We all know how the great city of Chicago goes from one weather extreme to the next from season to season. And we know what kind of havoc this weather can wreak on your asphalt paving. When you experience potholes or the need for asphalt pavement patching you find yourself facing a very important choice when it comes to maintenance: Should I go with hot mix or cold patching? What is the best choice for my needs? Here we will discuss both options, as well as what circumstances will dictate the best decision for your asphalt repair project.
Cold Patching
When it comes to potholes this is one of the ways you can opt to have them repaired. Cold patch is really only a quick, temporary fix for a tough break. Cold patch does not need to be heated or sustained at a certain warm temperature. It is mixed and applied at the current ambient temperature. Cold patches are often used to repair cracks which run in excess of an inch wide, and as a pothole filler as well. Keep in mind that cold patch is not a permanent method of repair; rather it will get you by until you can take advantage of such repair work.
Hot Mix
This is the very best choice the homeowner can make when it comes to pothole repair. It is a permanent asphalt repair option that will see you well into long term asphalt upkeep and maintenance. If you are in the right season and have the financial means to afford it, hot mix is certainly the way to go when it comes to asphalt repair.
How do I know what to choose?
It is really very simple. When you have city, county, or state road workers patching up the potholes and cracks in roads you have individuals who are not only pressed for time, they are also working in less-than-ideal conditions, including weather and traffic. Patches are a very common way to keep the roads in usable condition, although not optimal condition.
If you have the means and ability to make proper repairs on your personal or business or residential asphalt, hot mix is highly recommended. Hot mix will provide you with the finest asphalt repair job possible, and it will not break the bank to implement. Your choice is really relatively simple: cold patch will get you by, but hot mix will indeed last for the long-run.
So you have some potholes and cracks in your commercial or residential asphalt that are in need of repair? You know if you let it go or choose to implement a quick, temporary fix you will be facing the same problem or worse in no time at all. Cold patching is ideal if you just want to get through a short time span, planning to implement a more permanent solution in the long run, but hot mix will see you through a much greater period of time, doing a more solid, long-lasting repair. Weigh your specific needs and choose the option that is right for your home or business.
