Assess & prepare
Check the pothole, nearby asphalt, drainage, and support underneath. Define the work area and remove loose debris and standing water.
Home A little heat.
OUR METHOD / INFRARED ASPHALT REPAIR
A little heat.
A focused repair.
Reheat the existing asphalt. Rework the damaged area. Bring the surface back together. Here’s how infrared pothole repair works—and where it makes sense.
WHAT INFRARED DOES
Repair the pothole.
Reuse what’s useful.
An infrared heater transfers heat to the asphalt surface. As the asphalt softens, it becomes workable again. The crew loosens and blends the heated material, adds compatible asphalt where needed, and compacts the repair.
Heating beyond the damaged spot allows the edges to be worked into the surrounding pavement. Careful temperature control and compaction matter as much as the heater itself.
Process reference: Nashville Department of Transportation ↗THE INFRARED APPROACHSIMPLIFIED CROSS-SECTION
Work the surface. Check what’s underneath.
Illustration only · not to scaleTHE REPAIR, STEP BY STEP
Four steps.
One repaired surface.
Every job starts with the pavement’s condition. The method is selected to suit the damage.
Heat with control
Warm the repair zone and its perimeter until the asphalt can be worked. Monitor the process to avoid scorching and uneven heating.
Rework & replenish
Loosen and blend the softened asphalt. Add suitable material to replace what’s missing and restore the surface level.
Compact & cool
Compact the workable mix, paying attention to edges and level. Keep traffic off the repair until it has cooled sufficiently.
WHY THIS APPROACH
Make more of
the asphalt already there.
Reuse existing material
Rework usable asphalt already on site and add material where needed. The amount that can be reused depends on the repair.
Work the repair edges
A heated perimeter allows the repair and adjacent pavement to be compacted together. Good preparation and workmanship still matter.
Target the damaged area
Address a localized defect without resurfacing an entire property when the surrounding pavement and foundation are suitable.
THE RIGHT METHOD FOR THE RIGHT DAMAGE
A surface repair needs
a sound foundation.
Infrared is a useful tool. It can’t correct every reason a pothole formed.
Often a good candidate
- A localized pothole in otherwise serviceable asphalt.
- Enough surrounding asphalt to form a workable repair zone.
- A stable foundation and manageable drainage.
- Conditions that allow preparation, controlled heating, and compaction.
Needs a closer look
- Soft, moving, saturated, or failed material below the surface.
- Widespread cracking, repeated sinking, or severe deterioration.
- Persistent water problems or damage around underground services.
- Concrete, gravel, or a site that cannot be accessed safely.
If deeper work is needed, we’ll explain why a surface pothole repair may not be the right answer. Send photos for an initial discussion; site conditions determine suitability.
FURTHER READING
The research behind the explanation.
Learn more from transportation departments and pavement researchers. These references explain the method; they are not endorsements of Pothole HQ.
LET’S GET IT SORTED