Paving Prep contractors cost and hiring guide

Project guide

Hiring paving prep contractors

Paving preparation is the earthwork under asphalt or concrete: cutting the subgrade to plan, undercutting and replacing soft spots, placing and compacting aggregate base in lifts, and proof rolling with a loaded truck to find anything that pumps before the paving crew shows up. Asphalt is only as good as what is under it, and most premature cracking and rutting traces back to a thin or poorly compacted base rather than the mix. Base thickness runs from about four to six inches of crushed stone under a residential driveway to eight to twelve inches or more under a commercial lot or a road, compacted to 95 percent or better of maximum density, with the surface held to within a fraction of an inch of grade so the asphalt lift is uniform. Prep contractors often also handle the curb subgrade, drainage structures and the connection to existing pavement.

GradeLine lists 835 paving prep contractors.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.

Listed businesses are based in Northlake, Dayton, Leadville North, Live Oak, Ossian, Dedham, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.

What paving prep work costs

Subgrade preparation and aggregate base typically run $1.50 to $4 per square foot, with undercut and replacement of bad soil adding $20 to $40 per cubic yard. Base for a residential driveway commonly costs $1,000 to $4,000, while a one-acre commercial parking lot can run $60,000 to $175,000 for prep alone depending on cut depth and stone thickness.

Ranges are national and approximate; regional labor rates, material prices and site conditions move them in both directions.