I am going to fix potholes myself - need some help

[davemc]

The science of road patching ... how difficult can it really be?

- Gravel of the correct granularity, matching the existing road surface
- Tar
- Bitchumen to further strengthen the tar - gravel bond
- Decent stamping equipment
- Decent mixing equipment

Unknowns:
- How to clean the mixing equipment
- Legalities
- Costs


EDIT: I just learnt that Bitchumen is the tar. Kekekekeke.

[Garyvdh]

So ?

I know of some potholes that have been there for years.... something is better than nothing

So? It's his money. Let him waste it if he wants. I don't care. Just pointing out the obvious for those of us to whom money is more precious.

I'm already paying taxes to the Municipality to keep up the roads. I'm not willing to pay again for something I already paid for.

But I think he has a brain and can decide for himself. Anyway, it's a free thread and I reserve my right to post in it if I want.

[waynegohl]

Earl tried this and got a fine.

ha ha ha do you mean Earl from the tv show, i don't remember seeing that episode.

[Wasp_21]

I understand that we pay taxes and some people sqwander those taxes on larney cars, but shouldn't we be pro-active in these situations? There is a pothole on the last road on my way home. The road is narrow, and if you have to swerve out to miss it, i'm gonna hit another car, or a pedestrian, or i'm going to lose a tire. And then what, so i can have the right to say it wasn't my fault, it was the pothole? I'm going to fix it myself, albeit at 2 in the morning so i don't get a fine.

[MagicDude4Eva]

I also don't see the point that I have to give the government almost half of my income in taxes and they do jack about social services or infrastructuret. But again, if I can fix it myself, I honestly will not give a XXXX if it is illegal -- as long as it is benefits someone and resolves my issue I will do it. Hardly ever will you be able to fall back on the public or any government institutions in SA and can expect help.

Going off topic: Do yourself a favour and Google Arizona and speedcam. The public decided that introduction of speedcams is just for the purpose of cashing in from taxpayers and does not solve any traffic issues - people decided not to pay and the state could not collect the money as it was too expensive to do this. Eventually the state stopped the initiative - consumers voting with their feet helps. Unfortunately most of you guys complain and could not be bothered to raise your issues with JRA or Joburg City and hence nothing gets done. (Think Eskom and electricity increases and consumers voting with their feet - something this country will not be able to do.... too many selfish people)

[waynegohl]

Just put an upside down pot into the hole and hammer it in real tight for an even flat surface. It is after all a pothole.

rofl will someone please kick JHatman to the kerb.

[9277wasp]

The complexes around my street (4) clubbed together and we fixed the entry road to our street... It was a mess - and I don't know how many times we called city council to complain, even threatened to stop paying rates... but nah... We hired a private contruction company and now the road looks 'civil'... It was an embarassment - feeling like you are in the bundus in Sandton... Who are they going to fine for the job we've done???

[MagicDude4Eva]

looks like none of the professional companies are prepared to fix government-potholes through a "private contract" (one of the companies even SMS'ed me a f-off). This will then need to turn into one of those guerilla-warfare-night-tarring-operations. Who is interested in a "BRING 'N TAR?"

[RandomDesign]

The guys who do residential and parking lot tarring do not have the capability or knowledge to fix potholes on the road

sorry to say but from the way I see potholes "recurring", where a filled-in pothole becomes a pothole again, it doesn't seem like the "professionals" have any better knowledge or capability then you or me.

[Pilgrim]

Dude, remember to keep your receipts, then deduct the cost from your taxes!

[timgaul]

The guys who do residential and parking lot tarring do not have the capability or knowledge to fix potholes on the road as parking lot paving only has to be a few centimeters thick, but road paving requires proper preparation of gravel, stones and tar that goes to 30 centimeters or more deep. If you want to go even cheaper than those guys you are just asking for problems. Just filling the hole with tar is not going to work.... it would be a pointless expensive exercise. The tar is not even of the same grade.

If you want to do something in the short term just fill the potholes with river sand (not stones - stones will tear the rest of the road apart). But the first rains that come will just wash the sand away again.

Apparently neither does the JRA.

[timgaul]

Just on a side note: is this not an indication of how desperate the situation has become? We're not safe on the roads anymore and the government can't or won't do anything to help.

[Nick333]

ha ha ha do you mean Earl from the tv show, i don't remember seeing that episode.

Yep, he was trying to pay his taxes and the government wouldn't let him because they had no records for him. He and Randy get rescued from an abandonned water tower later.

[AnomalyNexus]

Interesting & commendable idea. I don't see it working out in practice though tbh. If you do go for it, pls take lots of pics.

It is illegal to fix potholes yourself.

Yes it is. I doubt anyone cares about that though at this stage. And if it ever gets to court then the judge will probably throw it out anyway since it was done with pure intentions. Judges use roads too.

Seeing that JRA and anyone linked to fixing our roads are completely incompetent, I am looking at contacts how can assist with fixing potholes. There are a number of companies out there who do private and industrial tarring

The problem is that anyone with the skills & equipment to do it won't agree to it without official approval. It's also very difficult to evaluate the competence of these guys. One place I know spent a fortune on tarring a parking space. Half a dozen qualified & experienced engineers involved. Industrial equipment (Road scrappers etc). The road was *completely* gone after a year. The mix was slightly off (The avg grain size was too low) & it wasn't thick enough. It just disintegrated into dust. And that was from occasional parking, not heavy traffic.

I'm not familiar for the costing of construction things, but that rate looks like a bulk rate, i.e. for tarring an entire parking. To fix individual holes they'd probably have to add another 500% just to break even. Assuming the equipment isn't lane-width anyway.

plant a tree in the holes you will soon get someone to fix it.

Thats what they did on the Silverlakes road. I think an organized phone campaign would work better. i.e. bombard anyone and everyone with calls until someone does something or gives approval for private fixing.

what stops a citizen dumping a bag of readymix cement into a pothole and adding some water?

Nothing, but it won't last a week imo. I'm pretty sure it's the wrong type of cement though. Its intended as a filler not as a high load structural component. Plus you can't fix a tar road with cement anyway. Different physical properties. e.g. Thermal expansion, flexibility, compression etc so it won't stay bonded.

The science of road patching ... how difficult can it really be?

No idea, but I think it will be near impossible for one of us to get it right DIY without equipment + someone with experience. If OP wants to try it though then I'm all for it. Can't really do more damage.

[Leostar]

Lets plant some "Grass" in these holes.
Perhaps the cops will ask for these holes to be closed to stop illegal grass growing :-)