Crack Repair & Filling
A $300 crack fill today. Or a $3,000 repair next year.
Asphalt cracks because it moves. It expands in heat, contracts in cold, flexes under load, and shifts when the base beneath it settles or softens. Small surface cracks are normal — they're not structural failure. But every crack is an entry point for water.
Water gets into a crack, works its way to the base, softens the subgrade, and starts the cycle that ends in potholes and base failure. In the Puget Sound, where rain is consistent and freeze-thaw events happen more than people expect, that cycle moves faster than it does in drier climates.
The right response to a crack depends on what kind it is and what caused it. Surface cracks (transverse and longitudinal) running perpendicular or parallel to the direction of paving are good candidates for filling — the base is intact. Edge cracks along the perimeter often indicate drainage or support issues. Block cracking signals an aged, brittle surface nearing end of life. And alligator cracking — the web-like interconnected pattern — means the base has failed. Filling won't fix it.
We identify the type before recommending a fix — because crack filling is the right answer for surface cracking, and something else entirely is the right answer for structural failure.
What our Crack Repair & Filling service covers.
- Crack routing and cleaning
- Hot-pour rubberized crack sealant
- Surface crack treatment (transverse, longitudinal, edge)
- Block crack assessment and treatment
- Joint sealing
- Assessment of underlying base condition
How Crack Repair & Filling works.
Inspection and crack classification
We walk the pavement and classify the cracking before touching anything. The type of crack determines the right fix. We don't recommend filling cracks that indicate base failure — it would be wasting your money.
Crack preparation
We clean cracks with a wire broom, compressed air, or a hot air lance to remove debris, vegetation, and loose material. Filler needs to bond to clean asphalt. Cracks that aren't properly cleaned fail quickly.
Hot-apply rubberized crack filler
The material is heated to approximately 380-400°F, poured into the crack, and tooled flush with the surface. Hot-apply filler penetrates the crack, bonds to the sidewalls, and remains flexible through temperature cycling. Cold-pour products are weaker and less durable. We don't use them.
Cure and traffic
The filler cures quickly — typically 30 to 60 minutes before foot traffic, a few hours before vehicle traffic. We'll give you specific guidance based on conditions on the day of the job.
Why choose A-Team for Crack Repair & Filling.
Preventive, not cosmetic
We fill cracks to stop water infiltration, not just to make the surface look better.
Hot-pour sealant
We use rubberized hot-pour material that flexes with temperature changes — not cold-pour from a jug.
Honest about limits
If cracks indicate base failure, we'll tell you. Filling over a failed base doesn't help.
Cracks narrower than 1/8 inch generally shouldn't be filled — there isn't enough width for the filler to bond properly. Cracks that wide or wider should be addressed promptly.
The best time to fill cracks in the Puget Sound is spring and fall, when temperatures are moderate and crack widths are near their median — not at their widest (winter) or narrowest (summer peak heat).
If you're planning to sealcoat, crack filling comes first. Always. Sealing over open cracks traps them — they'll push through the sealcoat within a season.
Crack filling is maintenance, not a permanent structural fix. For surfaces with widespread cracking or base issues, the honest answer is that filling individual cracks won't hold the pavement together. We'll tell you when repair has crossed the line into replacement territory.
We provide crack filling and repair for driveways, parking lots, and commercial surfaces throughout the Puget Sound — Puyallup, Sumner, Tacoma, Auburn, Federal Way, Covington, Maple Valley, SeaTac, and the greater Seattle area.
Not sure what type of cracking you're dealing with?
Send us a photo or call us out for a free assessment. We'll tell you what you're looking at and what it'll take to fix it.