FEATURE
In regions where freeze-thaw is constant— think Midwest, Northeast, Canada— proper patching before winter hits is critical. But even in places like Arizona or central California, thermal movement, stormwater infiltration and load-related stress create the same vulnerabilities. Bottom line: every climate presents a threat to pavement longevity. Proper patching helps armor your investment, especially ahead of surface treatments.
Patching Is the Foundation— Literally— for Surface Treatments
It doesn’ t matter if you’ re prepping a high-volume interstate for a micro-surfacing treatment or getting a parking lot ready for a fresh sealcoat— if the base layer isn’ t sound, your surface treatment won’ t hold up. Period. This is where I see a lot of agencies, contractors and even private property owners get it wrong. They’ ll pay for a chip seal, micro-surfacing or fog seal to“ make it look good again,” but skip the foundational work. If there’ s a failing patch underneath— or worse, if there’ s untreated structural damage— you’ ve just put a Band-Aid on a broken leg. The result? Your new surface fails prematurely, and the end user( whether it’ s a DOT official, a commercial property manager or the average taxpayer) wonders why“ that new road already looks like garbage.” The truth is, the surface treatment wasn’ t the issue— the patching, or lack thereof, was. Proper patching ahead of surface treatments isn’ t optional— it’ s essential. Think of it as prepping your canvas before applying the paint. If it’ s cracked, wet, dirty or uneven, the finish won’ t last.
Follow the Specs— They Exist for a Reason
Every OEM has patching guidelines for a reason. So do your local and state DOTs. Whether it’ s the compaction requirement on a hot mix patch, temperature range for infrared blending or emulsion application rate for tack coat, specs are not suggestions. Sure, they can be a pain to dig up and follow to the letter. But if your patch fails because you didn’ t follow the process, you can’ t blame the machine, the product or the weather. And you sure can’ t bill it back.
Most manufacturers, including those of infrared systems, hot boxes or kettle-based patchers, are happy to walk customers through setup, usage and best practices. Many even offer training or on-site support. So, use the resources available— not just to stay compliant, but to protect your reputation and ensure you’ re delivering a patch that lasts.
The Right Tool for the Job
Let’ s be real. There’ s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to patching.
• Cold patch might be the only choice in extreme winter conditions, but it should never be your permanent fix.
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