Why one crew from grading to paving makes it last

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Asphalt paver laying a new residential driveway
22MAR
2026

Why one crew from grading to paving makes it last

A paving job goes smoothly when the same crew owns every step. We start with the dirt, grade for drainage, pack the base, then pave. No handoffs between contractors, no waiting on someone else’s schedule, and no finger-pointing when something needs fixing.

Most delays and callbacks come from a base that was rushed or skipped. When one company handles the grading and the paving, the base gets built for the surface that goes on top of it, and the whole job stays on schedule and on budget.

“Pavement is only as good as the base under it. We build the base ourselves, so we know it will hold.”

Zack PetersonFounder, North Bay Grading and Paving

Why the base does the real work

A clean asphalt surface laid over a weak base looks great for a year, then cracks and sinks. We grade for drainage, pack Class 2 base to the depth the traffic needs, and test compaction before any asphalt goes down. That is the part most crews rush, and it is the part that decides whether the driveway lasts 5 years or 20.

Plate compactor packing base before the asphalt is laid
Graded and compacted road base ready for paving

What a streamlined paving job looks like

We come out, measure, and send a clear written estimate. Once the work is scheduled, one crew handles grading, base, drainage and paving in sequence, then rolls the asphalt to compaction while it is hot. Most driveways are done in one to three days, and you can drive on the new surface within a day or two.

  • One crew from dirt to finished surface
  • Compaction we hit and document
  • Graded to drain, built to last
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Tell us what you need paved or graded. We look at the site, talk through the right approach, and give you a clear price with no surprises once we start.

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Zack Peterson

Founder, North Bay Grading and Paving

Owner-run grading and asphalt paving in Petaluma since 2011. We prep the ground and pave it ourselves, so it holds up across Sonoma and Marin County.

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