A better asphalt driveway

It's long-lasting and recyclable, and it weathers extreme temperatures. You can repair small cracks and divots in asphalt, too. Here's what you need to know to get-and maintain-a great-looking asphalt driveway

- JOSH GARSKOF

A "blacktop" driveway can last for decades, driven over tens of thousands of times, with car wheels following the same paths without issue. It can endure weather extremes that raise the temperature of its pitch-black surface as high as 150 degrees F on a sunny summer day, and it can withstand assaults by snowplows, ice choppers, and road salts in winter. If fissures form, they can be filled to keep water from undermining the gravel base below. And when the asphalt layer begins to degrade-before it becomes completely rutted and crumbling-it can be replaced to upgrade a home's curb appeal, make comings and goings easier and safer, and provide a smooth surface for everything from basketball to hopscotch-without the need for a full-scale driveway overhaul.

This type of paving is a combination of liquid binder-asphalt, a by-product of crude-oil refining-and stone aggregate, sometimes with additives that improve its strength, flexibility, and water resistance. "While concrete is king in most of the country, it can crack under the strains of freeze-thaw cycles, so asphalt is a better choice in cold climates," says TOH mason Mark McCullough. Not a fan of asphalt's monolithic black surface? You can imitate the look of early driveways-dirt paths often topped with loose stone or crushed shells-with an asphalt driveway that has a final layer of fine gravel, and you can dress up the edges and entry aprons with granite cobblestones.

Your new driveway may cost $3,000 to $7,000 or more. And, in most cases, there's no way to repair a botched installation; it could be with you for decades. To help you avoid costly mistakes, we've put together expert advice on what to look for in a job well done.

Out with the old, in with the new