Infrared Asphalt Repair: The Modern Solution for Potholes and Utility Cuts
For decades, repairing asphalt damage meant one thing: the messy, disruptive, and often temporary process of cutting out the bad section and throwing in a cold patch. The result was usually a weak, water-permeable “patch” that stood out like a sore thumb and often failed again within a year.
Thankfully, technology has changed the game. For property managers in Southeast Ohio, infrared asphalt repair offers a smarter, stronger, and more seamless solution for common issues like potholes and utility cuts. Let’s explore how this innovative process works and why it’s a superior choice for your property.
In simple terms, infrared repair is a process that thermally recycles your existing asphalt. Instead of tearing out the damaged area, we use specialized infrared heaters to soften the existing pavement and the surrounding intact asphalt to a precise, workable temperature. This creates a hot, malleable mass of material. We then blend new asphalt into this heated area, seamlessly fusing the old with the new. The repaired section is then raked and compacted, becoming a permanent, monolithic part of the original pavement.
To understand why infrared is better, it helps to know why cold patches fail:
Weak Seams: Cold patches have distinct, unforgiving seams where water can easily infiltrate.
Poor Compaction: It’s nearly impossible to properly compact the edges of a traditional patch, creating weak points.
Material Incompatibility: Cold patch material doesn’t truly bond with the existing pavement; it just sits in the hole.
Short Lifespan: They are a temporary fix, not a permanent repair.
4 Powerful Benefits of Infrared Repair
1. A Seamless, Invisible, and Permanent Fix
This is the biggest advantage. Because the new and old asphalt are fused together thermally, there are no weak seams. This creates a watertight, monolithic patch that is virtually invisible and moves as a single unit with the surrounding pavement, eliminating future failure at the repair site.
2. Minimal Disruption & Incredible Speed
Most infrared repairs can be completed in under an hour. There’s no loud saw-cutting, no jackhammers, and no hauling away of heavy debris. This means minimal noise and minimal disruption to your tenants, customers, or business operations. We can often repair a pothole during a lunch rush without closing a single parking space.
3. Eco-Friendly and Cost-Effective
The process reuses up to 100% of your existing asphalt, drastically reducing waste. You also save on material costs since less new asphalt is required. By providing a permanent repair, it eliminates the recurring cost of repeatedly fixing the same pothole every year.
4. Superior Structural Integrity
The thermally fused patch is just as strong, if not stronger, than the original pavement. It withstands freeze-thaw cycles and heavy traffic without sinking or breaking apart.
When Is Infrared Not the Right Tool?
We believe in honesty. Infrared is incredible, but it’s not magic. It is not suitable for repairs where the base material itself has failed. If the ground underneath the asphalt is unstable (often indicated by widespread alligator cracking or visible clay stains), the area must be excavated and the base must be rebuilt before a new surface is applied.
Why Southeast Ohio Properties Benefit Most
Our climate, with its dramatic temperature swings, is brutal on asphalt. The constant expansion and contraction are what cause traditional patches to fail. Infrared repair is specifically engineered to handle this movement because it becomes one with the existing pavement, making it the most durable solution for our local weather challenges.
The Fremont Surface Care Infrared Promise
When you choose us for an infrared repair, you get:
An Honest Assessment: We will only recommend infrared if it is the right, long-term solution.
A Meticulous Process: We don’t just heat and go. We ensure proper heating, blending, and compaction for a flawless finish.
A Permanent Solution: We stand behind our work because we know it’s built to last.
Tired of repeatedly fixing the same potholes?
Experience the modern, permanent, and cost-effective solution.