Service 08
Driveway Renovations & Track Grading.
Driveways and tracks graded so water runs off the surface.
What This Means
Driveways and tracks re-crowned and graded, corrugations gone.
We reshape rutted, potholed and washed-out driveways and farm tracks, re-crowning the surface and cutting table drains so water runs off instead of sitting in it.
Most drives can be brought back with what is already there. If the base is worn out, you will need fresh gravel carted in and we will tell you that up front.
Late autumn and early spring give the best finish, when the surface has moisture in it but is not saturated.
Corrugations, potholes and wheel ruts are cut out rather than filled over, the surface is re-crowned to shed water both ways, and table drains and culvert entries are opened up so the water has somewhere to go.
We also cut new tracks and reopen old ones that have grown over, and we can supply and spread gravel or road base where the existing base is worn out.
If Left Unchecked
What another year costs you.
Most people put this work off one more season. Here's what actually happens when you do, straight, no fearmongering.
Read the full breakdown →- 01A driveway without proper drainage cuts out one wet season at a time, by the third year you're looking at a full rebuild instead of a maintenance grade.
- 02Choked or washed-out access tracks stop fire trucks, ambulances and contractors getting to the back of your property when it matters.
- 03Corrugations wreck vehicles, shake gear loose and slow every trip in and out of your property.
- 04Old tracks left to regrow get harder to re-open every year, what's a day's work now becomes a week of mulching and grading in five years.
Common Questions
Driveway Renovations & Track Grading, asked and answered.
Can you fix a driveway that's washed out and full of potholes?
Yes, that's core work. We reshape the surface, re-crown so water sheds to the sides instead of running down the middle, and fix corrugations and washouts. Where drainage is the underlying problem we can pair it with a culvert or spoon drain so the fix actually holds.
Do you cut new access tracks through scrub?
Yes. We mulch the vegetation line first, then grade the track surface to shape. One machine, one operator, tracks cut to the width and grade you need for the vehicle or gear that'll use them.
How often should a rural driveway be graded?
Depends on rainfall, use and the base underneath. Most rural driveways in Central Victoria benefit from a grade every 12 to 24 months, more often if you're on clay or getting heavy vehicles in and out. A proper re-crown every few years extends the life a lot.
Do you bring in fresh gravel or work with what's there?
We work with what's there as a first step, reshaping and re-crowning what's on the ground is usually enough to get a driveway back to serviceable. If the base is worn out and you need fresh gravel or road base carted in, we'll flag it at the quote and organise supply separately.
Do you widen entrances and lift branches over the driveway?
Yes. Plenty of drives are wide enough on paper but the real width is the wheel tracks because scrub has closed in and branches hang low. We mulch the shoulders back and lift the crowns so a truck, a tilt tray or a CFA unit can get down without scraping.
What's the difference between a grade and a full renovation?
A grade reshapes what's on the surface and buys you time. A renovation puts the crown and crossfall back, reclaims the gravel that's been pushed to the shoulders, and sorts the drainage so the shape holds. If your drive has been graded twice in three years, you need the renovation.
Can you work on clay driveways that go soft in winter?
Yes, and clay is the one where drainage matters most. Adding material on top of a wet clay base just sinks. We get the water off the surface and away from the drive first, then rebuild the shape.
How much notice do you need for driveway work?
Usually a week or two depending on the season. Driveway and track work is best done when the surface has moisture in it but isn't saturated, so late autumn and early spring generally give the best finish.
Can you re-open an old track that's overgrown?
Yes, common job. We mulch the regrowth back off the line, then grade the surface underneath. Often we find the original base is still fine once the scrub is off it, which saves you the cost of a full new track.
Do you maintain fire access tracks to CFA and council widths?
Yes, part of what we do for APZ and fire season prep. Fire access tracks need to stay trafficable and clear of ladder fuels, and we grade and mulch them to the width your permit or notice specifies.
Also Available
Other Services.
Ready to get started?
Tell us what you're dealing with. We'll come out, have a look, and give you an honest quote, no obligation.