Service
Excavation, Grading & Site Prep
Excavation, grading, subgrade preparation, compaction, and gravel base installation. Available as part of a complete paving project or as a standalone service for contractors, builders, and property owners.
Site preparation for asphalt paving projects, including excavation, grading, subgrade preparation, compaction, and gravel base installation. Available as part of a complete paving project or as a standalone service for contractors, builders, and property owners.
Strong asphalt starts below the surface. Before any asphalt is placed, the site needs to be properly excavated, graded, compacted, and prepared with the right base structure. When this work is done correctly, the finished pavement drains properly, carries traffic loads, and lasts for decades. When it is done poorly, problems often appear quickly as cracking, settling, drainage issues, potholes, or uneven pavement.
Commercial Paving provides excavation, grading, and site preparation services throughout Calgary and the surrounding area. Sites are prepared for commercial parking lots, industrial yards, private roads, driveways, and contractor-led paving projects.
Excavation & Site Prep
Excavation
Commercial Paving provides excavation services for new paving projects, asphalt replacement, parking lot construction, driveway preparation, and contractor site work.
Proper excavation is one of the most important stages of any asphalt project. The site has to be excavated to the correct project requirements, unsuitable material has to be removed, and the subgrade has to be prepared to support the surface above. Skipping or under-building this stage shortens the lifespan of the pavement and leads to premature cracking, rutting, or settlement.
Excavation work is completed in-house using Commercial Paving equipment, which reduces scheduling delays and keeps the project moving without depending on outside excavation crews. Topsoil and unsuitable fill get stripped to the project specification, excavated material is removed from the site, and the area is prepared for grading, compaction, and base installation. Work is coordinated around existing utilities through proper locates. Utilities are not installed, but excavation work is planned carefully around marked services.
Project types
- Site excavation for asphalt paving projects
- Standalone excavation for contractors with their own paving crew
- Removal of existing asphalt or concrete surfaces
- Stripping topsoil and unsuitable fill
- Excavation to required project specifications
- Spoil removal and hauling
Excavation & Site Prep
Grading & Compaction
Grading sets the shape of the site and controls how water moves across the finished asphalt surface. Proper slope is essential for preventing standing water, ice buildup, surface deterioration, and premature pavement failure.
Compaction is equally important. Before gravel base or asphalt is installed, the subgrade has to be compacted to the project specification so the finished surface has stable support beneath it. If the subgrade is soft or uneven, the asphalt can settle, crack, or shift over time.
Commercial Paving provides grading and compaction services for new asphalt construction, parking lot regrading, yard grading, driveway preparation, and standalone contractor projects. The site is graded to create proper drainage and surface flow based on the needs of the project, then the subgrade is compacted to specification before base material is installed. Grades are also adjusted around catch basins, curbs, sidewalks, buildings, and existing pavement tie-ins to create a smooth, functional final surface.
Project types
- Subgrade preparation for new paving
- Parking lot grading and regrading
- Commercial yard grading
- Driveway grading
- Standalone grading for contractors, builders, and developers
- Slope adjustments around drains, curbs, entrances, and tie-in points
Excavation & Site Prep
Base Preparation
The gravel base is the structural foundation of an asphalt surface. Asphalt spreads traffic loads across the base below it, so the strength and stability of that base directly affect how long the pavement will last.
If the base is too thin, poorly compacted, or holding water, the asphalt above can crack, settle, rut, or fail prematurely. Proper base preparation creates a stronger, longer-lasting pavement surface for commercial, industrial, and residential projects.
Commercial Paving installs gravel base to the required project specifications, places material in proper lifts, and compacts each lift using the correct equipment for the site conditions. Base requirements are determined by the project, expected traffic, soil conditions, and pavement use. Each lift is compacted to specification before the next layer is added or paving begins.
Project types
- Gravel base installation for new asphalt surfaces
- Base correction during asphalt removal and repair
- Standalone base preparation for third-party paving crews
- Commercial parking lot base prep
- Industrial yard base prep
- Driveway base preparation
Frequently asked
Common excavation & site prep questions.
Why does base prep matter so much?
Asphalt distributes load to the base. If the base shifts, settles, or holds water, the asphalt fails above it. The base is the difference between a 5-year and a 20-year surface.
Are utilities handled?
Work happens around existing utilities, with locates coordinated through the utility companies. Utility installations are not part of the scope.
Is the strip and spoil hauled away?
Yes. Removal and disposal is included in the excavation scope.
Concrete and line painting are also coordinated on bundled jobs.
When curbs, sidewalks, line painting, or wheel stops are needed as part of a paving project, that work gets handled alongside the asphalt. One point of contact, one invoice, one schedule. Standalone concrete or line-painting work is not offered.
Other services
Ready for a quote?
Call, email, or send the project details through the form. A reply usually goes out the same business day with straight answers.
Or email directly at sales@commercialpaving.ca