Asphalt Paving in Discovery Bay, CA

Asphalt paving in Discovery Bay starts with water. The community sits at an elevation of about 7 feet on the former Byron Tract, where barley and potatoes once grew, and it was built from 1964 on a network of man-made waterways and residential islands. Nineteen miles of levees maintained by Reclamation District 800 protect the community, and many homes have private docks on the Delta. On ground this low, a driveway has to be graded so rain runs away from the house and into the drainage system, and the base has to stay firm even when the soil below is damp.

Building on damp ground

We dig test spots at the estimate to see how wet and soft the subgrade is. Where it pumps under foot or equipment, we remove it and replace it with compacted aggregate, and sometimes recommend a thicker base. Edges get extra support where they meet landscaping or turf that is irrigated regularly.

Boats, trailers and RVs

Many Discovery Bay driveways and side yards hold boats and trailers. Trailer jacks and narrow tires concentrate weight, so we suggest a heavier section and a pad or board under jacks, especially in the first hot season.

Rules and agencies

Discovery Bay is unincorporated. The Town of Discovery Bay Community Services District runs water, sewer, landscaping and recreation, but it has no land-use or zoning authority, so work in the road right-of-way goes through Contra Costa County Public Works and its encroachment permit. Many neighborhoods also have HOA design rules; check them before changing a driveway's shape or material.

Waterfront lots and street-side homes

Discovery Bay mixes waterfront homes on the man-made channels with street-side homes inland and newer neighborhoods to the south. Waterfront homes often have tighter lots, with the garage close to the street and the backyard on the water; their driveways are short but take every car the household owns. Inland lots tend to have wider driveways and room for side pads. In both, irrigation runoff from lawns and planters is a common cause of edge failure: water soaks under the edge of the asphalt and softens the base. We support the edges and, where possible, keep sprinklers from spraying onto the pavement. The population grew about 15 percent from 2010 to 2020, to 15,358, so a lot of driveways here are reaching middle age.

What we do here

• New driveways and boat or RV pads
• Overlays and repairs on settled driveways
• Sealcoat and crack sealing
• Private community and marina lot paving and striping

Call (925) 248-4524 for an estimate.