Community

POTHOLE DIY SOLUTION

25 April 2023 · Platinum Bushvelder

POTHOLE DIY SOLUTION

Thabazimbi – All South African road users are working towards their PHDs in becoming professional pothole duckers, and Thabazimbi is no different. 

We dodge them in the mornings on our way to work while our coffee flasks spill over, and we keep an eye on them when dropping off and picking up the kids from school. Some of us have even lost a tyre—or two—when we’ve been unable to dodge the pesky craters in our streets. 

For this reason, Platinum Bushvelder reached out to one of Thabazimbi Fire and Rescue’s (TFR) directors SJ Malan to find out how a community member can temporarily fix a medium-sized pothole at a cost that comes cheaper than a tyre. 

  • What you will need to fix the pothole:

•      Circular saw (optional) 
•      115 mm or 230 mm diamond blade
•      25 kg tar premix

  • Prices including VAT at local hardware stores 

•     115 mm diamond blade between R41,00 and R57,00
•   230 mm diamond blade between R148,00 and R175,00
• 25 kg tar premix between R100,00 and R136,00

  • How to go about it

1. Place cones or a warning triangle around the pothole to warn oncoming traffic. Ideally, have someone to help control the traffic. 
2. Sweep the designated area with a broom to remove dirt and debris. This will ensure that the area is clear and safe for cutting. 
3. Mark a circle around the pothole with chalk. 
4. Use a circular saw with a diamond blade. Diamond blades are strong enough to cut into the tarred road. Depending on the size of your grinder, you will use either a 115 mm diamond blade, or a 230 mm diamond blade. If you don’t have your own circular saw, find out if you can borrow one from a friend. If all else fails, you don’t need to cut the circle, but it does make for a neater job. 


5. Turn on the circular saw and bring the blade to full speed. Make sure that you use protective eyewear, a facemask, gloves, and earplugs when operating the saw. 
6.  Ease the blade into one end of your marked line, then slowly slide the blade along the cut line until you reach the other end of the line. 
7.  Remove the tar cuttings with a shovel. 
8.  Clear all debris from the pothole. 
9.  Dump the 25 kg tar premix into the hole. 
10. Using a levelling tool or even a plank, spread out the tar evenly. Ensure that the hole is properly filled and that it is level with the rest of the road. 
11. Beacon the area off for approximately 48-72 hours before allowing traffic to pass over the filled hole. 

SJ Malan shares his recipe to effectively and cost-efficiently fix a pothole.

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