Pavement doesn't fail randomly. It fails where the sitework underneath it was inconsistent.
- Base compaction that varies across the pad telegraphs straight through the asphalt.
- Curb and sidewalk grades that ignore the drainage plan create standing water at the exact spots people walk and park.
- Utility trenches backfilled without proper compaction settle under pavement months after paving crews have moved on.
- Paving scheduled before underground work is fully tested and accepted invites cutting back into fresh work.
- A site that treats paving as a separate contract instead of the last step in one sequence tends to see more warranty calls.
Rather than a generic phase chart, here's how the sequence actually runs on a Central Florida sitework job:
1. Subgrade proof-roll. The compacted subgrade gets proof-rolled and tested before anything else is approved — this is where soft spots get found and fixed, not after curb forms are set.
2. Curb and gutter formation. Curb lines are set to the approved drainage grades, not just the plan sheet, since field conditions can shift flow paths slightly from what was designed.
3. Stabilized base installation. Base material is placed and compacted to spec, with density testing at intervals rather than just at the end.
4. Sidewalk and ADA-critical flatwork. Sidewalks, ramps, and accessible routes are poured to grade before asphalt paving locks in the surrounding elevations.
5. Asphalt paving in lifts. Binder and surface courses go down separately, each compacted and allowed to cure, rather than rushed as one pass.
6. Final punch and acceptance testing. Density cores, grade checks, and a walk-through with the owner's rep close out the phase before the site is turned over.
The Hills of Minneola, a residential community Foshee has been building out in its namesake city, is wrapping up construction by the end of this year — and paving has been one of the last pieces to fall into place. Getting curb, sidewalk, and asphalt right at this stage matters more than it did during rough grading, because there's no more room behind it to fix a mistake before homeowners move in.
- Has the subgrade been proof-rolled and tested, or just visually approved?
- Do the curb and sidewalk grades match the approved drainage plan, or the original plan sheet before field adjustments?
- Were utility trenches under future pavement compacted to the same standard as the surrounding subgrade?
- Is asphalt going down in a single lift to save time, or in proper binder and surface courses?
- What does the punch list look like before final acceptance, and who signs off on it?
For related groundwork, see Foshee's guidance on site preparation services - https://fosheeconstruction.com/blog/site-preparation-services and land clearing and site preparation - https://fosheeconstruction.com/blog/land-clearing-and-site-preparation.
- A paving schedule set before underground utility testing is complete.
- Density testing that happens only at the very end instead of at intervals during base placement.
- Curb grades that don't match how water actually moves across the finished site.
- Asphalt placed in one thick lift instead of separate, properly compacted courses.
- No walk-through or punch list before the paving contractor demobilizes.
Because it locks in every elevation and grade beneath it. Once asphalt is down, fixing a drainage or utility problem underneath means cutting back into finished work, which is expensive and avoidable with the right sequencing.
It depends on soil conditions and moisture, but the base needs to pass density testing before paving proceeds — rushing this step is one of the more common causes of early pavement failure in Florida's sandy soils.
Yes. Base material can lose compaction if it sits saturated, and asphalt paving requires dry conditions. Crews typically build weather contingency into the schedule rather than forcing paving around a storm.
Binder course is the thicker structural layer placed first; surface course is the thinner, smoother top layer. Each is compacted and allowed to set separately, which produces a stronger, more durable pavement section than a single combined lift.
Paving is where every earlier decision on a site becomes visible, for better or worse. Getting base, curb, sidewalk, and asphalt right isn't about the paving crew working faster — it's about everything underneath being tested, compacted, and graded correctly before they ever show up.
Foshee Construction has been sequencing sitework this way in Central Florida since 1994. To talk through a paving or site development schedule, start with the Foshee contact page - https://fosheeconstruction.com/contact.
- Complete Site Prep Minneola - https://fosheeconstruction.com/blog/complete-site-prep-minneola
- Foshee Projects - https://fosheeconstruction.com/projects
- Land Clearing and Site Preparation - https://fosheeconstruction.com/blog/land-clearing-and-site-preparation
- Foshee Construction Blog - https://fosheeconstruction.com/blog
We build bids using HeavyBid and AGTEK because the details matter long before the job starts. When the numbers are accurate and the scope is clearly defined, it sets the tone for how the entire project runs. Estimating isn’t just a step in the process, it’s the foundation we build on.
That same mindset carries into the field. Our crew is trained to work with purpose, follow the Civil Engineers’ Plan to the finest detail, and hold the line on quality. When expectations are clear from day one, there’s no need for shortcuts, and no confusion about how the work gets done.
Clients trust our bid packages because they’re complete and ready to use. Project managers know what we’re covering, what’s excluded, and how we plan to approach the job. That clarity removes friction and lets teams focus on execution instead of interpretation.
As part of our review process, we go into the plans before anything hits the site. We ask the questions early, resolve issues before they show up in the field, and keep RFIs moving. This approach prevents delays and protects the timeline.
Over time, that consistency builds trust. Many of the people we work with today came through referrals from past projects – engineers, GCs, and superintendents who’ve seen how we operate and want the same experience again.
In 2024, Foshee Construction was acquired by Saga Infrastructure Solutions, a national network of civil construction companies. Saga supports regional contractors by giving them access to better tools, long-term resources, and operational backing, without changing how they run day to day.
Foshee will continue to operate under its name, with the same team and field leadership in place.
“From the very time a project starts, we start that partnership. We try to catch as much as we can with the tools that we have. Not everybody is using the software platforms we are. That’s the differentiator: we’re not just bidding. We’re anticipating, problem-solving, and making sure the job runs right.”
— Don, CEO, Saga Infrastructure Solutions
Foshee is now part of a broader regional strategy that includes Florida, the Piedmont Atlantic, Texas, Colorado, and the Arizona Sun Corridor. The name, crews, and standards remain. What’s improving is the support behind it.
