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Common alternatives to a gravel driveway include concrete, asphalt, brick, stone pavers, and permeable pavers. Concrete and asphalt are generally the most affordable options. However, concrete can be prone to cracking in cold climates, while asphalt may soften in areas with high heat and direct sun exposure. For enhanced curb appeal, brick, stone, and permeable pavers are popular choices, though their installation can be more expensive due to intricate designs. Stone pavers offer a natural look and are sometimes installed with gravel around them. Both permeable pavers and brick driveways provide excellent drainage, which helps prevent flooding and reduce water runoff.

Asphalt and tarmac are not the same thing. Traditional tarmac, short for tarmacadam, uses tar as a binder to hold crushed stone together. Asphalt uses bitumen—a byproduct of crude oil—to bind aggregate. Though tarmac was once a go-to for roads, asphalt has become the modern standard. And these days, most surfaces referred to as “tarmac” are actually asphalt. So, while the names may overlap, the key distinction lies in the binder—tar for tarmac and bitumen for asphalt.

With proper maintenance, asphalt milling driveways can last 30 years or more. Over time, you’ll need to regularly sealcoat your driveway. You should also have your driveway inspected every few years and make any repairs as soon as they are necessary; this will prolong the lifespan of your driveway.

Think of the street as a way to capture all the elements on either side of the road, including the road—a street encompasses the homes or other buildings, the trees, and the road of a given area as defined by the beginning and end of the street on a map. A roadway, however, is the component of the street where cars travel.