A pothole can cause devastating impacts not only on vehicles but also pedestrians. Potholes are depressions that appear over time in road surfaces or on pavements.
A pothole can be a small defect right up to a large crater within the surface. Over time if they are not dealt with effectively a pothole can become extremely deep and wide. This can be more so if they pothole is on a road where heavy vehicles are impacting it daily.
The problem with potholes is that they can cause costly damage to vehicles including to the tyres, steering and suspension. Hitting a pothole can also result in accidents as they can cause loss of control or sometimes an accident when drivers swerve unexpectedly to avoid a pothole in the ground.
If a pothole is found on a pavement this can cause trips and falls. It can also cause issues for cyclists if the wheel hits a pothole this can cause a nasty accident.
It is important the pothole repair is carried out urgently and to the correct specification to keep pedestrians and road users safe. Here we will look at how pothole repairs should be made.
Removing Debris –
The first part of the process would be to remove any debris from the hole including loose materials. This is usually done with a stiff brush. Depending on the shape and size of the hole it might be worth cutting a square area around the hole to make sure you can get a good bond and thickness of the repair.
Clean –
The surface then needs to be cleaned and cleared so sweep around the hole to ensure the whole area is clear.
Fill –
The next stage is to fill the hole with cold lay tarmac.
Pack –
A punner or rammer should then be used to pack the tarmac and compress it. This will ensure no cracks or pockets in the tarmac and that it is smooth.
Overbanding –
Skid resistant overbanding tape can then be used for the border of the pothole and the existing surface for extra support. It will also help to make the surface skid resistant.
Identify any further issues –
The final stage is to identify any further potholes and repeat the steps above.
Following these steps will ensure that you have completed a compliant pothole repair. If you have any queries about pothole repair, contact us at Shawfield today for more information.