Last year I filled all the cracks in my blacktop. Well they all re-opened over winter. Darn. Anybody have tricks to fill the cracks so they actually stay sealed for more than a year?

I used to use different kinds that you buy in the stores for years and they never lasted more than a year. I had a driveway business (Jet Black) use the hot melted rubber in the cracks and it was better and lasted pretty good for two years but of course cost much more. MN winters are tough on driveways and mine needs it done again.

If the cracks are wide, you need to clean them out first (a jet of water from the hose works) and fill with sand. This helps the joint to not move as much. And, the hot rubber is the way to go. Line striping guys often do crack sealing too.

My is cracking as well. It will need to be repaired. I want to get a quote on tar and chatting but all the pavers try to discourage you from going that route. I know the state does it to their roads and it seems to last pretty good. Anyone know anything good or bad about tar/chatting?

If you have blow outs as in alligator skin looking spots or where the asphalt has spider webbed that would need to be dug out and replaced most likely the base under it too since asphalt only mimics what under it. If you only have cracks not blow outs blow them out with compressed air not water, water will prohibit the bond that the crack filler will have to the asphalt, thus fore making it reappear sooner. Go buy some cold mix asphalt most asphalt company's make it. If you cant find any that way I believe Lowe's/Home Depot sale a cold mix in a bag. Blow the cracks out with compressed air then fill said cracks that are big enough for the cold mix to fit in then after that hire a good quality crack fill company most asphalt company does this too in the slower season spring and fall if you take those steps you shouldn't have to do it every year if your getting more and more cracks every yr then you more then likely need an overlay done min 3 inches

I've never heard the word 'chatting,' Scout.

It's where they put tar down and the small flake gravel-hence the term "tar and chat".

^^^^^^
Also called "chip sealing".

Gotcha. That might work.

AKA "armor coating"

If anybody gets it figured out, the federal interstates, state highway depts., and municipalities would love to know it. When temps vary from 110+ in summer to -30 in winter, and moisture underneath at all times, it's gonna happen. Lots of expansion and contraction going on, and concrete and asphalt doesn't expand and contract well. Add to that the weight of heavy traffic. My best suggestion is to get into business replacing concrete and asphalt, there's money to be made!

ie expensive

I might try putting some sand in the cracks 1st.
I also like the idea of adding chips on top. I have to get me some of those little chips and try that this summer.

any idea of the cost ratio of tar and chatting compared to repaying? I'm going to have to do something in the next year or so. I have about 300' x 10'.

Around here the chip and seal is performed by larger firms focusing on road projects, with too much to do already. It’s almost impossible to even get a quote on a residential property. Mobe and set up costs push prices.
On the flip side there are several choices for driveway pavers set up to mobilize.
Could be totally different in your neck of the woods.
As far as value, chip seal should be south of half price to even consider imo.

I plan to try a tar and chip type process myself: put tar (sealer) in the cracks & then douse those cracks with miniscule pebbles.

I've often wondered if adding heat (torch) would help my crack filling effort.

Heat is good however your success/ failure is merely a reflection of the product chosen to perform the task.

Stay away from pourable homeowners products. Call a contractor.

The tar and chip process does work great on roads in my area. I've never seen a homeowner have it done though. But I haven't given up on trying to find a contractor to come in and use that method to fix my cracks.

Make sure if you clean the cracks with water you let them dry before you add crack filler. Hot crack filler is better than cold crack filler. Also sand is a good idea as well, bring the crack up to about 1 inch of so then apply your crack filler. Make sure once again that the sides of the crack are clean so the crack filler can adhere to a clean surface.