Built for Williamson's ground
Ground here drains southeast through tributaries of Silver Creek, and the upland soil is thick windblown loess silt that compacts well but holds moisture. Freeze-thaw winters then lift pavement sitting over a wet base. We remove soft material, build rock in compacted lifts and set grade so water leaves the surface.
A cheap bid usually gets cheap somewhere you cannot see. Ask what depth of stone goes down, how thick the asphalt is after rolling, and who fixes it if water still stands.
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 Williamson estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.