A Look At Having Excavation Done So You Can Build Your Own Gravel, Concrete, Or Paver Driveway

Do you live an area that makes it hard to grow grass? Find out how to use nothing more than hardscape materials to finish your property.

A Look At Having Excavation Done So You Can Build Your Own Gravel, Concrete, Or Paver Driveway

5 April 2023
 Categories: , Blog


No matter what kind of driveway you're going to put in, you have to build a solid and stable base to support it. This requires heavy equipment, so you'll want the help of a driveway excavating contractor. 

Explain your project to them so they know if you'll top the base with pavers, gravel, or concrete. They may also want to know if you'll park trucks or other heavy vehicles on the driveway. Then the contractor can plan the best way to build a base that lasts for years.

Here are some steps in the driveway excavating process.

Clear Obstructions Out Of The Way

If there are trees or big rocks in the soil where the new driveway will go, the contractor can remove them with heavy equipment. Tree stumps can be dug out so the roots won't bother the driveway. You may also want nearby trees removed so branches won't scrape the cars or obstruct your vision.

In addition to digging out rocks and other debris in the soil that needs to go, the contactor checks for voids and loose soil so holes can be filled and compacted to keep the soil from shifting later.

Excavate The Base

The contractor needs to remove part of the soil so there is room to add gravel to build up the base. This might involve hauling soil away after it's been dug up. When the soil is out of the way, gravel can be brought in, dumped over the driveway base, and then compacted into the soil.

Grade The Area For Drainage

The driveway excavation contractor develops a plan to ensure proper drainage before the work begins. They may only need to slope the driveway, or they might need to add a drainage system. If your driveway will be gravel, rain may soak straight down to the soil.

Concrete and paver driveways don't soak up water. Instead, the rain needs to roll to the side and drain away or the driveway will deteriorate much faster. Ensuring the base and driveway will drain is an important part of the excavation process.

The amount of work that's needed for driveway excavation depends on whether the land is already clear, if a drainage system is needed, and the type of soil on your property. In some cases, it might be necessary to bring in soil to mix with the aggregate when building up the base.

The excavation process shouldn't take too long, and then you can start building your driveway. Building a driveway yourself is a big DIY job, but when you start with a well-constructed base, you can have confidence your concrete, paver, or gravel driveway will last a long time.

Contact a company like Bay Area Land Management to learn more.

About Me
hardscaping areas that won't grow grass easily

I live in an area that is very difficult to grow grass. If I was to water my lawn a couple of times each day, the grass may grow, but that would cost me a small fortune in water bills and waste a lot of water that could be used for more efficient purposes. Instead of fighting the grass to grow, I decided to embrace the dryness of the area and complete the landscape design using mostly hardscape materials. I used rocks of all sizes coupled with wood to create a yard that I love to spend time in and am very proud of. Find out how to use nothing more than hardscape materials to finish your property.

Tags