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Gravel driveway grading and repair in Evergreen, Colorado
Ruts, potholes, washboard and soft spots are symptoms. We regrade the driveway down to a firm base and fix the drainage behind the damage, so it holds its shape instead of falling apart after the next storm.
What we fix on gravel driveways
Each of these problems has a cause. Fill or smooth it without fixing the cause, and it comes back.
Ruts
Channels cut by water running down the driveway and by tires following the same line. We regrade the surface and give the water a way off.
Potholes
Low spots where water sits and softens the base until traffic breaks it open. We cut them out, rebuild the base and reshape the grade so water can't pool there.
Washboard
Ripples across the driveway, usually on hills and curves where tires brake and accelerate on loose gravel. We cut it out, regrade and compact a firmer surface.
Soft and sagging sections
Spots where the base has failed underneath. More gravel on top won't hold. We rebuild the base so the surface has something solid to sit on.
Smoothing it over vs. fixing it
A quick blade pass
Drag the loose gravel back into the ruts and holes. It looks good for a few weeks. The low spots, the soft base and the water running down the middle are all still there, so the damage comes right back.
A real regrade
Cut the damage out down to firm material, fix the drainage, rebuild and compact the base where it has failed, and reshape the driveway so water crosses it and leaves. Then the surface goes back on.
We do real regrades. If you're looking for the cheapest quick touch-up, we're probably not the right fit.
Built for mountain driveways
Steep grades, tight curves, cut slopes and heavy monsoon storms. A mountain driveway takes more than a flat suburban one, and the grade has to be right for the slope it sits on.
After 30 years of mountain site work around Evergreen, we know how these driveways fail and what it takes to make them last.
See a before-and-after regradeGrading and repair questions
Can you just smooth out my driveway?
That's not the kind of work we do. A quick smoothing hides the damage for a few weeks, and you end up paying for the same fix again. We find out why the driveway is failing and fix that, so the repair lasts.
How much does gravel driveway repair cost?
Every mountain driveway is different, so there is no one-size price. Our $550 minimum is for the simplest jobs: a few hours of machine work or hand work, using material already on site, with little or no new material. Most driveways fall between $2,000 and $5,000. Long driveways that need a lot of gravel or recycled asphalt, or bigger drainage work like culverts, basins and riprap, cost more, and the largest projects can reach $50,000. We focus on doing the job right, not on the cheapest version of it. Text a few photos and the rough length, and we will tell you what to expect.
How long does it take?
Most jobs take two to three days, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Larger and longer driveways can take considerably longer, and every job is different.
Do you supply the gravel and road base?
Yes. We supply all the materials, so you don't need to buy or arrange anything. All you need to do is review the plan and approve the cost. We do the rest.
When is the best time of year to regrade?
Any time the ground isn't frozen. For the best results, the ground also shouldn't be muddy, and we shouldn't be in the middle of monsoon season. The best times are as soon as the ground thaws in spring, and in the fall after the monsoons.
Ready for a driveway that holds up?
Text a few photos of the problem spots and the rough length, and we will tell you what to expect.
303-276-4500