Ground, water and winter in Kinmundy
This far east the ground is level and the soils hold water, so a surface built without a grade holds it too. Winter runs across the freezing point many times, and every cycle pushes water deeper into a crack. We grade for runoff, remove material that will not compact, and build rock in layers so frost has little to lift.
Bids are only comparable when they spell out the same things: base depth, compacted thickness, how edges are finished, and where water is meant to go. Ask for those before you pick a number.
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 Kinmundy estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.