Ground, water and winter in Bethalto
Bethalto drains west to the East Fork of the Wood River and, on its east side, toward Indian Creek. Water that sits on or under pavement is what breaks it down, especially with the clay-heavy soils common around St. Louis and freeze-thaw winters. We grade for runoff, remove soft soil and compact the rock base in layers.
Bids are only comparable when they spell out the same things: base depth, compacted thickness, how edges are finished, and where water is meant to go. Ask for those before you pick a number.
Compacted asphaltTypically 2 to 3 in. for a car drive
Stone baseTypically 4 to 8 in., compacted
Drive on itUsually 2 to 3 days, longer in heat
First sealcoatTypically 6 to 12 months after paving
Typical ranges. Your Bethalto estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.