Adding gravel to the hole

Step-by-Step

For a large damaged area, chip away loose asphalt and dig down about 12 inches or until you reach a solid base. Shovel in rocks and gravel to conserve patching material. Tamp the gravel down.

Adding and tamping asphalt

Purchase bags of cold-mix asphalt patching compound and apply it in 1- to 2-inch layers. Slice the patching compound with your shovel to open any air pockets. Tamp down each layer firmly with a tamper like the one shown or use the end of a 4x4.

Mounding and tamping

Keep adding and tamping patching compound until it is mounded about 1/2 inch above the surrounding surface. Tamp it firmly with a tamper. Sprinkle the patch with sand to prevent tracking, then drive a car back and forth over the patch to compact it until it is level.

Sealing the area

Seal the patch by pouring a generous amount of sealer on it and working it into the patch and the surrounding area. For the best results, use a roller or a squeegee designed for sealing driveways. For small areas, you can use a throwaway paint roller. To achieve a uniform appearance, seal the whole driveway.

Keying the hole

For cracks wider than 1/8 inch, chisel away crumbling asphalt and "key" the hole, making the bottom wider than the top. Scrape and brush away loose matter. (Cracks narrower than 1/8 inch can be filled just with sealer.)

Filling with liquid filler

Partially fill the crack with sand. Pour in liquid sealer or squeeze asphalt sealer that comes in a caulking tube into the crack. Smooth out the patch with an old putty knife or trowel.

Applying patching paste

Mix sand with liquid sealer until you get a pastelike consistency. Push the paste into the crack with a trowel or putty knife, making sure to cram it into every corner. Smooth the patch so it is just above the surrounding surface.