A lasting asphalt repair cuts the damaged area out with straight edges, removes the broken material, fixes any soft base underneath, applies a tack coat to the edges, fills it with hot-mix asphalt and compacts it. Cracks are filled with hot rubberized sealant. Cold patch from a bag is a temporary winter fix, not a repair. Driveway patching starts at $500.
What the damage is telling you
How a hot-mix patch is done right
- Cut square edgesThe damaged area is cut back to solid asphalt with straight edges. Ragged edges let water back in.
- Remove the broken materialLoose and broken asphalt comes out completely.
- Fix the baseIf the stone or soil underneath is soft, it is dug out and replaced with compacted stone. Skipping this is why patches sink.
- Tack the edgesA bonding coat on the cut edges and bottom helps the new asphalt bond to the old.
- Fill with hot mix and compactHot-mix asphalt is placed slightly high and compacted flush with the surrounding driveway so water runs off instead of pooling at the seam.
Cold patch vs. hot patch
Hot-mix asphalt has to be placed hot, so paving follows the plant calendar. Western New York hot-mix plants generally stop production in November and start again in April, which is why fall fills up fast. Cracks and potholes that show up in winter get a temporary cold patch until the plants reopen. Cold patch is useful in January to keep a pothole from getting worse, but it is a placeholder. When the plants reopen, the area should be cut out and patched with hot mix.
When repair is not the answer
If damage is spread across most of the driveway, repairs turn into an endless cycle. At that point a new overlay (if the base is sound) or a full replacement is the better use of money. We will tell you honestly which one your driveway needs.
Why Rochester driveways break down
Rochester averages about 102 inches of snow a year, with roughly 27 inches in January alone (National Weather Service normals for 1991 to 2020). That means months of plows, shovels, road salt, and water that melts in the afternoon and refreezes overnight. Every one of those freeze-thaw cycles pries open cracks a little wider. Fixing damage in fall, before the first hard freeze, is the cheapest time to do it.
Common questions
How much does driveway patching cost?
Driveway patching starts at $500. The final price depends on how many areas need work, how large they are, and whether the base underneath has to be dug out and rebuilt. The estimate is free and written out line by line. Military and seniors get 15% off with proper ID.
How do you fix large cracks in an asphalt driveway?
Cracks up to about an inch wide are cleaned and filled with hot rubberized sealant. Wider cracks, or cracks that have turned into broken blocks, are cut out and patched with hot-mix asphalt.
Will homeowners insurance cover driveway repair?
It depends on your policy and the cause. Normal wear and freeze-thaw cracking are generally treated as maintenance. Ask your insurance agent about your specific policy.
How do you fix a sunken spot in a driveway?
A sunken spot means the base underneath is soft. The asphalt is cut out, the soft material is dug out and replaced with compacted stone, and the area is patched with hot mix.
Can driveways be repaired in winter?
Only temporarily. Hot-mix plants in Western New York generally close from November to April, so winter repairs use cold patch until hot mix is available again.
Is it worth repairing an old driveway?
If the damage is limited to a few areas and the rest is sound, yes. If cracks and sinking are everywhere, repairs will not keep up, and an overlay or replacement costs less over time.
Related services
- Driveway Paving: New asphalt driveways built on a real base, graded to drain away from your house.
- Driveway Replacement: Tear-out and repave when cracking, sinking or crumbling is past repair.
- Driveway Sealing: Sealcoating that protects asphalt from water, salt and sun, applied in the right weather.
- Parking Lot Sealcoating: Commercial sealcoating done in sections so your lot stays open.