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Serving Martinez, CA and surrounding areas. (925) 316-0060
The asphalt you see is only as good as the ground underneath it. We excavate, grade, and compact a proper base so your driveway drains correctly and holds up through every wet season.
Grading and excavation in Martinez involves removing existing material down to stable ground, reshaping the soil to the correct slope, and compacting a crushed aggregate base before any asphalt goes down - most residential driveway projects take one to two days depending on how much material needs to come out and how uneven the existing ground is.
Most people focus on the asphalt they can see, but the ground underneath is what determines how long the pavement lasts. If the base is soft, uneven, or poorly drained, even quality asphalt will start cracking and sinking within a few years. In Martinez, this is especially true because the clay-heavy soils in Contra Costa County expand when wet and shrink when dry - that seasonal movement pushes pavement around from below. Getting the base right before paving is not optional, it is what the whole project depends on.
If water drainage across your property is also part of the problem, we can combine grading with drainage solutions to address both issues in one project.
If puddles sit on your driveway for hours after a storm, or water runs toward your garage door instead of away from it, the ground was never graded correctly or has shifted over time. In Martinez's wet winters, standing water on pavement accelerates cracking and works its way under the surface with every storm.
Cracks that grow wider or longer over a year or two are often a sign that the base underneath is moving or settling unevenly. On clay-heavy soils like those common in the East Bay, this kind of movement is very common. Patching the surface without addressing the base is a short-term fix - the cracks will return next season.
A driveway that used to be flat but now has noticeable high and low spots has a base problem, not just a surface problem. When the ground swells with winter rain and shrinks in summer heat, the pavement above it follows along. Regrading and recompacting the base is the right fix.
Any new asphalt installation needs proper grading and excavation first. Skipping or rushing this step to save money almost always leads to early failure. If you are planning a new driveway or parking pad, grading is the foundation the whole project rests on.
We handle grading and excavation for residential driveways, parking pads, and private roads throughout Martinez and Contra Costa County. Every project starts with a site visit to assess the existing slope, soil type, and how much material needs to come out. We then excavate to stable ground, shape the base to the correct drainage slope, and compact a layer of crushed aggregate before asphalt is placed. For projects where old asphalt needs to be removed and the sub-base rebuilt, this work pairs directly with concrete curbing and sidewalks if you also need new curb edges or border work around the paved area.
We also handle the permit side of things. In California, grading work often requires a permit from the City of Martinez or Contra Costa County depending on where your property sits. We determine what is required, submit the application on your behalf, and schedule any required inspections before paving begins. We can also assess whether drainage solutions should be incorporated into the project if water management across your lot is a concern.
Best for homeowners building a new driveway from scratch who need full excavation, grading, and base compaction before asphalt is placed.
Suited for driveways with widespread cracking or sinking where the sub-base has failed and needs to be excavated, reshaped, and recompacted.
Ideal for properties where water pools on or near the driveway after rain, requiring regrading to redirect flow toward the street or a drainage point.
For Martinez properties on hillside terrain where steep grades, retaining considerations, and water runoff require careful slope planning.
Martinez and the broader Contra Costa County area sit on soils with significant clay content, including the Altamont and related clay-heavy formations common across the East Bay hills. Clay soil swells when wet and shrinks when dry - that repeated seasonal movement is what pushes driveways and paved areas out of shape over time. Proper excavation depth and a well-compacted aggregate base are essential here to prevent pavement from cracking or heaving as the soil shifts. Many homes in established Martinez neighborhoods were built in the mid-20th century, and driveways that were never properly graded at installation have been moving with the soil ever since.
The city's terrain adds another layer of complexity. Martinez rises from the Carquinez Strait waterfront up into rolling hills, and many lots have meaningful grade changes. Getting drainage right is especially important on hillside properties - water needs to move away from foundations and toward the street, not pool against the house or run onto neighboring lots. We work on properties throughout Martinez, CA and nearby Benicia and understand how the local topography affects drainage planning. California grading permit requirements are worth knowing before any project starts - the California Contractors State License Board is a good resource for verifying contractor credentials and understanding licensing requirements for earthwork and paving.
We visit your property to assess the existing slope, soil conditions, and how much material needs to come out. We respond within one business day to schedule, and the estimate visit is free.
If a grading permit is required from the City of Martinez or Contra Costa County, we submit the application on your behalf. Permit processing typically adds a few business days, so we factor that into the schedule from the start.
The crew brings in equipment to remove existing material down to stable ground, then shapes the surface to the correct slope and elevation. Excavated material is loaded and hauled off your property, which may involve several truck trips.
Crushed aggregate base is spread and compacted in layers. Once the base passes any required inspection, asphalt paving follows - often the next day or within a day or two, weather permitting.
Free on-site estimate. We handle the permits. Written quote before a shovel goes in the ground.
(925) 316-0060Martinez sits on some of the most expansive clay soils in the East Bay, and we account for that on every grading project. We excavate to the right depth, use appropriate base material, and set drainage slopes that handle the seasonal movement of clay without pushing the pavement out of shape.
California and Contra Costa County have grading permit requirements that most homeowners are not familiar with. We determine which jurisdiction applies to your address, submit the application, and schedule the required inspections - so you are protected and the work is documented.
We do not grade first and figure out drainage later. Before excavation begins, we plan where the water is going to go - toward the street, a drainage point, or a solution we incorporate into the project. Proper drainage planning is what separates a base that holds from one that gets saturated every winter.
Before any excavation begins, we arrange for underground utility lines to be marked as required by California law. This protects your gas, water, and electrical lines. We also ask about private irrigation or drainage lines that may not appear on utility maps - a detail that matters on older Martinez properties where original plumbing may be unpredictably routed. The National Asphalt Pavement Association outlines best practices for base preparation that we follow on every job.
Grading and excavation is the part of a paving project that you never see once the asphalt goes down - but it is what determines whether the finished surface holds up for years or starts failing after the first wet season. We get this part right so everything that comes after it lasts.
After grading is complete, concrete curbing and border work defines the edges of your paved area and keeps the base material in place.
Learn MoreWhen grading alone is not enough to solve a water management problem, dedicated drainage solutions direct runoff away from your property systematically.
Learn MoreSchedule your free on-site estimate now - the dry season is the right time to grade and pave, and booking early means your project starts before the fall rains arrive.