Asphalt crack repair and crack sealing
A single crack with tight, level edges is a maintenance job, not a failure. We clean it out, blow out the dirt and roots, and fill it with hot-poured rubberized sealant that stays flexible through cold snaps and summer heat. Sealing cracks early keeps rain from running down into the base, which is how small cracks become soft spots. Crack sealing pairs well with sealcoating, and we often price them together.
Cracks that branch into a pattern like the skin of an alligator, or cracks with one side sunk lower than the other, are a different problem. That pavement has already lost support underneath, and sealant will not save it. Those areas need a patch.
Asphalt patching that lasts
A lasting patch is cut, not poured on top. We saw-cut a square or rectangle around the damaged area, remove the broken asphalt and any wet or loose base below it, and replace the base with compacted stone. The cut edges are tacked so the new mix bonds to the old, then hot-mix goes in and is rolled flush with the surrounding surface. Skimming cold patch over a soft spot looks fine for a few weeks and then sinks again, because the cause is still there.
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Driveway repair in Baton Rouge: sinking spots, edges and roots
Most driveway repairs we see trace back to one of three causes. Water: a downspout that empties onto the driveway, a low spot that holds rain, or a ditch that backs up under the apron. Edges: tires that ride off the side and break the unsupported edge into chunks. And roots: an oak or pine near the drive pushing the surface up into a ridge. Each one has a different fix, so we name the cause on the walk-through and price the repair around it, including redirecting a downspout or adding an edge where it will stop the damage coming back.
Repair now, resurface or replace
If less than about a quarter of the surface is damaged and the rest is firm, repairs plus sealcoating are usually the right money. If the damage is spread across the whole driveway but the base underneath is still solid, resurfacing with a new top layer makes more sense. If the base has failed in many places, patching becomes a yearly bill and a new driveway is cheaper over time. Holes are covered on the pothole repair page. We will tell you which group your driveway or lot falls into and why.