Infrared Asphalt Repair & Pothole Patching in Southeast Ohio

Permanent infrared restoration, durable cold mix patching, and alligator crack repair for parking lots, driveways, and private roads across Athens County and the surrounding Southeast Ohio region.

Three repair methods, one honest recommendation. We'll tell you which your pavement actually needs.

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How We Repair Potholes

Fremont Surface Care repairs potholes and damaged asphalt in Southeast Ohio using three methods, matched to the damage and the budget. Infrared asphalt repair heats the existing pavement to a workable temperature and thermally fuses it with new material, producing a seamless repair with no cold joint for water to penetrate — the most permanent option available. Cold mix patching with UPM or Aquaphalt provides a durable, immediately trafficable repair that can be placed year-round, including in cold or wet conditions where infrared isn't practical. GatorPave treats alligator-cracked areas where the surface has fragmented across a broad section rather than failed at a single point. All three are available for commercial and residential properties throughout Athens County and the six surrounding counties — Perry, Morgan, Washington, Meigs, Vinton, and Hocking — along with the wider Southeast Ohio region. Every repair begins with a free on-site assessment and a fixed-price proposal within 48 hours. Call (740) 508-2105.

Completed asphalt patch repair on a commercial parking lot in Southeast Ohio

Stop Patching the Same Hole Every Two Years

Traditional asphalt patching creates a cold joint — a seam where new material meets old, with nothing bonding the two together.

That seam is a weakness from the moment it's made. Water finds it, works down the edge, and in Southeast Ohio's freeze-thaw cycles it pries the patch loose from the pavement around it. The patch fails at its perimeter, the hole reopens slightly larger than before, and you're back where you started — usually within a couple of years.

This is why the same potholes reappear in the same places. It isn't bad material or careless work. It's the seam.

Infrared repair removes the seam entirely. By heating the existing asphalt until it's workable and blending it with new material, the repair fuses into the surrounding pavement as one continuous surface. There's no perimeter for water to attack, because there's no perimeter.

Three Repair Methods, Matched to Your Pavement

Infrared Repair

Best for: Permanent restoration of defined potholes & utility cuts
Material: Existing asphalt thermally recycled with fresh mix
Seam: None (fully seamless & thermally fused)
Season: Warm, dry conditions
Traffic Reopen: ~30 minutes
Relative Cost: Higher

Cold Mix Patching

Best for: Budget-conscious repairs, wet/cold weather, urgent safety hazards
Material: UPM or Aquaphalt cold mix
Seam: Yes (joint line at patch perimeter)
Season: Year-round (including cold and wet)
Traffic Reopen: Immediately
Relative Cost: Lower

GatorPave Application

Best for: Alligator-cracked areas where the surface has fragmented
Material: GatorPave reinforced surface treatment
Seam: Continuous blanket over affected area
Season: Warm, dry conditions
Traffic Reopen: Per cure conditions
Relative Cost: Priced by square foot of cracking

When infrared is the right call

Defined potholes, sunken areas around drains and catch basins, raised or settled utility cuts, and trip hazards in otherwise sound pavement. If you want the repair to be the last one you make in that spot, this is the method.

When cold mix makes more sense

Winter repairs, urgent safety hazards that can't wait for weather, properties where budget is the deciding constraint, or pavement already scheduled for resurfacing where a permanent repair would be wasted money. We stock UPM in bulk and use it often — it's a genuinely good product, not a fallback.

When GatorPave is the answer

Areas showing alligator cracking — that interconnected, shattered pattern indicating the surface has failed across a section rather than at one point. Individual crack sealing won't hold in fragmented pavement, and a single patch won't cover it.

Some contractors only offer what they own the equipment for. We'll tell you honestly when the cheaper method is the right one.

What Does Pothole Repair Cost?

Pothole repair is priced by the total square footage of the repair area and by the method used. Here's the structure.

Cold mix patching (UPM)

Under 25 sq ft: $13.00 per sq ft
25 – 100 sq ft: $9.50 per sq ft
Over 100 sq ft: $6.50 per sq ft
6+ Separate Potholes: $9.00 per sq ft

Infrared asphalt repair

$175 per repair. Each repair covers approximately 5.1 square feet. Properties with multiple repairs receive volume pricing — the setup and heat-up cost is spread across the visit rather than charged on each one.

GatorPave alligator crack repair

$6.00 per square foot of alligator-cracked area.

Minimum service charge: $175. Bringing a crew and equipment to your property costs the same whether the repair is four square feet or forty. Smaller repairs are far more economical when scheduled alongside sealcoating, crack sealing, or striping.

What a real job looks like: three potholes totaling 30 square feet at standard depth prices at $9.50 per square foot — $285, in writing, before we start.

Every repair area gets measured on site. You get a written fixed price within 48 hours, and it doesn't change afterward. The assessment is free.

