We’ve all had that moment. The one where we look at a big task and go, ‘You know what? I’ll figure this out myself’, before diving into a whole new world of DIY.
This can be amazing if you’re keen on adopting this new skill or have the time and money to learn it. But when it comes to DIY asphalt repair, not everyone fits into that category.
Most people choose to DIY their repair because they think it will cost less or be more convenient than calling in a professional team, but there are unseen pitfalls that can make this choice less than ideal for some.
This blog post is dedicated to helping you make your decision: to DIY or not to DIY? We’ll explore some of the most common DIY asphalt repair mistakes we’ve seen in our time, unpack how professionals handle the task, and provide you with the knowledge you need to make the best call for you.
Treating the Wrong Problem
First up is possibly one of the most common issues we see with DIY asphalt repair: improper diagnosis of the problem. The thing with asphalt is that it’s a multi-layered system, and while that might look like a simple surface crack from the outside, it might actually be signalling significant structural damage beneath the asphalt layer.
Patching over the surface cracks without diagnosing the issue underneath can create some pretty major issues down the line, such as poor drainage or even total instability of your driveway. This is why professionals make sure to diagnose the root of the issue and treat that carefully.
Blitzing Through Preparation
One of the most significant steps of any DIY asphalt repair is surface preparation. Thoroughly cleaning the area removing any debris, moisture, or oil as you go, is vital. Many DIY-ers skip this step, resulting in any repairs having poor adhesion and weakening much faster than is ideal.
This is why professionals are careful to clean the repair area before getting started. Meticulous site preparation is the hallmark of a true pro, and you will likely spot an experienced team using industrial vacuums, chemical cleaners, and surface primers to make sure the repair lasts for as long as possible.
Using Low-Quality Materials
While there are plenty of DIY asphalt repair kits available to purchase from your local Bunnings or Mitre 10, most of these kits are unfortunately stocked with low-grade materials to make them more affordable. While these compounds work temporarily, they can deteriorate quickly under Auckland’s blazing sun and driving rain.
Using superior materials is an important piece of the puzzle, which is why bringing the professionals in is a good call. Specialised mixtures available to professionals are often not available to the average consumer because you have to be qualified and trained to use them. These are also the mixtures that are likely to last the longest.
Ignoring the Weather
The weather is a major factor when it comes to asphalt repair. Asphalt is prized for being pretty flexible as it expands and contracts with changes in temperature. That means the weather can affect how to approach a patch or deeper repair. Attempting to patch your asphalt during wet or cold weather can compromise the final result, while blazing sun can cause shrinkage, leaving the patch brittle.
Professionals either keep a wary eye on the horizon or alter their technique to account for these issues, ensuring your repair lasts for as long as possible.
Skipping on Compaction
Finally, we can’t ignore compaction. Asphalt is made up of several layers of aggregate and bitumen, which means it needs to be properly compacted to hold steady and stable. Most DIYers don’t have access to the right tools to compact asphalt well enough, often leading to weakened surfaces or poor bonding. In other words, your DIY patch might come loose when you least want it to!
Professionals come equipped with the tools to compact repairs of any size perfectly, keeping your driveway sleek and guaranteeing that repair will go the distance.
At the end of the day, the best reason to hire professionals rather than do DIY asphalt repair is the same reason most of us choose to hire professionals for many things: they’re equipped for it because they spend all day every day doing that exact thing.
While you might need to purchase a ton of new equipment, spend hours watching tutorials, navigate doing everything for the first time, and potentially have to retrace your steps to correct a mistake, an asphalt repair specialist will likely crank out the repair in an afternoon.
If you’re someone who really wants to learn how to handle this problem now and in the future and is willing to invest that time and money, then DIY asphalt repair is absolutely for you.
However, if you’re a homeowner with a lot on your plate and don’t want to lose the time or money that the learning process requires, then calling in the pros is your best bet.
Get in touch for a high-quality asphalt repair!
Whether you need a patch on your home’s driveway or your commercial carpark is seeing some wear and tear, get in touch with our team to get that sorted today.