Loading...
Serving Chico, CA and surrounding areas. (530) 399-1812
Asphalt is only as good as what is underneath it. We shape, excavate, and compact the ground correctly - so your driveway does not crack and sink after the first wet winter.
Grading and excavation in Chico means reshaping the ground to the correct slope, digging out unstable or old material, adding compacted aggregate base, and creating a firm, even surface that sheds water away from your home - most residential driveways take one day or less before paving can begin.
This is the step that determines whether your asphalt lasts years or starts cracking within a season. Skipping or rushing grading is the single most common reason driveways fail too early - the problem shows up as cracks, low spots, and water pooling, all of which trace back to what was or was not done underground. If you are planning a new driveway, this is where the project actually starts. And if an existing driveway keeps developing problems, it is often because the base was never done right in the first place. In those cases, we pair grading work with concrete curbing and sidewalks where the project scope calls for it.
We also handle drainage solutions as part of or alongside grading work, because water management is inseparable from proper site preparation in Chico's clay-heavy soil.
After winter rain, puddles sit on your driveway or near your garage door. Standing water signals the surface was not graded properly - or has shifted over time due to Chico's clay soil movement. Regrading corrects the slope so water drains away cleanly and stops attacking your base.
Sections of your driveway that have dropped, heaved, or pulled apart are a sign the base underneath was not properly prepared originally. Chico's clay soils shift with every wet-dry cycle, and those movements eventually show on the surface. Repaving without regrading just repeats the problem.
You are ready to replace a gravel driveway or pave a bare dirt area. Before any asphalt goes down, the ground needs to be shaped, excavated to the right depth, and compacted - starting with a proper grade is the only way to get a surface that performs for years.
Rainwater flows toward your house rather than away from it. Regrading the area around your driveway can redirect that flow and protect your foundation from the slow damage that standing water causes through Chico's wet winters - one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your home.
We handle full site preparation from scratch and regrading of existing surfaces. For new projects, we excavate to the required depth - accounting for Chico's clay soils, which typically need more depth than sandier ground - add and compact a crushed aggregate base layer, and shape the surface to a precise drainage slope before any asphalt is placed. We use motor graders, skid steers, and plate compactors to cut high spots, fill low spots, and verify slope and compaction before calling the grading phase complete.
For properties being rebuilt or expanded, we coordinate grading work with the paving phase and with any concrete curbing and sidewalk work so everything ties in cleanly. We also handle material removal and haul-away - excavated soil, old pavement, and debris are cleared from your property so the paving crew has a clean site to work with. Drainage planning is part of every grading job: we think about where runoff goes during Chico's wet season before the first pass with the grader.
For homeowners starting from dirt or gravel - full excavation, aggregate base, and grading before the asphalt crew arrives.
For surfaces that have shifted, settled, or developed drainage problems over time - we correct the grade before repaving so the same issues do not return.
For projects where old pavement or excavated material needs to leave the site - we handle disposal and leave your property clean.
For business owners needing a larger area prepared - we handle the full base preparation scope so the paving phase can proceed on schedule.
Much of the Chico area sits on heavy adobe clay soil - the kind that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. This seasonal movement is the dominant reason driveways crack and shift here, not freeze-thaw cycles. When a driveway is paved over a base that was not excavated deep enough or compacted properly, the clay movement below has nowhere to go except up through the asphalt. Contractors familiar with Chico's soil conditions know to excavate deeper than they would in sandier ground and to use a substantial compacted aggregate layer to absorb that seasonal movement before it reaches the surface.
In Paradise and Orland, the same soil and drainage conditions apply - and the same rule holds: asphalt paving without proper site preparation is a short-term surface on a long-term problem. The National Asphalt Pavement Association consistently identifies base preparation as the leading factor in pavement longevity - and it is especially true in a climate like Chico's, where summer heat bakes the surface and winter rain tests the base every single year.
Describe your project - new driveway, regrading, or site prep. We respond within 1 business day and schedule a site visit. Grading work always requires an in-person look before we can give you an accurate estimate.
We visit your property, assess the existing grade, soil conditions, and equipment access. You receive a written estimate that spells out what will be excavated, what base material will be added, how drainage will be handled, and what the timeline looks like.
We arrive with the right equipment and begin removing existing material to the required depth. We shape the ground to the correct slope, add crushed aggregate base, and compact everything in layers. We verify slope and compaction before calling the grading phase complete.
After grading is complete, we walk the site with you to confirm slope and drainage look right before the paving crew arrives. The site typically needs at least a day to stabilize before asphalt is laid - we coordinate the paving schedule so the transition is seamless.
We assess your site in person and give you a written estimate before any work begins - no pressure, just a clear picture of what your project needs.
(530) 399-1812We work in Chico's adobe clay conditions every week. We know how deep to excavate and how to build a base that does not shift with the seasons - because we have seen what happens when the groundwork is skipped or rushed in this specific soil type.
We do not just level the ground - we think about where water goes during Chico's wet winters before the first pass with any equipment. Proper slope protects your foundation and keeps runoff away from your neighbors, which matters in a city built on clay that drains slowly.
If your project touches the area between your property and the street, city or county approval is likely required. We know Chico and Butte County's local requirements and handle the process for you - so you do not find out mid-project that a permit was needed.
California requires a contractor's license for grading and paving work on your property. You can check any contractor through the California Contractors State License Board before you hire. We are fully licensed and insured on every job.
Good grading is invisible once the job is done - water runs off cleanly, there are no puddles, and the surface feels solid underfoot. Poor grading shows up quickly and expensively. We do this step right because everything built on top of it depends on it.
Borders and edge work that tie in with graded and paved surfaces - keeping your project looking complete and professional from edge to edge.
Learn MoreWater management installed alongside or after grading to direct runoff away from your home and prevent base damage through Chico's wet winters.
Learn MoreChico's summer window is the best time for site prep - schedule your free estimate now and lock in your spot before the calendar fills.