Every outdoor surface installation requires excavation and grading to prepare it for laying asphalt, pouring concrete, installing interlocking pavers, or any other road base.
However, the amount of excavation, gravel installation, and grading varies.
Why Does Grading Matter?
- Your driveway, roadway, walkway, or parking lot is only as good as its foundation.
In order to have a high quality, durable surface, the base needs to be stable, level, and solid.
- A well laid and carefully graded sub-base is needed to ensure that water drains properly and flooding is avoided.
We will install your gravel sub-base and grade it to ensure that water runs away from your house, garage, or buildings and drains properly to avoid flooding and pooling when the surface is finished.
Constant traffic and Ontario’s heavy snow and rain can cause dips and shifts in your surface. We will take care of it and have your surface like new in no time. When weather and use damages your gravel or road base surface, we can install more gravel and regrade.
The quality and accuracy of grading and pitching the sub-base is critical to the integrity of the finished product.
Unfortunately, some paving contractors will cut corners or rush the sub-base installation and grading process. As a result, you end up with a surface that doesn’t last as long as it should, or worse . . . a driveway, parking lot, or walkway that causes extensive damage to your house, garage, or buildings due to flooding.
Should My Driveway Grading Be “Crowned?”
Crowning is when you create a high point that runs lengthwise along the center of the road. Either side gradually slopes away from the center toward the edges.
The problem with crowning a driveway is that your tires will straddle the hump in the middle pushing the sub-base and surface away from the center outwards causing it to pull away from the middle and crack. If the base is gravel or another kind of road base, the material ends up on the edges of the roadway causing ruts and a muddy mess.
We do everything possible to avoid or limit cracking and premature restoration or repairs. We grade our sub-bases flat and pitch them on one side so the water runs off and drains properly. Flat grading also prevents pushing so your surface stays where it is supposed to.
Installing Gravel and Grading It Yourself?
We are happy to consult you on your project to help you get the results you want, done right the first time. If you decide, we will gladly do the job and do the services we offer for you.
Call Us BEFORE You Pave!
We have access to the highest quality gravels and grading equipment to tackle any job.
We will evaluate the location and select the best sub-base for the job and purpose. We want your surface to be solid, stable, and lasting, from foundation to surface.
Our reliable professional gravel installers and graders will get your sub-base perfect at a great price. In Paving 360 Ottawa, we guarantee it!