Typical New-Driveway Scope
- Route layout and cut — we walk the proposed route, flag the centerline, then cut and bench into the hillside to get a usable grade. Most rural WNC driveways run [Phil: max driveway grade B&B builds to — e.g., 10–12%]; steeper than that and you'll have trouble in ice.
- Base stone — we lay NCDOT ABC stone (Aggregate Base Course, also called crusher-run) typically [Phil: typical ABC base depth in inches] deep on a compacted subgrade. Skipping the base is the #1 reason cheap driveways fail.
- Surface stone — a finish lift of #57 or #67 washed stone on top of the ABC for a cleaner driving surface. Or stop at ABC for a working-truck driveway.
- Drainage — culvert pipe under the entrance (sized to county DOT spec), ditches where surface water needs to go around the driveway, and water bars on long slopes to break up sheet flow before it cuts a gully.
- Driveway entrance / apron — culvert + headwall + tie-in to the public road per NCDOT driveway permit requirements (we pull the permit).
Equipment: [Phil: excavator, dozer/skid steer, dump truck make/model]
The Top Three Calls
"I bought land and there's no driveway up to the build site," "My existing driveway washes out every storm," and "The culvert at my entrance is crushed."
For raw land, an honest answer often includes "this route is too steep and you'd be better off coming in from a different side" — we'll tell you that before you pay us to build the wrong driveway.