#The Complete Guide to Pothole Repair
**Potholes** are a common nuisance on roads across the country. These bowl-shaped holes in the pavement can cause significant damage to vehicles and pose a safety hazard to drivers. Learning how to properly repair potholes can help improve road conditions and prevent further deterioration.
##What Causes Potholes?
**Potholes** are caused by the expansion and contraction of pavement in areas that are prone to water accumulation. When water seeps into the ground beneath the pavement, it causes the material underneath to shift and settle. Over time, this results in cracks and weak spots in the pavement. Vehicular traffic further deteriorates these areas, and eventually chunks of pavement break free, forming potholes.
##Some of the most common causes of potholes include:
- Water saturation - From rain, melting snow, and runoff
- Freeze-thaw cycles - Water seeps in, freezes, thaws, and expands
- Poor drainage - Allowing water to pool under pavement
- Thin pavement - Insufficient pavement depth to withstand stress
- Poor subgrade preparation - Uncompacted or unstable base materials
- Increase in heavy traffic - Trucks and buses add more stress
##Dangers of Potholes
Driving over potholes can significantly impact vehicles and motorists. Some of the biggest concerns include:
- Suspension damage - Hitting a pothole can bend suspension components like control arms, break springs, and destroy shock absorbers. This causes uneven tire wear and poor handling.
- Wheel damage - Potholes can dent, crack, or bend wheels, throw off wheel alignment, and damage tire beads.
- Vehicle body damage - Bottoming out in a large pothole can crumple body panels, damage exhaust systems, and dislodge fuel tanks.
- Loss of control - Striking a pothole can startle drivers and cause them to jerk the steering wheel. This increases the chance of an accident.
- Injuries - Severe pothole impacts can cause drivers and passengers to hit their heads or sustain whiplash.
##How to Repair Potholes
Repairing potholes correctly involves carefully assessing the hole, preparing the area, applying new pavement material, and compacting it down. Here is an overview of the process:
Inspection
- Mark outline of pothole and surrounding damaged pavement with paint.
- Remove all debris, water, and crumbled material.
- Evaluate the size, shape, and depth of the hole. Measure diameter and depth.
- Determine if the failure extends below the pavement layer into the subgrade.
Preparation
- Make sure the area is completely dry before repairing.
- Use a pneumatic hammer to chip away and square off the edges around the pothole. Remove at least 6 inches beyond all edges.
- Excavate the pothole at least 6 inches deep or to solid base. Dense graded aggregate base is ideal.
- Compact the exposed base with a mechanical tamper to stabilize it.
Filling the Hole
- Apply tack coat around the edge and bottom. This helps bind the repair to existing pavement.
- Fill using hot asphalt mix, up to 1 inch below surrounding pavement.
- For large holes, fill in 2-3 inch lifts, compacting each layer. Let cool between layers.
- Make sure new material matches grade of old pavement. Slope for drainage.
- Compact thoroughly with a roller or tamper. Material should not displace or extrude up.
- Add a crown of extra material to allow for compacting. Trim excess material after compacting.
Finishing Up
- Fill any visible seams around repair perimeter with additional hot mix.
- Re-tack treated edges to seal patch.
- Apply sand to top layer to prevent excess tack from sticking to tires.
- Open repaired pothole to traffic once patch has cooled adequately.
With the proper technique and materials, pothole repairs can last for multiple years before deterioration recurs. Carrying out prompt repairs helps maintain safe roads and reduce costs from continued pavement damage.
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