What's under a Terre du Lac driveway
St. Francois County is Ozark highland: gently rolling plain in places, dissected cherty hills in others. Runoff moves fast on these slopes and slowly in the flats, and freeze-thaw winters exploit whichever holds water. We plan drainage first, remove soft soil, and compact the rock base in layers 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 Terre du Lac estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.