Driveway Excavation and Base Prep
A driveway is only as good as what is under it. We do the excavation, the base, and the drainage that keeps it from washing out.
Why driveways fail early
Driveways fail from underneath. Not enough stone, stone laid on soft or wet subgrade, or no thought given to where water crosses. Around here the long sloped driveway that concentrates runoff at one point is the classic version, and the gravel ends up in the road every spring.
Getting the base and drainage right is unglamorous and it is most of the value. Paving over a bad base buys you a few years.
How we do it
Every job runs the same sequence. If something changes it, you hear about it the day we find it.
Strip to competent subgrade
Topsoil and soft material out. Building on soft ground guarantees settlement.
Deal with the water first
Cross drains, culvert, or a swale where runoff crosses. Doing this after paving means tearing paving up.
Stone in compacted lifts
Depth set by use and soil. Compacted as it goes, not at the end.
Shape for drainage
Crown or cross fall so water sheds instead of sitting.
Ready for surface
We prepare the base. Asphalt and concrete surfacing is coordinated with the contractor doing that work.
What it costs
What moves the number
Driveway work is priced by area, depth of stone, and how much material has to leave.
| Work | What changes the price |
|---|---|
| Gravel driveway, excavation and base | Length, width, and stone depth |
| Base prep for asphalt or concrete | Area, subgrade condition, and haul off |
| Culvert or cross drain | Pipe size, depth, and headwall |
| Regrade and re-stone an existing drive | Existing base and added material |
Soft or wet subgrade is the most common surprise. It means more excavation and more stone, and we will show you what we found before adding to a number.
We price off a site visit, not off a photograph, so you will not find a number on this page. You will get a written scope with a fixed price in it, and it will say what is included and what is not before you are asked for anything.
The work
Photographs from our own jobs.
Do you pave?
We do the excavation, base and drainage. Asphalt and concrete surfacing is done by the contractor who specializes in it, and we coordinate the schedule so the base is ready when they arrive.
How deep should the stone be?
It depends on soil and what is driving on it. Residential is commonly six to ten inches over competent subgrade, more where the ground is soft or trucks are involved.
My gravel keeps washing into the road. Can that be fixed?
Usually. That is a drainage problem before it is a gravel problem. It normally means adding a cross drain or reshaping so water leaves before it can pick up speed.
Need driveway excavation in the North Hills?
Send a few photos and what you have in mind. You get a straight answer about scope and what the job involves before anyone asks you for money.