By Scott Lai

Potholes are a problem for all drivers. But if you’re a property owner or manager, potholes can be especially costly for you. If you’ve got a pothole, you know the risks involved in leaving it untreated. Not only can potholes damage a driver’s vehicle, it can also cause injury to the driver. If this happens, expect higher insurance premiums! You also need to think about your image as an owner/manager. If you leave potholes untreated, you’re sending a very public message that you’re not proactive in maintaining a property.

Repair a pothole

So what can you do to protect drivers and yourself? We offer a product called Instant Road Repair. It’s a “do-it-yourself” repair product. No special equipment needed. Just a broom and shovel will suffice. It can even be applied in inclement weather. Once the area has been treated with Instant Road Repair, there’s no waiting time to let it cure. You can start having cars drive over the area immediately.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’d need to do:

• Sweep the area of debris
• Spread and compact Instant Road Repair into the pothole
• Drive over the area to completely compact the area

Yes, it’s that easy. Check out this short (two and a half minute) video of how Instant Road Repair is applied.

You can also check out Instant Road Repair use in Hawaii right here.

Are there any alternatives to Instant Road Repair?

Yes, there are alternative products you could use. However, those alternative products are simply “patches,” a temporary fix. A pothole patch is only meant to fill the hole until a permanent solution can be done. In these cases, you could be doubling your workload: you’d have to first patch the pothole, and then at some point, you’d need to go back and actually fix the pothole. Additionally, most patches can only be applied in ideal weather conditions where the hole is dry and free of debris.

Another important thing to consider is the amount of time you would need for the product to cure. Alternative products may require a certain amount of time to set before cars can go over the area. If opening up the area to traffic in minimal time is important to you, alternative products may not be the best solution.

So while there are alternative products, they do not solve the issue. They simply provide a temporary relief which would still need to be fixed.

Scott is an Outside Sales Representative of G P Roadway Solutions. As a former property manager, Scott now helps other property managers improve the safety of their properties and facilities. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn.