Ground, water and winter in Grayhawk
Ste. Genevieve County has a karst plain of thick loess over limestone, dotted with sinkholes, and the NRCS notes parts of it are poorly suited to building for that reason. Near lakes, low ground stays saturated. We check for soft or settling areas, dig them out and compact rock before paving.
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 Grayhawk estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.