Is your driveway showing signs of age, wear, and tear? Check out the steps below if you’d like to repair the driveway all by yourself!

Before you get all your supplies together, make sure you clean off the driveway you’ll be fixing. This will make it easier to see where the cracks are and other things that need repair. A broom usually does the job for both longer and shorter driveways. If you have a shorter driveway, and more time, consider using soap and water to clean the areas you know you’ll be fixing. Laundry detergent works just swell.

If engine oil stains appear on the driveway be sure you clean them up with specialized solutions.

In order to repair a crack, patch it with crack-filler, which can be found at almost all home repair centers (obvious, huh?). You’re going to want to prevent further damage by applying the caulk-like substance directly inside the crack. After this, smooth it out with a putty knife or a similar object.

Got a larger hole in the pavement? Try using a cold-patch compound. Directions are usually on the product’s label, but we’ll break it down for you anyway.

First, wet the area of repair. Next, apply the first compound layer with a trowel. After this, you’re going to have to tamp it down so it’s secure. There are special devices for this, but a flat piece of scrap wood will certainly get the job completed with the same quality. If you need more than one layer, make sure you tamp down each layer individually, and wait for the previous layer to dry before laying the next.

If you would like to completely flatten the compound immediately, place a flat piece of plywood on top of the area and drive your car over it. That’s the quickest method, and usually the most effective.

Once everything is flat and done with, give the area 48 hours of drying time, or however long the manufacturer’s instructions say.

After all repairs, seal your driveway. This will prevent future moisture erosion and cracks. Seal your driveway even when fixes are not needed so to prevent the cracks and damages in the first place.

Remember, you won’t be able to use the driveway for 2 to 3 days once you seal it. Follow the instructions precisely. Most usually call for a wet surface, and to spread the seal across the driveway equally. If you’re driveway needs a bit of traction, place some sand in the seal before applying it to the asphalt.