Most "pothole repairs" aren't repairs
The standard cold-patch fill — shovel some bagged asphalt into the hole, tamp it down, drive away — lasts about one Idaho winter. Sometimes less. The reason is simple: a pothole is a symptom of a base failure underneath. If you don't address what caused the hole, you're going to have a hole there again.
We do real repair work. That means saw-cutting around the failure, removing the damaged asphalt and any compromised base material, recompacting, and patching with hot-mix asphalt. It costs more upfront. It actually lasts.
Repair methods we use
Hot-mix saw-cut patching (the right way)
For potholes, edge failures, and localized base problems. We saw-cut a clean rectangle around the failed area, excavate to stable base, recompact with new aggregate if needed, then patch with hot-mix asphalt rolled to match the surrounding surface. Clean lines, no flapping edges, lasts 10+ years.
Mill-and-overlay
When the surface course is worn out but the base is sound — a common scenario for parking lots that are 10–15 years old. We mill off the top inch, sweep clean, apply a tack coat, and overlay with 1.5–2" of fresh asphalt. You get a brand-new surface for half the cost of a tear-out.
Full-depth replacement
When the base is gone — alligator cracking everywhere, settled sections, water pooling — there's no patching it. Tear it out, rebuild the base, repour. We tell you when this is the answer, even though it's the most expensive option, because it's the only one that lasts.
Crack filling (the cheapest maintenance you'll buy)
Hairline and small cracks (under ¼ inch) get hot-pour rubberized sealant. This stops water from getting under the surface, freezing, and turning a small crack into a pothole. We also offer this as a standalone service — see crack filling.
If less than ~20% of the lot or driveway shows base failure, repair it. If more than ~30%, the cheapest long-term answer is replacement. We tell you the truth — even when replacement is the bigger ticket.
Common Twin Falls repair scenarios
Driveway potholes near the garage
Usually caused by water running off the garage floor and pooling at the threshold. We patch the hole, then look at why it formed — sometimes a small slope correction or a French drain prevents repeats.
Alligator cracking in parking lot drive aisles
This is base failure under heavy-truck traffic. Patching alone won't fix it permanently — you have to rebuild the base in those sections. We saw-cut the alligator-cracked area, excavate to good base, and rebuild.
Edge ravelling on driveways and lots
The edges of asphalt are the most vulnerable — no lateral support, hit by mowers, frost heave. We trim back the failed edge, install proper edge restraint where needed, and patch.
FAQ
How fast can you respond to a pothole?
For commercial property owners worried about liability — usually within 48 hours for a temporary fix and same-week for a permanent saw-cut patch, weather permitting.
Will the patch match my existing asphalt?
Color-wise, no — fresh asphalt is black, old asphalt is gray-tan. We can sealcoat the whole surface after patching to unify the color, which is what most commercial customers do.