth surface to support cars and people. In addition to being used on public roads, asphalt is popular for paving residential and commercial driveways, walkways, and paths.

Caution!

Don't be taken in by unscrupulous workers who come to your door and offer to repair your driveway for a small fee. All they may do is spread used motor oil over the driveway. The repairs they perform may not last any longer than it takes for them to leave town.

What Can Go Wrong?

Asphalt can crack, especially in cold areas where freeze/thaw cycles are common. Small cracks let in water that will freeze and expand, causing existing minor damage to become major. Periodic sealing will help keep cracks from starting, but won't prevent damage caused by settling of the ground or improper installation of the asphalt.