Asphalt driveway cracks

[thatguy]

Our driveway is 12 yrs old and has started to develop several cracks. I had it professionally sealed a few years ago and the guy said it was still in good shape and didnt need to be repaved. it appears the cracks are from the the asphalt contracting as it ages OR from the ground shifting. The driveway is +200 feet long and only has 2 cracks, so its not like it was a poor install.

It has 2 cracks that are less than 1" wide (one was a seam from it being laid and they stopped to get another load of asphalt) and have not started to 'alligator' crack out.

The driveway sealer used hot liquid tar to seal the crack, then sealed the driveway. The cracks returned and i have tried different sealers from Lowes/Home depot - 1 was the tar strips you melts into the crack (several times) with a propane torch, the other was a puddy you spread one (like spackle). Each last about a yr then the cracks come back.

When it rains water is going into these cracks so i dont want it freezing/thawing and becoming a bigger issue..

Suggestions on a more permanent repair? Im thinking of cutting out the cracks and refilling with a tamped down, cold patch mix asphalt..

i saw a product online that was like a 6" wide tape you put down then heated to cover the cracks - but I can't find a retail source for it.

OR do i just keep filling in the cracks each year..

brian

 

[thatguy]

The tape product i originally found is for commercial use because it comes in HUGE sheets..

this is something i found on amazon that would be similar - but this needs to be heated to melts it in.. Covering the crack may work better than the tar strips you push into the crack and then heat to melt


https://www.amazon.com/EWT-Asphalt-...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[shovelmike]

We get the crack sealer in the squirt bottle to do the major ones and the buckets of sealer to coat the whole thing. We do it every year, but go the extra money for the "8 year" stuff. I don't know if it's any better than the cheaper stuff, but either one is a lot cheaper than letting the driveway crumble and having it redone.

 

[RNeumann]

I don’t think the cut and cold pack is a good choice.

I’ve always “maintained” asphalt yearly. Sealing cracks with whatever caulking had the best reviews. I’d also fog seal or slurry every other year or so.

 

[Streetcar]

Do not cut and repair with cold patch you will have a mess as cold patch is not as durable as hot mix asphalt. Just keep sealing crack as they appear and use top coat sealer on entire driveway every couple of years . Homeowner grade material is not as good as professional hot applied sealer

 

[Deere Dude]

I used 1 foot square tar blocks from Lowes. Heat a chunk up using an outside turkey fryer burner while in a steel container of some sort. When liquid, use welding gloves and carry to crack and fill. I filled lots of cracks doing something like that but I preheated the crack with a weed burner.

 

[thatguy]

I don’t think the cut and cold pack is a good choice.

I’ve always “maintained” asphalt yearly. Sealing cracks with whatever caulking had the best reviews. I’d also fog seal or slurry every other year or so.

fog seal? what is that?

 

[thatguy]

I used 1 foot square tar blocks from Lowes. Heat a chunk up using an outside turkey fryer burner while in a steel container of some sort. When liquid, use welding gloves and carry to crack and fill. I filled lots of cracks doing something like that but I preheated the crack with a weed burner.

I have never seen the tar blocks at Lowes.. Are they with the driveway stuff or another section..

b

 

[RNeumann]

fog seal? what is that?

It’s a spray on coat (read light coat) vs one that is laid with a squeegee (read heavier/thicker coat).

 

[/pine]

The box stores carry a product that is similar to what the DOT uses to fill cracks...it comes in like a gallon jug with an elongated spout for application...it's important to keep it well shaken....I sealed some cracks over 10 years ago and they have never re-opened...

Good Luck...

 

[bigtiller]

I'm not putting one more dollar or drop of sweat into our asphalt driveway.
When it gets to be too much of an eyesore, it will get replaced with 6" or more of concrete.

 

[Deere Dude]

I used 1 foot square tar blocks from Lowes. Heat a chunk up using an outside turkey fryer burner while in a steel container of some sort. When liquid, use welding gloves and carry to crack and fill. I filled lots of cracks doing something like that but I preheated the crack with a weed burner.

I have never seen the tar blocks at Lowes.. Are they with the driveway stuff or another section..

b

I got the idea using those blocks from a asphalt repair and resurface guy. They have a bigger operation and they can throw a big cube in their heater. Me, I have to break them down to melt them.

I went to Lowes and they had a couple pallets of blocks way in the back of the store. If I recall I had to go to the contractor desk and they steered me to them... If I bought a pallet the price was very reasonable, so I got a pallet. I think it sells for $35-40 a cube, but goes quite a ways. Just if you cannot see the bottom of the crack just fill with sand and then sweep out the top 1/2" or so. This is so not much will be wasted.

I went through my driveway 3 years ago and most are good yet.