The freeze / thaw, freeze / thaw cycle that happens every winter can force ice into cracks, expanding the breaks in the asphalt until they become potholes. And potholes aren’t just an eyesore – they’re a liability. If someone’s car is damaged, or if a pedestrian trips and injures themselves, property managers can be in for serious payouts.
That’s where you come in. But you have to be prepared.
Asphalt plants close in the winter, so you can’t just drive up and get asphalt to patch potholes. But if you take action right now, you can get to an asphalt plant before they close and buy leftover asphalt scraps. It comes in six-inch chunks and plants charge as little as $12 a ton for it.
Buy two tons and store it on your property under a tarp.
Pro Tip: Try to choose asphalt that is still black or very dark grey so that you know it has bitumen and tar in it still. That will make it easy to work with and longer-lasting.
Then pick up a Mini Infrared Asphalt Heater, a tank of propane, and a metal rake.
Find a property that has potholes and secure the contract with the property owner to do the repair. Need advice on how to do this? Get our free proposal template.
Now all you have to do is take your leftover asphalt chunks and piece them together like a jigsaw puzzle. Try to cover as much of the surface as you can.
Take the infrared asphalt heater and place it over the asphalt pieces. Start the machine and let it run for about 7-7.5 minutes. This is called a ‘press’. You can charge up to $95 per press.
Once the press is done, take an asphalt rake and rake the patch until it is completely smooth. If you're using asphalt millings, then we recommend that you spritz some rejuvenator on the surface to improve their color and adhesion.
Tamp it down with a manual or mechanical tamper. That’s it! The asphalt looks brand new and the safety hazard is eliminated.
MINI INFRARED ASPHALT HEATER
- Reheats asphalt for easy repairs
- For asphalt seams, alligator cracks, & more
- One-person operation
Let’s look at the break-even:
That means the machine pays for itself in 3 hours of presses! You can do pothole repair all winter long. Other great uses for this machine are asphalt seams and drain repair.
The infrared heater is light enough for one man to load and unload it from a trailer. Wondering how to get enough business to keep that fella busy? Try Google Adwords or Facebook Ads in your area. By targeting ads to your local area, you save a lot of money and get jobs you know you can win. Bid on keywords like:
- Pothole Repair
- What Causes Potholes
- Pothole Patching
- Pothole Repair
- Who To Call About Potholes
But remember: it’s critical that you limit your ads to a region you can comfortably service. If you don’t put a geographical restriction on your ads, you’ll end up paying a fortune!
Buy the Mini Infrared Heater and Make Money
Using Multiple Heaters
Our customers are making bank with multiple infrared heaters.
This machine is very affordable compared to larger infrared machines, and its portability makes it an easy addition to anyone with an equipment trailer.
Check out the Mini Infrared Heater
Other great sources of business:
Any property owner you regularly service for asphalt repair work during summer months.
Snowplow drivers – offer them a bounty if they land you winter pothole repair work.
Apartment buildings – many have insurance liabilities if they don’t keep their parking lots in great shape. They need you too!
We want you to be successful. For more helpful tips on how you can finish your year strong, read our Guide to Thriving here.
New to asphalt maintenance? Then immerse yourself in the Asphalt Kingdom Build Your Own Business Blueprint first. This is a comprehensive guide on everything asphalt maintenance, including how to sealcoat a pavement property, how to conduct crack repair, and more!
