Blacktop and Beyond

repairing blacktop driveway Photo by: Carolyn Betes

repairing concrete

REMOVE dirt and weeds from cracks with a trowel or screwdriver and sweep out loose dirt and debris.

CLEAN cracks with high-pressure spray from a hose, then treat them with weed killer before patching.

patching driveway cracks

PATCH cracks using one of the specialized concrete or asphalt repair products mentioned in this story. Fill deep cracks with gravel or sand first.

concrete driveway

asphalt driveway

crushed stone and gravel driveway

pavers and cobblestone driveway

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Driveways aren't just for cars. Many of the 75 million driveways in the U.S. do double duty as play areas and convenient work spaces for all kinds of projects. But an increasing number of driveways are showing their age: cracks, heaving, spalling and other signs of distress. Many of these surfaces can be renewed with the procedures described in "Renewing Your Driveway." Others will have to be replaced.

Although 90 percent of driveways in the United States are either asphalt or concrete, there are a number of other options including crushed stone, gravel, cobblestone and interlocking concrete pavers in a variety of patterns. Prices range from $1 per square foot for stone and gravel to $13 or more for cobblestone paving.

To make your decision easier, we'll lay out the pros and cons as well as costs for each of the four major driveway materials, and include a few of our own recommendations. But first we'll detail repair methods for concrete and asphalt to help you make the driveway (and basketball court/outdoor workshop) last as long as possible.

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