A road is a layered structure. Each layer spreads the load from the wheels above so that the natural ground underneath is never overstressed. When a road fails early, with potholes, ruts or edges breaking away, it is nearly always because one of those layers was too thin, poorly compacted or allowed to get wet. We build roads to last, with layer works and drainage done properly.
The roads we build
- Private estate and complex roads, including internal roads, circles and visitor parking.
- Farm and wine estate roads, from the main entrance to cellar and packshed access used by trucks and tractors.
- Access roads to houses on large plots, smallholdings and lifestyle properties.
- Internal roads on commercial and industrial sites, including loading areas used by heavy vehicles.
- Gravel-to-tar upgrades, where an existing gravel road is reshaped and surfaced.
How a road is built
Planning and setting out
We start with the purpose of the road: what vehicles will use it, how often, and where water will go. For larger projects we work from an engineer’s design; for smaller private roads we set levels and falls on site with you. Centre lines, edges and levels are pegged before any machine starts.
Earthworks and subgrade
Topsoil and unsuitable material are removed. The exposed ground, called the roadbed, is shaped and compacted. Where the ground is very soft or clay-rich, it may need to be improved or replaced, and this is where many cheap roads go wrong.
Layer works
Selected layers of imported material are placed and compacted to the specified density, usually a subbase and a base layer. Moisture content matters here: material compacted too wet or too dry will not reach density, so we water and roll each layer correctly. On heavier-duty roads, the base may be cement- or bitumen-stabilised for extra strength.
Surfacing
Depending on traffic and budget, the road is surfaced with:
- Hot-mix asphalt, the most durable and smoothest option.
- A chip seal (surface dressing), a cost-effective option for longer rural roads, using bitumen sprayed and covered with stone chips.
- A slurry seal on lightly trafficked roads, or as a second layer over a chip seal.
Drainage and kerbs
Water is the biggest enemy of any road. We build in camber or crossfall, kerbs and channels, side drains, culverts and stormwater inlets so that water leaves the road surface quickly and never sits against the layer works.
Road markings and signage
To finish, we add line marking, stop lines, arrows and, where needed, speed humps to manage traffic speed in residential estates.
Western Cape conditions we design for
The Western Cape is not one set of ground conditions. Sandy coastal soils drain freely but need confinement and good compaction. Clays around the northern suburbs and parts of the Boland swell when wet and shrink in summer, which can crack a road if it is not addressed. Steep driveways and farm roads on mountain slopes need careful attention to scour and runoff. We look at the ground on every job before recommending a specification.
Maintenance of private roads
Roads in estates and on farms are often maintained by the owner or a body corporate, not the municipality. A simple maintenance plan saves a lot of money:
- Seal cracks before winter with our crack sealing service.
- Fix potholes early through pothole repairs so water does not reach the base.
- Keep side drains and culverts clear.
- Plan a reseal every several years, before the surface becomes brittle.
We can survey an existing road network and give you a prioritised list of work and a budget over a few years.
Talk to us about your road
Send us the location, the approximate length and what the road will be used for. We will arrange a site visit, then give you a written quote within 24 hours with each part of the work clearly priced.