Asphalt Repair & Patching Company in San Jose & the Bay Area
Pothole repair, asphalt patching and crack sealing for commercial properties across San Jose and the Bay Area. Not sure whether to patch or resurface? The guide below gets you most of the way there, and a free on-site assessment covers the rest. Same-week service is available for emergency repairs.
Commercial Asphalt Repair in San Jose
Cracks, potholes and surface failures do not fix themselves, and on a busy commercial lot they get worse quickly. EARTHTEK repairs and patches commercial asphalt across San Jose and the Bay Area. Whether it is one pothole in a drive lane or a full parking lot rehabilitation, we find the underlying problem first and then recommend the most cost-effective fix. Same-week service is available for emergency repairs.
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Patch or resurface: how do I decide?
Patch when the damage is isolated and the base underneath is still sound. Resurface when cracking or surface wear is spread across the lot but the base is intact. Replace when the base itself has failed, which usually shows up as sinking, soft spots or alligator cracking over large areas.
Two questions settle most cases. How much of the surface is affected? And is the base underneath still sound?
- Patch if the damage is limited to a few spots and the pavement around them is in good shape.
- Resurface if cracking and wear show up across most of the lot, or you have patched the same general areas more than once, but nothing is sinking. A 1.5 to 2 inch overlay on a sound base adds 15 to 20 years. See asphalt resurfacing and overlays.
- Replace if sections are sinking, feel soft under traffic or show alligator cracking over large areas. Those are signs the base has failed, and a new surface laid over a failed base will crack again.
| Patching | Resurfacing / overlay | Replacement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Isolated potholes and small failed areas | Widespread cracking or surface wear on a sound base | Failed base or structural damage |
| What it fixes | Only the area repaired | The whole surface | The full pavement structure, from the base up |
| Cost factors | Area, depth, base repair, access | Area, thickness, preparation | Area, excavation, base, paving |
For a longer walk-through with a checklist, see our guide to parking lot repair vs. resurfacing. Not sure which side of the line your lot is on? Request a free on-site assessment.
Asphalt Repair Services We Offer
- Pothole Repair — Cold patch for small/temporary fixes; hot-mix saw-cut patching for permanent repair.
- Crack Sealing — Hot-applied rubberized crack sealer prevents water infiltration and stops cracks from spreading.
- Crack Filling — Cold-pour filler for smaller cracks and lower-traffic areas.
- Patching (Skin & Full-Depth) — Surface skin patching for cosmetic repair; full-depth removal and replacement for failed base.
- Asphalt Resurfacing — When localized repairs no longer make sense, an overlay restores the entire surface.
- Mill & Overlay — Mill the top 1–2 inches and replace with fresh asphalt. Bridges the gap between repair and full replacement.
Which Repair Do You Need?
- Hairline cracks (under 1/4"): Crack filling or sealcoating with crack-fill prep.
- Cracks 1/4"–1": Hot-applied rubberized crack sealing.
- Alligator cracking: Indicates base failure — needs full-depth patching, not just surface repair.
- Potholes under 12" wide: Saw-cut patch with hot-mix.
- Potholes over 12" or with multiple in close proximity: Full-depth patching or localized resurfacing.
- Standing water / birdbaths: Surface grinding or localized overlay to restore drainage.
Not sure? We do free assessments — call (408) 637-4848.
What causes potholes?
Potholes start with water. Cracks let water into the pavement, where it softens the base that carries the load. Traffic then flexes the weakened spot until the asphalt breaks apart and a hole opens. Poor drainage, an under-built base and heavy vehicles all speed the process up.
Caltrans' pavement maintenance guide describes the same sequence: a pothole forms when material in a small, badly distressed area is removed by the action of water and traffic, and it is tied to cracking, poorly compacted asphalt, base failure or simply age. That is why potholes tend to appear after rain. In colder regions freeze and thaw cycles add to the damage. In the Bay Area the main driver is winter rain reaching the base through unsealed cracks.
On a commercial lot they tend to show up first where loads are heaviest and water sits longest: drive lanes, entrances, loading areas and low spots.
Why do potholes keep coming back?
A pothole comes back when the patch only fixes the surface. If the base underneath is still wet or broken, traffic breaks up whatever is placed on top, and the hole reopens in the same spot. A lasting repair removes the failed material, fixes the base and seals out water.
A quick fix fills the hole and leaves. It skips the steps that make a repair last: cutting back to sound pavement, repairing and compacting the base, and sealing the edges so water cannot get back in. Caltrans treats simple pothole filling as a temporary repair for this reason, and notes that the best performance comes when the whole distressed area is dug out and repaved.
