Will Aquaphalt or a cold patch kit actually last for a garage apron?

Aquaphalt is definitely the way to go for a garage apron. I made the mistake of using the cheap bags of standard cold patch from the big box stores a few years back, and it was a total waste of effort. Within two seasons, it basically turned back into loose, oily gravel that tracked everywhere. Aquaphalt actually uses a reactive binder that hardens into something much closer to real hot-mix asphalt once you add water and compact it. For a 2.5-inch depth, you need to make sure you're compacting in layers. Don't just dump the whole bucket and hope for the best. Fill it about halfway, soak it, and use a heavy hand tamper or even the end of a 4x4 post to really smash it down. Then do your final lift. Since the property is empty, you'll have the perfect window for it to set up without someone accidentally turning their tires on it too early, though it's usually driveable in twenty-four hours anyway.

That gap between the sidewalk and the drive needs a different approach. If you just shove asphalt in a narrow 1.5-inch crack, it’s going to eventually pop out or allow more weeds through. Clean that gap out completely with a wire brush or a pressure washer and get all the organic gunk out. Use a **polymeric sand** or a dedicated asphalt crack filler for that part instead of the thick patch material. It is more expensive up front—you’re looking at probably triple the price of the cheap stuff—but the labor of digging out failed cold patch a year from now is much worse. Just make sure the base underneath is solid. If you have soft mud or loose dirt under that bridge, no product is going to stop it from sagging over time. Pack some crushed stone in there first if the subgrade feels spongy.

You're looking at about 10 or 11 buckets of Aquaphalt 6.0 for a 20-foot run at that depth. Don't even bother with a hand tamper for a span that long if you want it flush with the garage lip. Rent a vibratory plate compactor for a few hours. It’ll give you a finish that actualy looks like proffesional grade 9.5mm hot mix. For that 1.5-inch sidewalk crack, skip the sand and grab some Dalton Enterprise PLI-STIX. You melt it in with a propane torch and it creates a permanent rubberized seal. If you just pour cold filler in there, the freeze-thaw cycle will spit it out by March.

While the previous recommendation for a plate compactor is technically sound for achieving optimal density, you must ensure you purchase the 'Fine' 4.0mm aggregate size of Aquaphalt specifically for that garage transition, as the standard 6.0mm grade often results in a porous surface texture that allows water to ingress and undergo deleterious freeze-thaw cycles right against your concrete footer. I whould also caution against using that leftover material for the 1.5-inch sidewalk gap unless you are prepared to meticulously overfill it to account for the neccesary 25% compaction displacement, otherwise, you will inevitably end up with a concave channel that serves as a collection point for detritus and moisture.