A pothole may appear in a concrete driveway because of common wear and tear or as a result of excessive weight of a larger vehicle. Regardless of the cause, if it is not repaired promptly the pothole may become worse as a result of exposure to various elements of the weather. While a long-neglected driveway pocked with multiple potholes can represent a major expense, corrective measures for a single pothole are simple and inexpensive. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Wear rubber gloves, rubber boots and a face filter mask to protect yourself from splashing concrete and dust.
2. Undercut the pothole with a metal chisel and rubber mallet so the bottom of the hole is wider than the top edges of the pothole.
3. Sweep the concrete pothole with a stiff-bristled brush to remove dirt and loose chunks of concrete material.
4. Wash the interior of the pothole, using a power washer, to remove any remaining chunks or dirt. Allow the pothole to dry thoroughly.
5. Pour one bag of premixed concrete into a 5-gallon bucket. Add the recommended amount of water to the bucket according to the instructions on the package.
6. Attach a paddle mixer to a power drill, and mix the contents of the 5-gallon bucket until the mixture resembles a thick milkshake.
7. Work an even coat of concrete bonding agent to the bottom and sides of the pothole, using a paintbrush. Work quickly when applying the concrete bonding agent since it will need to be wet when the concrete mix pours into the pothole.
8. Tilt the bucket into the driveway pothole, and pour the concrete so it slightly overfills the hole. Use a shovel to tamp down the level of the concrete, creating a tightly packed hole.
9. Level the pothole by skimming a 2-by-4 wooden board back and forth over it. Allow the concrete to harden for one hour.
10. Smooth the surface of the concrete level with the surrounding driveway using a concrete float. Use a stiff broom to graze the surface of the concrete when the surface water has disappeared. The bristles of the broom will create a texture and non-slip surface.
11. Secure a piece of plastic sheeting over the filled pothole with duct tape. Lift a corner of the plastic up, and spray the curing pothole with water two to three times per day for up to five days before removing the plastic and using the driveway.
Tags: pothole with, 5-gallon bucket, bonding agent, concrete bonding, concrete bonding agent, pothole using
