House Pads & Driveway Construction
Compacted earth building pads, gravel and aggregate base driveways, and subbase preparation for residential and commercial construction throughout Northern California.
A properly constructed building pad and driveway set the stage for successful construction and long-term structural performance. Walberg, Inc. provides professional house pad and driveway construction services for homebuilders, general contractors, and property owners throughout Tehama, Butte, Shasta, Glenn, Colusa, and surrounding areas. Whether you are building a new home on a rural lot, constructing an accessory dwelling unit, or preparing a commercial building site, we deliver compacted, properly graded pads and driveways that meet engineering specifications and pass inspection.
House pad construction begins with clearing the building footprint and stripping the topsoil to reach competent native soil. We then cut or fill as needed to bring the pad to the elevation specified on the grading plan, compacting the fill in lifts to meet the geotechnical engineer's specifications — typically 90% to 95% relative compaction. Proper drainage is critical, and we grade the pad with a slight slope to direct surface water away from the future building foundation. For properties with expansive clay soils, which are common in parts of the Northern Sacramento Valley, we work with the geotechnical engineer to implement any required special preparation such as pre-saturation, lime treatment, or over-excavation and replacement.
Our driveway construction services cover the full range of residential and commercial driveway types. We build gravel driveways using properly graded aggregate materials, Class II aggregate base (AB) driveways that can support heavy vehicle loads, decomposed granite (DG) drives for a finished natural appearance, and subbase preparation for driveways that will receive asphalt or concrete paving. Each driveway is built with proper subgrade preparation, drainage grading, and compaction to prevent settling, rutting, and water pooling.
With 26 years of experience in the Northern Sacramento Valley, Walberg, Inc. understands the local soil conditions that affect pad and driveway performance. Our fleet of over 100 pieces of company-owned heavy equipment includes dozers, graders, compaction rollers, and water trucks — everything needed to build a pad or driveway from raw ground to finished grade. We coordinate compaction testing with the project geotechnical engineer and ensure that every pad and driveway we build meets the specifications required for building department approval. Our BBB A+ rating and BuildZoom top 3% ranking in California reflect the quality our customers expect and receive.
What's Included
- Site clearing and topsoil stripping
- Compacted earth building pads to engineered specifications
- Cut and fill earthwork for pad elevation
- Gravel and Class II aggregate base driveways
- Decomposed granite (DG) driveway installation
- Subbase preparation for asphalt and concrete paving
- Drainage grading to direct water away from structures
- Compaction testing coordination
- Import of select fill and aggregate materials
- Erosion control and site stabilization
OUR PROCESS
How we deliver house pads & driveways.
Site Evaluation & Plan Review
We visit the property to evaluate existing conditions, review the grading plan and geotechnical report, determine material import requirements, and assess access for equipment. We provide a detailed estimate based on the project scope.
Site Preparation & Clearing
We clear vegetation, strip topsoil, and remove any unsuitable material from the building pad and driveway areas. The subgrade is scarified and moisture-conditioned in preparation for compaction.
Pad Construction & Driveway Grading
We place and compact fill material in lifts per the geotechnical specifications, grade the building pad to the specified elevation with proper drainage slope, and construct the driveway with the specified surface material and profile. Compaction testing is coordinated at required intervals.
Final Grading & Inspection Coordination
We complete finish grading, verify pad elevations and driveway grades, coordinate the final compaction test with the geotechnical engineer, and ensure the site is ready for foundation construction or paving. We walk the completed work with the property owner or builder for final approval.
EQUIPMENT
Equipment used on this service.
AREAS SERVED
Available across Northern California.
RELATED SERVICES
Other services you might need.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
House pad costs in our service area typically range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the pad size, amount of cut or fill required, soil conditions, and whether material import is needed. Properties on steep terrain or with poor soil conditions will be at the higher end. We provide free on-site estimates for your specific property.
A gravel driveway uses rounded or crushed rock that may shift under traffic and requires periodic re-grading. A Class II aggregate base (AB) driveway uses a specific blend of crushed rock and fines that compacts into a firm, stable surface suitable for regular vehicle traffic and heavy loads. AB driveways are more durable and can also serve as subbase for future paving.
A typical residential house pad can be completed in two to five days depending on the pad size, amount of earthwork required, and soil conditions. This includes clearing, grading, compaction, and final grade verification. Larger pads or sites with significant cut and fill may take longer.
Yes, most building departments require compaction testing by a certified geotechnical engineer before they will approve a foundation to be built on a fill pad. Walberg, Inc. coordinates compaction testing as part of our standard service, ensuring that test results are available for your building permit inspection.
Yes, we regularly build driveways on sloped terrain throughout the Northern Sacramento Valley foothills. This may involve cut and fill grading, retaining walls, drainage improvements, and specific surface materials that provide traction on grades. We design the driveway profile to be safe and functional while minimizing the amount of earthwork required.