Along the Treasure Coast — Sebastian, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie — the defining feature of every paving job is what is underneath it. Sandy sub-base is common through this whole stretch, and it changes the entire calculation.
The good news about sand
Sand drains. Water moves through it rather than sitting in it, which removes the single most destructive factor in Florida pavement — saturated base. Properly prepared, a sandy sub-base is a genuinely good foundation.
The problem with sand
Loose sand does not hold a load. It moves. Asphalt is a flexible pavement — it distributes load down into the base rather than spanning across it like a rigid concrete slab — so if the base moves, the surface moves with it, and cracks follow.
You cannot fix a moving base with a thicker surface. You can only spend more money before it fails.
What proper preparation looks like
How to tell whether it was done
You cannot see the base once the asphalt is down, which is exactly why it is where corners get cut. What you can do is require the specification in writing before work starts — excavation depth, base material and thickness, compaction method — and be present when the base is placed rather than only when the asphalt arrives.
A contractor who will not put the base specification in writing is telling you something about the base specification.
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Iron Ridge Pavement gives upfront, no-obligation pricing on paving, sealcoating, striping and repairs across Florida.
Iron Ridge Pavement builds to a written specification, base included. Ask for it in your estimate.
