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Serving Hollister, CA and surrounding areas. (831) 245-4724
Every driveway is only as good as the ground underneath it. We grade and excavate to the right depth, compact the base properly, and build in drainage - so your new pavement holds up through Hollister's wet winters.
Grading and excavation in Hollister means removing existing soil and surface material, reshaping the ground to the correct slope and elevation, and compacting aggregate base material in layers - most residential driveway jobs take one to three days depending on size and how much material needs to be removed.
This is the step that determines whether your pavement lasts or fails early. Hollister's clay-heavy soils expand and contract with every wet-dry cycle, and properties near the Calaveras Fault face additional ground movement year-round. Proper excavation depth and a well-compacted base are not optional extras here - they are what separates a driveway that holds up from one that cracks and sinks after the first few winters.
If your project also needs water management after grading is complete, we can pair this work with drainage solutions to direct runoff away from your foundation and landscaping from day one.
Standing water collecting near your home after Hollister's winter rains means the ground around your driveway or parking area is not draining correctly. Regrading the surface to direct water away from your foundation prevents long-term moisture damage at far less cost than foundation repairs.
Low spots and dips in a paved surface mean the ground beneath has shifted or settled - something that happens more quickly in Hollister's expansive clay soils. Before new asphalt can be laid, the underlying ground needs to be re-excavated and properly compacted so the same problem does not repeat.
Any new asphalt surface starts with grading and excavation - this step is not optional. Getting it right from the start determines how long your new pavement lasts. Skipping or rushing base preparation is the single most common reason paved surfaces fail early.
On sloped lots around Hollister, soil erosion during the rainy season can undercut driveways and leave crumbling edges and exposed base material. Regrading the surrounding area and improving drainage can stop the erosion and stabilize the surface before it gets worse.
Whether you are installing a brand-new driveway, replacing a failed surface, or fixing a drainage problem that is pushing water toward your garage, the right foundation starts with proper excavation and grading. We handle the full scope - site assessment, permit coordination if needed, soil removal and haul-away, base material delivery, and compaction layer by layer.
After grading is complete, we can also install concrete curbing and sidewalks to define the edges of your new surface and manage where water flows. Combining grading with curbing and drainage in one project typically saves time and gives you a finished result you are not patching around later.
For homeowners starting fresh - full excavation, grading, and compacted base before any asphalt is laid.
For failed or heaved driveways where the old surface is removed, base corrected, and drainage regraded before repaving.
For existing properties where water pools near the foundation or garage, corrected with targeted slope adjustment.
For hillside or valley-edge properties that need level pads, retaining consideration, and runoff management built into the grade.
The Hollister Valley sits on alluvial soils with a high clay content that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. A contractor who does not account for that movement when setting excavation depth and base thickness is setting your pavement up to fail. On top of that, the slow fault creep along the Calaveras Fault means the ground here never fully stays put - which is why base compaction and drainage grading matter more in this area than in most of California. The U.S. Geological Survey documents the unique seismic activity and expansive soil conditions in the Hollister area extensively.
We work throughout the Hollister area, including flat suburban lots near town as well as the rolling terrain around Hollister and the rural properties and private roads around San Juan Bautista. Sloped lots need more care and sometimes additional drainage channels - we assess that during the initial visit and include it in the written estimate.
We come to your property, look at the existing surface and drainage, and measure the area. You get a written estimate that day - and a clear explanation of what the work involves before you commit to anything.
We determine whether your project requires a grading permit from the city or county before work starts. If one is needed, we handle the application. Expect a week or two of added lead time if permits apply.
The crew brings equipment to remove existing surface material, old asphalt, or excess soil. Excavated material is loaded and hauled away. Depth depends on what is underneath and what the finished surface needs to support.
With the area cleared, we grade the exposed soil to the correct slope, bring in aggregate base material in layers, and compact each layer before adding the next. In Hollister's clay-heavy soils, this step gets extra attention to ensure the base stays stable.
We come to your property, assess the soil and drainage, and give you a clear written quote. No pressure, no guesswork.
(831) 245-4724We have completed grading and excavation projects throughout Hollister and San Benito County and understand how local clay soils behave through wet and dry seasons. That knowledge shapes every excavation depth and grade decision we make on your property.
We compact base material in layers - not all at once. This method, recommended by the National Asphalt Pavement Association, produces a stable, uniform base that resists the settling and heaving that ends driveways early in Hollister's soil conditions.
We check permit requirements at the city and county level for every project before we start. If a permit is needed, we manage the application process. You do not have to navigate that on your own or worry about compliance after the fact.
California requires a current contractor's license for grading and paving work. You can verify ours on the CSLB website in under a minute. We also carry liability insurance and workers' compensation - so you are protected if anything unexpected happens on your property.
The base we prepare is the foundation your pavement sits on for its entire life. We do not rush it, and we do not skip steps - because cutting corners on the base means calling us back in two or three years, and that is not how we want to earn repeat business.
Concrete curbing and sidewalk installation to define edges and manage runoff after grading work is complete.
Learn MoreFrench drains, catch basins, and channel drains that work alongside proper grading to move water away from your property.
Learn MoreLate spring through early fall is the best window for grading work in Hollister - call us now to get on the schedule before it closes.