Asphalt patching and repair in the Treasure Valley
We cut back to solid pavement, rebuild the base, and lay three inches of asphalt. If a patch will not hold, we say so.
- A standard patch is three inches of compacted asphalt over about six inches of three-quarter inch crushed road mix.
- We patch where we can cut back to solid asphalt on all four sides. Where we cannot, a patch is a waste of your money.
- A crack wider than about an inch is past crack filling and needs a patch.
Which one do you actually need
Every commercial buyer with failing pavement is trying to answer whether they need a patch, an overlay, or a full repave. Here is the straight answer based on what the pavement dictates, not the budget.
When an overlay works
Only where the existing asphalt is still in reasonable shape. We clean the surface thoroughly, apply tack oil so the new layer bonds, use a finer mix rather than one with large aggregate, then place and compact it so it lays tight.
When an overlay does not work
Over severe alligator cracking, over existing potholes, or over widespread structural failure. Paving on top of a failed base buys a season. The new surface fails in the same places because nothing underneath it changed.
When a patch works
When we can cut back to solid asphalt on every side. That is the whole test.
When a patch does not work
If one edge is still cracked or alligatored, the patch cannot be expected to hold. The pavement around it keeps moving and the joint opens.
When it has to come out
Extensive deterioration, or nowhere to establish a stable perimeter.
"We look for solid asphalt on all four sides. If we cannot find it, a patch is not the answer and we will tell you that before we quote it."
If it is sinking, the problem is underneath
Cracking is a surface problem. Sinking is a base problem. When pavement goes down under load, the material below it has lost its structure, and sealing or patching the surface does not put that structure back.
Loaded trucks concentrate far more weight on a small area than any car does. Where the base has failed, the surface follows it down. Alligator cracking is base failure showing through, not a crack pattern that can be filled.
What goes into a patch
| Asphalt | Three inches compacted, and never less than about two |
|---|---|
| Base | About six inches of three-quarter inch crushed road mix |
| Base rule | Roughly twice the depth of the asphalt above it |
| Compaction | In about two inch lifts |
| Depth on an existing lot | Matched to the pavement already there |
Water during compaction
Crushed aggregate compacts to a much higher density damp than dry. It is invisible in the finished job and it is exactly the step a crew working to a price leaves out. A base that looks finished and was compacted dry settles within a year.
Finished slightly high
We set a repair a little proud of the surrounding pavement rather than a little low, so it sheds water. A patch that finishes low becomes a puddle, and a puddle becomes the next failure.
At an uncurbed edge, we add a shoulder of landscaping rock or three-quarter inch minus to support the asphalt. It makes a ramp instead of a drop, and it stops cars, trailers and trucks from pulling off the edge and breaking it away.
What patching costs in the Treasure Valley
| Where a paver has to come out | About $2,500 minimum, regardless of area |
|---|
Bringing a paver means an extra truck, a trailer, crew setup and the time to mobilize. That cost is the same whether we pave 200 square feet or 2,000, which is why larger jobs carry a lower price per square foot and why very small paving jobs have a floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the base. If we can cut back to solid asphalt on all four sides, a patch will hold. If there is extensive deterioration, alligator cracking, or no stable perimeter, the area needs to be torn out and repaved. Patching over a failed base is a waste of money.
A standard commercial patch should be three inches of compacted asphalt over about six inches of three-quarter inch crushed road mix. We match the depth of the existing lot, but never lay less than about two inches.
Where a paver has to come out, the minimum is about $2,500. Bringing a paver requires an extra truck, a trailer, specific crew setup, and travel time. That mobilization cost is the same whether we pave 200 or 2,000 square feet.
Alligator cracking is an indicator of base failure, not a simple surface problem. The structure beneath the asphalt has lost its integrity, meaning the area needs to be cut out and patched rather than just sealed.
No. Filling an existing pothole with an overlay or a superficial patch is a temporary band-aid. The failed area must be saw-cut, removed, and rebuilt from the base up.
A crack wider than about an inch is past the point of simple crack filling. It usually indicates structural movement and requires a proper cut-out and asphalt patch to stabilize.