Blacktop Alternatives

Paving stones are a decorative alternative to blacktop and can be laid in a number of styles.

While blacktop, also called asphalt, is a popular choice for building roads, pathways and driveways, a few alternatives can provide a different look and often more strength. These products may be designed with unique patterns giving the area an exclusive look. Cost, surface durability, foundation preparation and installation time will vary between products.

Paving Stones

Paving stones, or paving bricks, can be purchased in many different shapes, colors and thicknesses. Some paving stones are interlocking while others are simple rectangular or square shapes that are installed side by side. A variety of sizes are available, and some mimic other material like cobblestone. Different combinations of shape and color can be combined to create patterns and shapes within the stones. Surface preparation will vary depending on local soil types and other environmental factors.

Concrete

While asphalt is usually a dark gray or black, nontinted concrete is a light gray and may stain easier than blacktop. Concrete is a harder substance, and less prone to softening during hot weather than blacktop, which can cool and heat and may lead to heaving. Concrete can be colored, stamped in patterns and laid in large or small slabs that resemble flooring tiles, brick, or other material.

Cobblestone

True cobblestones, not bricks that have been fashioned to look like cobblestones, have a unique look, and since they are made of granite, they are naturally very strong. They are suitable for use for pathways, driveways and small roads. Due to the varying size and shape of cobblestones, they must be hand-laid. The surface may not be as smooth or consistent as either asphalt or concrete which may make snow removal more challenging. Cobblestones can be laid in mortar or dry-laid.

Gravel

Gravel is an economical material used to surface large areas. Different grades and sizes of gravel are available and range from decorative pea gravel for use on pathways to 40-millimeter crushed rock used to construct little-used country roads. Gravel, when used on a road, may require grading to keep the surface from getting a washboard-like surface and to fill in potholes.

References

• Richfield Concrete: Concrete Vs. Asphalt
• Concrete Network: Stamped Concrete
• Landscape Design Advice: Cobblestone Driveway

Resources

• Driveway Tips: Driveway Cost