Patching fixes the parts of a driveway or parking lot that have failed without replacing the whole surface. Done properly, a patch lasts as long as the pavement around it. Done cheaply, it is back as a pothole by spring.
Cut out, not filled in
Failed sections are saw-cut square, the broken asphalt and soft base are removed, the base is repaired and compacted, and new hot-mix asphalt is laid and rolled flush with the surrounding surface. The edges are sealed so water cannot get under the patch.
When patching is the right call
Patching makes sense when the damage is limited to specific areas and the rest of the surface is sound. When failures are spread across the whole lot or driveway, repaving is usually the better long-term spend.
