Excavation, grading & site preparation
The part of the job nobody photographs and everything depends on. Removal, excavation to depth, subgrade correction, granular placement and compaction — for our own paving contracts and as a standalone service for builders.
Everything above the base is finish work
A paved surface is only as good as what is under it. Excavate too shallow, leave soft clay in the subgrade, place granular in one thick lift instead of two compacted ones, and the surface will fail on schedule no matter how good the asphalt was.
We excavate to the depth the use requires, correct soft spots rather than paving over them, place and compact granular in lifts, and shoot grades so water leaves the site the way it is supposed to.
We also do site prep as a standalone service for builders and landscape contractors — pad preparation, trenching, drainage, and rough and finish grading.
What's included
How the job runs, step by step
Survey & grades
Existing elevations shot, drainage paths identified, and design depths set for the intended use.
Removal
Existing surfaces broken out and hauled to a recycling facility wherever the material allows it.
Subgrade correction
Soft spots dug out and replaced rather than covered. We show you the subgrade before anything goes over it.
Granular in lifts
Granular B and A placed and compacted in lifts to the specified depth, with grades checked as we go.
Finish grade
Final grade shot and confirmed, drainage cuts formed, and the base photographed before it is covered.
Where site prep goes wrong
Excavating too shallow
Saves a few hours and costs the whole surface. Depth is set by the load, not by the schedule.
Paving over soft clay
Clay that pumps under a compactor will pump under traffic. It has to come out.
One thick granular lift
Compaction only reaches so deep. Lifts are what make a base behave like a base.
No grade plan
Drainage designed after paving is not drainage. Grade is decided before base goes down.
Reusing unsuitable material
Old crushed asphalt has a place; wet fill and organics do not go under a paved surface.
Covering the base unphotographed
Once it is paved, nobody can verify it. We document every base we build.
Excavation questions
Do you do excavation without paving?
Yes. We do site prep, pad preparation, trenching and grading as standalone work for builders, landscape contractors and homeowners running their own projects.
How do I know the base was built properly?
Ask for depths and compaction on the quote, and ask to see the base before it is covered. We photograph the prepared base on every job — if a contractor will not show you the base, you are buying on faith.
What happens to the material you remove?
Old asphalt and concrete go to a recycling facility rather than landfill wherever the material allows it. Tipping is charged by the tonne, which is why disposal volume shows up as its own line on your quote.
Excavation & Grading across 26 GTA cities
Book a free site visit
We measure, probe the base and check drainage, then send an itemized written quote within 48 hours. No obligation and no sales pitch.