In our experience, a pothole that has been patched twice in the same spot is telling you the base under it has not been dealt with. Our post on why potholes keep coming back covers the research behind this in detail.
How long does each repair last?
It depends on the repair type and what is underneath it. A cold-mix patch is a temporary fix that removes the hazard. A hot-mix patch on a sound base lasts longer. A full-depth repair that rebuilds the base lasts longest, because it fixes the cause rather than the symptom.
- Cold-mix patch. A temporary repair. It removes the hazard quickly and can be placed in wet weather.
- Hot-mix patch. Saw-cut and placed hot on a base that is still sound.
- Full-depth repair. Removes the failed asphalt and rebuilds the base before repaving.
What shortens the life of any patch: water left in the base, repairs made in cold or wet weather, poor compaction and heavy loads on a thin section. Caltrans advises treating a patch placed in poor weather as temporary and planning a permanent repair once conditions improve. How long a repair lasts on your lot depends on what we find there, so we go over what to expect during the site visit.
What does patching cost compared with resurfacing?
Pricing depends on what is wrong with the pavement and how the work has to be done, so EARTHTEK prices each lot after a site visit instead of publishing a price list. Patching treats only the damaged areas. Resurfacing covers the whole surface. The comparison shifts when a lot needs the same areas patched again and again, because repeat repairs add up.
What drives the cost of commercial pavement work
- Subsurface condition. Whether the damage calls for a surface treatment, patching, or removal and replacement of failed pavement.
- Surface wear. Whether sealcoating is enough or the surface needs milling and an overlay.
- Striping. Restriping the existing layout versus laying out a new one.
- Square footage and lot size.
- Phasing. Keeping part of the lot open during the work takes extra planning and sequencing.
- Location and travel distance.
- Prevailing wage. Public work can carry prevailing wage requirements.
Why we price from a site visit. Commercial pavement pricing depends on conditions that cannot be seen from the street, and a quote built without them is a guess. A site visit lets us check the condition of the pavement, measure the lot, and plan the work around your business. EARTHTEK offers free on-site assessments and written estimates.
Caltrans makes a similar point about value: a patch is only as cost-effective as it is durable, so a more thorough repair that costs more on the day can cost less over time. Request a free estimate.
What are the best practices for a lasting repair?
A lasting repair follows a set sequence: mark and cut the failed area back to sound pavement, remove the material, repair and compact the base, tack the cut edges, place hot-mix asphalt in lifts, compact it properly and keep water out of the joint. Skipping steps is what makes patches fail early.
- Mark and cut. We outline the failed area and saw-cut a clean rectangle back into sound pavement. Caltrans' rule of thumb is to go about a foot beyond any visible cracking.
- Remove the failed material. The broken asphalt comes out, along with any wet or contaminated base, sometimes 8 to 12 inches down.
- Repair and compact the base. We re-compact the subgrade and add new aggregate base where it is needed. This is the step shortcut patches skip.
- Tack the edges. A tack coat on the vertical cut faces bonds the new asphalt to the old.
- Place hot-mix asphalt in lifts. Thicker repairs go in layers, and each layer is compacted before the next.
- Compact and check. The patch is rolled until it sits flush, with a very slight crown so water does not pond on it.
- Seal the joint. Sealing the patch perimeter with rubberized crack sealant keeps water out of the seam.
Timing matters too. Repairs hold best when they are placed in clear, moderate weather. And repairs come before sealcoating: patch and seal the cracks first, then sealcoat.
Emergency Asphalt Repair
We offer same-week emergency repair for liability hazards: deep potholes, large cracks at intersections, broken speed bumps, and ADA tripping hazards. Call (408) 637-4848.
Equipment We Use
Why Businesses Choose EARTHTEK
17+ years of commercial paving excellence across San Jose and the greater Silicon Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
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EARTHTEK provides commercial paving services throughout San Jose, Silicon Valley, Alameda County, Contra Costa County and the greater Bay Area.
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EARTHTEK Grading and Paving, Inc. holds California Contractor's License #995715 (Class A General Engineering and Class C-12 Earthwork and Paving). EARTHTEK is Diamond Certified and received Cal/OSHA Golden Gate recognition in 2026 for its jobsite safety program.
Request a Commercial Paving Estimate
If the same potholes keep coming back, the next step is an assessment, not another patch. We will walk the lot with you and tell you what needs attention now and what can wait.