A method of selecting a crack resistant layer to be applied to an existing surface, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one bituminous binder to examine, where the bituminous binder comprises bitumen and one or more polymers, where the one or more polymers include a sufficient amount of conjugated diene such that at least 2.5% of the bituminous binder's weight comprises conjugated diene, preferably at least 3.0%, more preferably at least 3.5%, and most preferably 4.0%; forming at least one bituminous mixture comprising the bituminous binder and an aggregate; testing each bituminous binder for binder fracture energy properties; and selecting a bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer. The method may further comprise the steps of testing the bituminous mixture for fatigue properties and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on fatigue properties and binder fracture energy properties, and/or testing the bituminous mixture for fracture energy and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on mixture fracture energy properties and bituminous binder fracture energy properties.