Pothole Repairs Hobart
Potholes start small. Water gets under the surface through a hairline crack, the wet Hobart winters freeze and expand it, and within a season that crack is a hole. Traffic loads widen it faster than the weather did.
The right fix cuts a clean square around the damage, strips everything loose, applies a tack coat to bond the new material, fills with hot mix, and compacts it flush. Done that way, the patch holds for 10+ years.
Quick cold-mix repairs shovelled into a wet hole without any edge prep fail in months. We don't carry cold mix on our trucks for a reason.
Why it matters
- Potholes on council roads and commercial carparks are a genuine public liability risk
- Damage spreads every week a pothole is left open, the fix gets bigger and more expensive
- A hot-mix patch done right blends into the surrounding surface far better than cold-mix bodge jobs
- Most jobs scheduled within a week of the call
- Workmanship guaranteed, if it fails inside 12 months we come back and fix it
THE PROCESS
How we do it
On-site inspection and quote
We come and look at the pothole, measure it, check the surrounding surface, and give you a fixed price. No charge for the inspection.
Saw-cut clean edges
Concrete saw defines rectangular edges around the full extent of the damage.
Remove all loose material
Excavate broken asphalt and any disturbed base material back to firm ground.
Apply tack coat
Bitumen emulsion applied to the cut walls so the new mix bonds to the existing pavement.
Fill with hot mix and compact
Hot asphalt filled and screeded level with the surrounding surface, compacted with a vibratory plate or roller.
Seal the edges
Joint sealant applied around the patch perimeter to keep water out of the bond line.
COMPARISON
How it stacks up
Not all pothole fixes are the same. Here's when each method is the right call for a Hobart road or carpark.
| Feature | Cold-mix patch | Hot-mix patch | Full mill-and-fill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per pothole | Lowest, materials only | Mid, our standard | Highest, section work |
| Typical lifespan | 3-6 months | 8-12 years | 15-20 years |
| Weather window | Any conditions | Dry, above 5°C | Dry, above 5°C |
| Time on site per patch | Under 15 min | 30-60 min | Half day or more |
| Best use case | Emergency temporary, closing a hazard over wet or cold period | Standard repair, residential, commercial, council | Whole pavement section has failed beyond discrete patches |
| Bond to surrounding surface | Sits on top, no mechanical bond | Hot-fuses to saw-cut edges with tack coat | Complete replacement, integral with surrounding new pavement |
| Council acceptance in Hobart area | Temporary only, not acceptable for final reinstatement | Yes, all four Hobart-area councils | Yes, preferred for full section failure |
AFTERCARE
After the patch is done
A hot-mix patch from us is built to hold for 8–12 years. But the pavement around it keeps ageing on its own schedule. A few things to keep an eye on.
First 24 hours
Avoid sharp braking or turning directly on the patch. The edge sealant cures within an hour but the mix body needs a full day to reach working hardness.
First 3 months
Walk past the patch periodically. Early edge cracking is almost always a bond issue and we'll come back to re-seal under warranty if you flag it within 3 months.
Annual inspection
Once a year hose down the patch and look for new cracks at the joint. Catching a crack early and sealing it costs a fraction of letting water in to undermine the base all over again.
If the patch fails early
A patch that sinks or cracks inside 12 months usually means the sub-base under it moved. We'll come back, dig deeper, and sort the underlying problem, that's covered under our workmanship guarantee.
Drainage check after heavy rain
After a heavy Hobart winter downpour, inspect the area around the patch for water pooling. Ponding near a patch means the drainage falls around it aren't moving water away fast enough, address that before the next wet season drives water under the surface again.
Watch for cracks opening at the joint line
The saw-cut joint between the new patch and the old pavement is where differential movement shows up first. A crack at the joint in year 3–5 is normal ageing, seal it immediately with a pourable crack sealant before water gets in and restarts the failure cycle underneath.
PRICING
What it costs in Hobart (2026)
- $Small patch under 0.5m²: $250–$450 per patch
- $Medium patch 0.5–2m²: $400–$900 per patch
- $Multi-patch visits: better per-patch rate, typically $300–$600 each on the day
- $Travel surcharge for rural properties south of Kingborough or east of Clarence
- $Minimum call-out for very small jobs under $300 total
- $Urgent within-24-hour response: 20% premium on standard rate
Site-specific factors change every quote. Get the price in writing before you commit to anything.
FAQ
Pothole Repairs, common questions
Can you do an urgent pothole repair?+
We aim to fit urgent work in within 24–48 hours of the call, particularly anything on a school approach, busy entry, or where there's a trip or vehicle-damage risk. Call us directly for urgent bookings, much easier to sort out verbally.
Why does the same pothole keep opening up?+
Almost always a drainage or sub-base problem that the surface damage is masking. Water is getting in from somewhere and weakening the base. We find the source during the quote inspection and address the root issue, not just patch the top.
How long does a proper hot-mix patch last?+
A well-done hot-mix patch with tack coat and edge sealing holds for 10+ years under normal traffic. Cold-mix repairs last 6–18 months. It's why we only do hot-mix.
Do you repair potholes on gravel roads?+
No, gravel road maintenance is a different trade. We work on asphalt and sealed surfaces only.
Will the patched area look different?+
Fresh asphalt is darker than aged pavement so the patch will be visible initially. Over 6–12 months of sun exposure the new asphalt weathers to roughly match the surrounding surface. A full re-seal over the area removes the visual difference entirely.
How many potholes can your crew handle in a single visit?+
A standard day crew working in the Hobart metro area can patch 8–15 potholes depending on size and spacing. For carparks or roads with a high count of potholes, we'll scope the full site at the inspection and schedule accordingly, bulk jobs get a better per-patch rate.
What causes potholes in Hobart specifically?+
Three main causes in our area: the wet winters driving water into hairline cracks and breaking the base apart from underneath; heavy vehicles on roads built for lighter loads; and old asphalt that's reached the end of its service life and is oxidising out from the surface. The Hobart area's older residential streets, many of which were first sealed in the 1970s and 1980s, are now into their second and third life, which is when pothole frequency rises.
Is pothole repair covered under any insurance or warranty?+
Our workmanship is guaranteed, if a patch we do fails within 12 months we come back and fix it. Damage to a vehicle from an existing pothole on a private property is a property owner's liability question, speak to your insurer if a tenant or customer makes that claim.
Can you do a pothole repair on a council road? Who pays?+
On public roads, maintenance responsibility sits with the relevant council, City of Hobart, Glenorchy City, Clarence City or Kingborough. We do sub-contract patch work for all four councils. If you're a private property owner with a pothole on your land, that's your cost. We'll quote it straight.
What's the difference between a pothole repair and a road patch?+
A pothole is a discrete hole, usually under 0.5m², in an otherwise intact surface. A road patch covers a larger area of failure, rutting, alligator cracking, or base failure across 1m² to 50m². The repair methodology is similar but a large road patch requires heavier compaction equipment and often sub-base replacement. Both are on our service list.
READY TO START?
Free quote, in writing
We come out, take a look, and hand you a fixed written price within 48 hours. No obligation, no pressure, no bait-and-switch on the day.
Need pothole repairs?
Free site visit. Written quote within 48 hours.
(03) 6170 6004Quotes usually within 48 hours
READY TO START?
Get a free quote
We come out, take a look, and hand you a written price within 48 hours. No obligation, no pressure.