A lot of driveway
Larger East Mountain lots — around San Pedro Creek, off Frost Road, up Crest Road — often put the house well back from the road for privacy and views. That can mean a few hundred feet of driveway, usually dirt or gravel that washboards, ruts and washes out after storms.
Mix the surfaces
| Section | Common choice |
|---|---|
| Parking, turnaround and garage approach | Hot-mix asphalt |
| Steep pitches and curves | Hot-mix asphalt |
| Gentle straight runs | Chip seal or asphalt |
| Budget runs and side spurs | Recycled millings |
| Road entrance | Asphalt apron so the drive doesn't break up at the road |
Width and access
Long drives in wooded country also have to work for delivery trucks, propane trucks and emergency vehicles. We look at width, overhead clearance from branches, and places to pull over or turn around. See fire access driveways and turnarounds and widening.
Water along the way
On a long drive, water picks up speed over distance. We break it up with cross-slope, swales and culverts at natural low points so it leaves the drive before it does damage.
Questions we get
Is it worth paving a long gravel drive?
Usually yes for the steep and busy parts. Chip seal or millings on gentle runs keep the total cost down.
Can you pave in phases?
Yes. Many owners do the house end first and extend later.
Will you trim trees?
We can work around them; heavy trimming should be done by a tree crew before we start.