What's under a Clarkson Valley driveway
Wooded hills and valleys mean slopes, shade and roots. Water runs fast downhill and lingers where trees keep the ground damp. The clay-heavy soils common around St. Louis swell and shrink through the seasons, and freeze-thaw winters lift any water trapped under pavement. Drainage and a compacted base come before 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 Clarkson Valley estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.