Bastrop has a combination of soil types that does not exist in most Central Texas cities. The sandy loam soils of the Lost Pines area drain fast but compact loosely, and they are laced with the root systems of mature loblolly pines and hardwoods that push under driveways and walkways over years. When those roots grow, crack, or rot, they leave voids under the surface that cause heaving and collapse. Add to that the clay-heavy soils in other parts of the city - soils that swell in wet seasons and shrink in drought - and you have two very different ground conditions that each require a specific approach to base preparation and drainage.

The hot, humid summers in Bastrop accelerate the breakdown of unprotected asphalt, and the region does experience strong spring thunderstorms that drive water into any surface crack. Properties near the Colorado River and its lower-lying tributaries face additional drainage pressure. The FEMA floodplain maps for Bastrop County include significant areas along the river corridor, and proper surface grading is one of the most practical steps a property owner can take to reduce standing water and flood-related damage to paved surfaces and structures.

Bastrop is the county seat of Bastrop County, sitting on the Colorado River about 30 miles southeast of Austin along Highway 71. Founded in the 1820s, it is one of the oldest towns in Texas, and its historic downtown along Main Street retains much of its 19th-century commercial character. Residential neighborhoods near the core include older wood-frame and brick homes, many of them over 75 years old, while newer subdivisions have spread outward along the Highway 71 corridor as Austin's metro growth has reached Bastrop County. The city sits at the heart of the Lost Pines region - an isolated stand of loblolly pines that gives Bastrop a wooded, forested character unusual for Central Texas - and Bastrop State Park just east of town draws residents and visitors into that forest year-round.

The mix of old and new construction across Bastrop means contractor needs vary widely by neighborhood. Homes near downtown often have pier-and-beam foundations, aging driveways, and mature trees immediately adjacent to paved surfaces. Newer homes on the edges of town sit on slab foundations with shorter driveways and more open lots. Highway 95 runs north-south through town, and Highway 71 is the main link to Austin to the northwest. We also cover Lockhart, TX to the west and Kyle, TX along I-35, keeping our crews active throughout this corridor of Central Texas.