When your driveway or parking lot is full of potholes, it can make for a bumpy ride and cause damage to your vehicle or car. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can follow to fix them.

The first step is to clean out the hole and remove any sticks, stones, litter, or other debris. You should also pressure wash the area. This helps to ensure that the surface can bond properly with the filling material.

Next, you need to decide what type of material you’ll use for the filling. how to fill potholes is a popular choice as it’s much more permanent than gravel and less likely to break down, but it can be expensive if you’re not working with a professional. Also, concrete doesn’t drain as well as asphalt.

Patching Up: How to Fill Potholes Like a Pro

If you choose to go with concrete, it’s important to measure the size of the hole. This will help you determine how much material you’ll need to purchase and can eliminate the guesswork if you’re using a mix that requires specific temperatures to set and compact correctly.

If you’re on a budget or don’t have the luxury of waiting for warmer weather, Warren recommends “the throw-and-go method.” This is the cheapest, quickest, and least durable repair option but it can keep you safe and smooth until the weather warms up. The key to this method is having a hot box on hand so that you never have to stop working when the pothole mix goes cold and hard.