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If pavers are uneven but not sunken, lift the affected bricks and check the bedding sand underneath. In many cases, simply smoothing out or adjusting the sand is enough to level them. Add or remove small amounts as needed, then press the pavers back into place and tap them with a mallet until they sit evenly with the surrounding surface.

Asphalt driveways are affordable and able to withstand sub-zero temperatures. The asphalt surface makes it easy to plow snow, and it has excellent traction for slippery winter days. Another benefit: it absorbs heat from the sun and can then help to melt snow and ice more quickly than other surfaces.

An ideal driveway gradient is between 2% and 5%. Anything lower than 1% or higher than 15% can cause problems for your car or property. A driveway with less than a 1% slope increases your likelihood of flooding and water damage, while a driveway with a 15% grade or higher can be too steep for safe traveling.

Interlocking pavers can last 50 years or more, but you’ll need to keep up with some basic routine maintenance to get the most out of them. This includes regularly applying a sealant and keeping up with any weeds that start to grow within them. Avoid metal shovels in the winter, and only salt the pavers ahead of snow and ice if the pavers are part of a necessary walking path—salt and other chemical-based de-icers can take a toll on your pavers over time.