Ground, water and winter in Hillsboro
Jefferson County sits on Ozark border hills and Salem Plateau ridges, with cherty red clay over limestone common on slopes and thick loess on ridges nearer the Mississippi. Clay holds water, and freeze-thaw winters lift pavement built over a wet base. We grade for runoff and compact rock in layers.
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 Hillsboro estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.