Written by Admin and published on https://todayshomeowner.com/A common problem for homeowners with asphalt driveways is sinking spots or potholes. An asphalt driveway often sinks because the underlying dirt used wasn’t properly compacted or contains decomposing debris. Regardless of the reason for the sinking, without proper maintenance, an asphalt driveway won’t last the 25 to 30 years it should. Before repairing an asphalt driveway, check the condition of the driveway. Car tire impressions indicate poor construction. If there’s tilting or heaving in the winter, and buckling in the spring, you may have a drainage problem you must attend to before or after fixing the driveway.
HOW TO FIX A SINKING ASPHALT DRIVEWAY
Have you ever thought about how long will and asphalt driveway last?. The sunken area is a car-length wide and two car-lengths long. I repaired it with two tons of asphalt, and since then it has sunk 6” to 8” more. Can you please give repair advice?”
-Steve
Asphalt driveways should be poured over a base of crushed stone, which is placed either on undisturbed grade, or on fill soil that has been mechanically compacted. When driveways sink, it’s most often because the underlying dirt was not properly compacted, or because the fill dirt contains debris (such as tree stumps) that are decomposing and collapsing underground. However, there can be some other causes:
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- Erosion and undermining of the soil bed due to improper rainwater drainage.
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- Underground collapse or erosion due to a broken buried pipe or underground stream.
- Environmental factors specific to your region and building site, such as sinkholes, unstable marshland, expansive soil, volcanic or seismic activity, or hillside erosion.
You’ve described some pretty significant sinking, more than I’d expect from normal soil settling. I’d take these steps:
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- If your home is fairly new, contact your builder. Improper compaction of the driveway subsoil is an issue that should be covered under your home’s warranty.
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- Contact your utility company, or dial 811 for a free identification of buried lines and cables. Not only is this a good safety measure, but it could also tell you if a broken buried line or pipe could be contributing to your problem.
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- Examine your downspouts and rainwater drainage. Make sure water isn’t running toward your driveway, pooling or eroding the soil underneath it.
- Contact a soil engineer, to determine exactly what’s going on underground – particularly to diagnose regional geologic conditions. You don’t want to keep on patching your driveway if it’s going to keep on sinking, and you really need to make sure there’s not an underlying problem that could grow worse or even affect your nearby home’s foundation.
Based on the soil engineer’s report, your repair may be as simple as another patch, or it may involve taking up the existing driveway and making extensive repairs to the subsoil. The repair may or may not be a DIY job, but you could really use a professional opinion (or more than one) for diagnosis and recommendations.
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