Why the base matters in Calverton Park
North County sits on rolling upland with the clay-heavy soils common around St. Louis. Clay holds water, then swells and shrinks, and that movement shows up as cracking. Winter freeze-thaw turns those cracks into potholes. Good drainage and a properly compacted rock base do more for a drive than extra inches of asphalt.
When you compare bids, ask each contractor for three numbers in writing: the compacted asphalt thickness, the base depth, and what happens to the water. Those three decide how long the surface lasts.
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 Calverton Park estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.