Site Prep, Grading & Demolition
The paving job starts long before the asphalt arrives.
Most pavement failures aren't asphalt failures. They're base failures. The asphalt is fine — it's what's underneath that gave out. The subgrade wasn't properly excavated. The base rock was the wrong material or the wrong thickness. The grade didn't move water away from the surface. Somebody skipped a step to save time or money, and the pavement above it paid for it.
We handle site work because we've seen what happens when someone else does it wrong and we have to pave over it. We'd rather control the whole job — from the first excavator bucket to the final load of asphalt — so that what we build holds.
What our Site Prep, Grading & Demolition service covers.
- Existing asphalt demolition (saw cutting and full tearout)
- Existing concrete removal
- Material haul-off and recycling
- Excavation to design depth
- Subgrade assessment and treatment (soil stabilization where needed)
- Imported base rock installation (specified by load and soil type)
- Base compaction (lift-by-lift, not single pass)
- Drainage grading — slope and cross-slope for runoff management
- Rough and finish grade for paving
- Sod removal and site clearing
How Site Prep, Grading & Demolition works.
Site assessment and grade design
Before any excavation begins, we evaluate existing drainage patterns, soil conditions, and the intended use of the finished surface. Passenger vehicles vs. heavy truck traffic requires different base specs. We plan the grade to move water away from the pavement and away from adjacent structures.
Demo and excavation
Existing asphalt and concrete come out to the required depth. We saw-cut clean edges where the work meets existing pavement that's staying in place. Demo material is loaded and hauled off — asphalt is 100% recyclable.
Subgrade evaluation
Once the surface material is removed, we can see and probe the subgrade. Soft spots, organic material, or unstable soil sections need to be addressed now — not after base rock is placed on top of them.
Base rock installation and compaction
We specify base depth based on the intended load. A standard residential driveway carries very different loads than a commercial lot with delivery trucks. We compact in lifts — each lift gets compacted before the next goes down. Cutting this step is the single most common cause of premature pavement failure.
Final grade
The finished base grade is checked for slope and drainage before paving begins. Water standing on a newly paved surface after a rain event is a sign the grade wasn't set correctly. We check it before it's covered up.
Why choose A-Team for Site Prep, Grading & Demolition.
One contractor, whole job
We do demo, base, and paving. No waiting on three different companies.
Clean removal
Sawcut edges, proper hauling, site left clean. Not a mess for you to deal with.
Right equipment
Skid-steers, excavators, dump trucks — we bring what the job needs.
Puget Sound soils vary significantly by location. Areas near water features, filled land, or organic-rich soils — common in parts of the Auburn valley, the Kent lowlands, and near-water properties in Tacoma — can have subgrade conditions that affect base depth and drainage design.
If you're paving over an existing gravel surface, the existing gravel may or may not be usable as base material depending on gradation and compaction history. We assess it before deciding. Sometimes you save on imported base; sometimes the existing gravel needs to come out.
Drainage design matters as much as base depth for pavement longevity. A parking lot with inadequate grade will hold standing water, which accelerates asphalt deterioration and base saturation. Getting the drainage right during grade work is not optional.
We provide site prep, grading, and demolition for paving projects throughout the Puget Sound — Tacoma, Puyallup, Auburn, Sumner, Federal Way, Covington, Maple Valley, SeaTac, Bellevue, and the greater Seattle area.
Starting from scratch or tearing out what's there?
Call us. We handle the full scope from demolition through finish grade. No obligation.