*Pricing effective August 2026. Athens County has no travel charge. Regional counties — Perry, Morgan, Washington, Meigs, Vinton, and Hocking — add a flat $75 travel charge, waived on projects over $1,000. Other Southeast Ohio counties quoted per job. Subject to change; your written proposal is the binding price. **Deep or structurally compromised areas may require full-depth repair, quoted separately. Subject to change; your written proposal is the binding price.

Repaired asphalt around a storm drain catch basin in Southeast Ohio

The Infrared Repair Process

Infrared asphalt heater on heating up damaged asphalt in Southeast Ohio

Phase 1: Thermal penetration.

We position the infrared heater over the damaged area, heating the existing pavement to roughly 325°F. That softens the asphalt without burning or oxidizing it — the distinction that separates infrared from the torch-and-scrape approach.

Phase 2: Restoration and fortification.

Once workable, we rake the area to remove failed aggregate and add virgin asphalt with rejuvenator. This restores the binder in the old material rather than simply covering it.

Using plate compactor on asphalt in Southeast Ohio

Phase 3: Compaction and fusion.

Vibratory compaction fuses the repair to the surrounding pavement, creating a single monolithic surface. Watertight and ready for traffic in as little as 30 minutes.

Finished asphalt repair in commercial parking lot in Southeast Ohio

Phase 4: Inspection and reopening.

We verify grade, drainage, and edge fusion before releasing the area. A repair that ponds water is a repair that fails, so this step isn't optional.

Seamless infrared asphalt repair blended into surrounding pavement

Where Infrared Repair Works Best

Potholes. Quickly eliminates dangerous holes that create liability and trip hazards.
High spots and transitions. Smooths out raised areas without full excavation.
Utility cut restoration. Perfectly blends patches from gas, water, or sewer line repairs into the original surface.
Water ponding and birdbaths. Regrades low spots to restore proper drainage and prevent ice formation in winter.
Failed prior patches. Reworks old cold-joint patches into a seamless surface rather than patching the patch.

Pothole & Infrared Repair FAQs

What is infrared asphalt repair?

Infrared asphalt repair is a method that heats existing pavement to roughly 325°F until it becomes workable, then blends it with new asphalt and compacts the area into a single continuous surface. Because the repair fuses with the surrounding pavement instead of butting against it, there is no cold joint for water to penetrate.

Why is infrared better than traditional patching?

Traditional patching cuts out damaged asphalt and drops in new material, leaving a seam where the two meet. Water works into that seam, freezes, and separates the patch from the pavement — which is why traditional patches often fail within a few years. Infrared eliminates the seam entirely.

How much does pothole repair cost?

Cold mix pothole repair with Fremont Surface Care is priced at $13.00 per square foot under 25 square feet, $9.50 per square foot from 25 to 100 square feet, and $6.50 per square foot above 100 square feet, with a $175 minimum service charge. Infrared repair is $175 per repair with volume pricing for multiple repairs. GatorPave alligator crack repair is $6.00 per square foot.

Do you offer cheaper options than infrared?

Yes. We stock UPM cold mix in bulk and also work with Aquaphalt, both of which cost less than infrared and can be placed year-round including in cold or wet weather. Cold mix leaves a seam and won't last as long, but for urgent hazards, winter repairs, or pavement already scheduled for resurfacing, it's often the sensible choice. We'll tell you which method fits your situation.

What is alligator cracking and how do you repair it?

Alligator cracking is an interconnected, shattered pattern resembling reptile skin, indicating the pavement surface has failed across an area rather than at a single point. Individual crack sealing won't hold in fragmented pavement. We treat these areas with GatorPave at $6.00 per square foot, or recommend full-depth repair when the sub-base has failed underneath.

How long until I can drive on the repair?

Infrared repairs typically reopen to traffic in about 30 minutes once compacted and cooled. Cold mix patches are trafficable immediately. Either way, downtime is measured in minutes rather than days.

Can you repair potholes in winter?

Yes, with cold mix. UPM and Aquaphalt are designed to be placed in cold and wet conditions, which makes them the practical choice for a hazard that appears in February. Infrared requires warmer, drier weather. If you have an urgent winter hazard, call — we can address it now and schedule a permanent repair for spring.

Do you repair potholes in Athens, Marietta, Pomeroy, and Logan?

Yes. We're based in Athens County and work throughout it, along with the six surrounding counties: Perry, Morgan, Washington, Meigs, Vinton, and Hocking. That covers Marietta, Logan, Pomeroy, New Lexington, McConnelsville, and McArthur. We also serve Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Monroe, and Noble counties. Call (740) 508-2105 to confirm coverage for your address.

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Fremont Surface Care — pothole and infrared asphalt repair in Southeast Ohio

The Fremont Surface Care Difference

Ready to Restore Your Property?

Get your free repair assessment. We measure every damaged area, recommend the method that actually fits, and deliver a written fixed-price proposal within 48 hours.

Fast turnaround — detailed proposals within 48 hours of our visit.
Transparent pricing — published rates, fixed quotes, no surprise change orders.
Minimal disruption — most repairs completed and open to traffic the same day.
Warrantied work — one-year workmanship warranty plus manufacturer coverage on all materials.