Do you do base work on its own?

Yes. Base preparation, grading and base repair are performed as standalone scopes and as part of new paving and reconstruction projects.

What is a proof roll?

A loaded vehicle is driven across the prepared subgrade to find soft, pumping or unstable areas so they can be corrected before base and asphalt are placed.

Why does grading matter so much for pavement life?

Water is the main enemy of pavement. The grade decides whether water drains off the surface or sits on it and soaks into the base.

Excavation and grading equipment preparing an asphalt base

Base prep · Grading

Base preparation and grading: the work that decides how pavement ages.

Asphalt distress can come from surface aging, mix or bonding problems, traffic, drainage and weak support. Base preparation is where new pavement and reconstruction projects are won or lost, and it is the part of the scope that never shows in a photo but can strongly affect future performance.

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Pavement is only as good as what is under it

North Texas clays shrink and swell with moisture, and a base placed over uncompacted subgrade will follow that movement. When required, proof rolling can help identify unstable areas before they are covered. Where the subgrade is weak, it is undercut and replaced or stabilized rather than paved over.

The base course is then placed, moisture conditioned and compacted to the thickness the pavement section calls for. Skipping lifts or compacting a dry base shows up later as rutting and cracking in the wheel paths.

Grade and drainage

Grading sets how water leaves the site. Parking areas are typically graded to consistent cross slopes so sheet flow reaches inlets instead of ponding. Low spots that hold water become soft spots, and soft spots become failures, so the grade is corrected at base stage rather than patched after paving.

Iron Ridge grades and finishes base with the asphalt surface in mind: depths are checked against curb reveal, inlets and transitions before the first load of asphalt arrives.

FAQ

Base Preparation & Grading FAQ: scope, cost and scheduling.

Related services

Services often paired with base preparation & grading.

Commercial Asphalt PavingNew paving, removal and replacement, and rehabilitation for retail, office, multifamily and mixed commercial properties.Industrial Asphalt PavingHeavier pavement sections for truck courts, yards and access roads where light-duty paving will not hold.Asphalt Repair & PatchingTargeted repair of potholes, failed patches and broken pavement, from surface patching to full-depth removal.

Where we work

Base Preparation & Grading service areas and industries.

Service areaDallas Service areaFort Worth Service areaDenton Service areaSherman Who it's forGeneral Contractors Who it's forProperty Managers

Pavement guides

Resources for planning your pavement scope.

Commercial Asphalt Paving Cost in DFWUnderstand DFW commercial paving cost drivers: area, milling, base repairs, thickness, access and bid allowances. No invented rates or project minimums.Chip Seal vs Asphalt in North TexasCompare chip seal and hot mix asphalt for North Texas private and ranch roads: base, traffic, finish, maintenance and cost variables.

Discuss your project

Request a bid for base preparation & grading.

Send the property, current pavement condition and timing. Plans, photos and specs help us respond with a usable scope.

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