Six things that decide how much work your driveway needs

Two driveways the same length can be very different jobs. These are the six things we assess on every site visit before putting a written scope together.

Length and width

Obvious, but the width matters as much as the length. A drive that needs widening for a truck or a fire unit takes vegetation work along the shoulders before the grader ever touches the surface.

What the base is made of

Crushed rock, natural gravel, clay or reactive soil all behave differently. Clay holds water and moves, so it needs crossfall and drainage rather than more material on top.

Existing drainage

If there are no table drains, no mitre drains and no culverts, the job includes putting them in. Skipping that step is why some driveways get graded every second year forever.

Slope and scour

Steep sections concentrate water and scour fast. They usually need humps or cross drains to break the run of water into short lengths.

Access for the machine

Narrow gates, low branches, powerlines and soft ground all affect which machine can get in and how long the job takes.

Vegetation crowding the edges

Scrub and regrowth on the shoulders keeps the surface damp and stops it drying out after rain. Mulching it back is often part of the fix, and we can do both in one visit with one machine.

We do not quote driveway work over the phone. We come out, look at the surface, the drainage and the access, then put a written scope and price in front of you.

Got a job in mind? Send your address and we'll come out, have a look, and put a written quote together. No obligation.