New Construction Asphalt Services for Commercial Properties

New Construction Paving Process

Site Assessment and Scope Development

Every new construction paving project begins with a thorough site assessment. DRYCO’s estimators evaluate the existing soil conditions, drainage patterns, intended traffic loads, and project specifications to develop a scope that addresses every phase of the work. We use the Modified PASER System and site-specific engineering data to determine the correct pavement section design, including subgrade treatment, base rock depth, selection of high-quality aggregates, and asphalt thickness requirements for each area of the site.

For commercial parking lots, we design different pavement sections for different use areas. Entrance and exit lanes, drive-through lanes, dumpster pad approaches, and loading dock areas all see heavier loads and more frequent turning movements than standard parking stalls and require increased structural capacity. Getting the pavement section right during the design phase prevents the premature failures that plague parking lots built to a single uniform specification. We also consider temperature sensitivity in our material selection, as extreme heat can soften asphalt and severe cold can increase brittleness and cracking.

Grading and Subgrade Preparation

Grading and subgrade preparation are the most critical phases of any new construction asphalt services project. We utilize high-quality resources and premium aggregates to ensure a stable, durable foundation, as the strength and longevity of the pavement are directly linked to the quality of the base. Every surface that follows, whether asphalt, concrete, curbs, sidewalks, or drainage infrastructure, depends on a subgrade that is properly shaped, compacted, and stabilized. Cutting corners at this stage is the single most common cause of premature pavement failure on commercial properties.

DRYCO’s site development crews handle rough grading, fine grading, soil stabilization, and compaction using our own equipment and operators. We remove unsuitable soils, establish proper drainage slopes, and compact the subgrade to the density required by the project specifications. For sites with challenging soil conditions, which are common across the Bay Area’s clay-heavy soils and the Central Valley’s expansive soils, we apply stabilization techniques including lime treatment, cement stabilization, and geotextile fabric installation to create a foundation that will support commercial traffic loads for decades.

Proper drainage design is integrated into the grading phase. Every paved surface must slope at a minimum of 2% (one-quarter inch per linear foot) from crown to edge to move stormwater off the surface efficiently. We design and construct drainage infrastructure including bio-swales, catch basins, and underground drainage systems as part of the grading scope, ensuring that water management is engineered into the project from the start rather than retrofitted after problems appear.

Base Rock Installation

Once the subgrade is prepared and compacted, the base rock layer provides the structural foundation that distributes traffic loads across the subgrade and prevents localized failures. DRYCO sources high-quality aggregates from trusted local suppliers for base rock installation, ensuring superior material quality and consistency. We install aggregate base rock to the depth and specification required by the project design, typically 6 to 12 inches of properly graded aggregate for commercial parking lots depending on traffic loads and soil conditions.

Base rock installation is not simply a matter of dumping and spreading material. Precision is critical. Each lift of aggregate material must be placed at controlled moisture content and compacted to the specified density before the next lift is placed. Our crews verify compaction with nuclear density testing at the intervals required by the project specifications. The quality of base rock installation directly determines how well the asphalt surface performs, and it is one of the areas where DRYCO’s experience on hundreds of commercial new construction projects provides a measurable advantage.

Asphalt Paving

DRYCO’s paving crews install new asphalt using the latest paving and compaction equipment to deliver the surface quality, thickness, and density that commercial projects require. Our team utilizes Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) for high-traffic roads and parking lots due to its strength and durability, and Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) for projects requiring reduced emissions, less fuel consumption, longer hauling distances, and easier compaction. Porous Asphalt is also available as an option for managing stormwater runoff in environmentally sensitive areas. For every 1% of compaction that is not achieved, approximately 5% of the pavement’s useful life is lost, making equipment quality and operator experience critical factors in new construction paving.

We design asphalt mix specifications and layer thicknesses based on the intended use of each area. Standard commercial parking stalls typically require 2 to 3 inches of asphalt surface course over a properly prepared base, while heavy-duty areas like truck courts, loading docks, and drive-through lanes may require 4 to 6 inches of total asphalt including a base course and a wear course. The wear course is the final layer that provides durability and smoothness to asphalt surfaces, significantly contributing to the longevity and performance of the pavement. DRYCO works with project engineers to match pavement sections to actual load requirements, avoiding both over-specification that wastes budget and under-specification that leads to premature failure.

Asphalt surfaces are laid and compacted at controlled temperatures to ensure proper bonding and density. Our paving equipment allows us to place asphalt in continuous passes that minimize cold joints and surface irregularities, delivering a smooth, uniform surface that meets project specifications and looks professional from day one. Regular maintenance after construction, such as sealcoating every 2 to 3 years, protects asphalt surfaces from UV rays and wear, extending their lifespan significantly.

Concrete Construction

New construction sites require concrete work alongside asphalt paving: curbs and gutters that define parking areas and manage drainage, sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, patios, walking paths, and driveways, as well as ADA-compliant ramps, building entry approaches, loading dock aprons, dumpster pads, and retaining walls. DRYCO’s concrete division handles all of this work as part of the new construction scope, coordinating directly with the paving crews to ensure sequencing is efficient and transitions between asphalt and concrete surfaces are properly constructed.

Having concrete and asphalt under one contractor eliminates one of the most common coordination problems on new construction sites: the gap between the paving sub and the concrete sub that creates scheduling conflicts, finger-pointing over transition quality, and delays when one trade cannot start until the other finishes.

Parking Lot Striping and ADA Compliance

Once the asphalt surface is in place, DRYCO’s striping crews complete the parking lot layout including stall lines, drive lane markings, directional arrows, fire lane markings, and all ADA-compliant accessible parking configuration. We are current on all California Title 24 and federal ADA requirements for accessible parking spaces, van-accessible spaces, access aisles, signage, and accessible route markings.

For new construction projects, getting the parking lot layout right the first time maximizes stall count, optimizes traffic flow, and ensures full ADA compliance before the property opens. DRYCO’s estimators work with the project’s civil engineer or architect to translate the site plan into a precise striping layout that meets code requirements and operational needs.

Commercial Fencing

Perimeter fencing, security gates, equipment enclosures, and trash enclosures are typically among the final scopes completed on a new construction project. Because DRYCO’s fencing division operates under the same project management structure as our paving and concrete divisions, we can sequence fencing work immediately after the hardscape is complete without the mobilization delays of bringing in a separate fencing subcontractor.

We handle chain link, ornamental iron, security fencing, access control gates, privacy fencing, utility cages, and custom fabrication as part of the new construction package.