Fixing Potholes in the Rain

By the Permanent Pothole Solutions team · Updated 26 October 2026

Wet weather is when potholes appear fastest, and it’s when hot asphalt crews can’t work. A cold mix you can lay in the wet means the hole gets fixed the day it appears, not weeks later.

Tips for wet repairs

Scoop out mud and loose stones; the water can stay
Over-fill slightly and compact firmly to press the water out
Crown the patch so rain runs off it
Apply in conditions anywhere from -26°C to 49°C

Crack filler is different: apply Rubberised Crack Filler at 12°C and rising, and not if rain is forecast within 24 hours. After storms, see our storm repair guide.

The one step not to skip

Compaction is what makes a repair permanent. Curing is activated by impact, and a dense, tightly compacted patch keeps water out — the thing that caused the pothole in the first place. Over-fill slightly, compact firmly, crown the patch, then compact again.

Choosing the right gauge

Mix	Compacted lift	Best for
5 Gauge	12.5–20mm	Shallow repairs and fine finishes (made to order)
7 Gauge	17.5–28mm	Driveways, footpaths, shallow potholes
10 Gauge	25–40mm	All-purpose pothole and road repairs
14 Gauge	35–56mm	Deeper potholes and heavy-duty repairs

Coverage at a glance

15kg bag/bucket ≈ 0.13 m² at 50mm
20kg bag/bucket ≈ 0.17 m² at 50mm
1 tonne bulk bag ≈ 8.7 m² at 50mm

Need an exact number? Use the Asphalt Calculator.

Why Asphalt in a Bag

Permanent. Expands and contracts with the road surface, so the patch moves with the pavement instead of breaking away.
Cures on impact. Curing is activated by compaction — tamp it or roll it and it sets.
Bonds to anything. Adheres to asphalt, concrete, steel and even wood.
Any weather. Apply from -26°C to 49°C, in rain, or straight into a pothole full of water.
No tack coat. No pre-coating or priming. Open, pour, compact.
Traffic-ready. Application is up to five times faster, and it can take traffic immediately.