What's under a St. Clair driveway
Ozark ground here runs from rocky hillside to slow-draining clay in the flatter spots, and the two need different prep. Water under pavement is what breaks it, especially through freeze-thaw winters. We grade for runoff, remove soft soil, and compact rock in layers so the base stays put when the frost leaves.
Before you sign anything, get the base depth and the compacted asphalt thickness on paper. Two bids that look far apart are often just two different pavements.
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 St. Clair estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.