I agree with terraprime -- don't archive your files for backup, for the very same reasons you postulate in your original post. Once an archive becomes corrupted, it can be difficult or impossible to repair.
Your best option would be to use a dedicated backup tool, most of which include CRC or at least checksums at regular intervals to permit at least a partial recovery in the event the backup record becomes corrupted somehow. Another option would be to simply copy important files periodically to an external drive, or a network attached storage unit somewhere else in the house. Offline backup of important things using tools like Carbonite or Dropbox are also very effective - if your house or office burns down, laptop gets stolen, or some other catastrophe strikes, offline/offsite backup can mean the difference between inconvenience and impossible recovery.
Greg