What Services Do Houston Road Contractors Offer?

Houston road contractors tend to stay busy as the city is under a constant state of construction. If your property is part of that development, you will eventually need one or more roads to provide access.

An experienced road contractor can build out the pavement for your roads, whether that pavement is asphalt or concrete. Every road construction project requires a variety if processes, including:

- Site surveying and assessment
- Land clearing and grubbing
- Excavation, grading and stabilization
- Drainage construction
- Pavement installation
- Additional construction (curb and gutter systems, sidewalks, etc.)
- Ongoing maintenance

A lot of expertise and labor goes into every one of these road construction services, so choose a reputable Houston contractor to manage your project.

What Do Each of the Services Houston Road Contractors Offer Entail?

It may not look like it, but a lot of work and expertise goes into every road. From start to finish, here is what to expect once your Houston road contractor is on the job:

- Site surveying and assessment – Before any pavement is installed, your road contractor will assess the project site and determine if the site plan is feasible. During this assessment, your contractor will also take soil samples for lab analysis. This analysis will reveal whether the soil has the load bearing potential to support vehicle traffic. In Houston, clay soils are common, and they can pose issues as they expand and shrink due to water exposure. If your road contractor knows these soils are present, they can implement stabilization measures to improve conditions.
- Land clearing and grubbing – Almost all road construction projects involve land clearing to some extent, but if your new road is going on a raw piece of land, you may need grubbing services as well. During the grubbing process, any large vegetation like trees and shrubs all pulled or pushed out of the ground using heavy machinery. This process removes the root system as well, ensuring the vegetation does not grow back.
- Excavation, grading and stabilization – Once the land is clear, your road contractor can begin site preparation. This includes excavating the soil to accommodate the subsurface pavement layers. During excavation, your contractor will also grade (or slope) the site to ensure runoff drains away from the road. If the soil needs to be stabilized, it will be done so during this step, either using chemical or mechanical stabilization methods.
- Drainage construction – Roads must be built with efficient drainage to ensure they remain stable and reliable over time. To do so, your road contractor will install drainage structures like culverts, ditches, curb and gutter systems, and catch basins.
- Pavement installation – With the base prepared and drainage in place, the road contractor will then place the pavement. First, a base course goes down that consists of aggregate and other efficiently draining materials. If the crew is installing an asphalt road, the contractor will place it in layers using asphalt paving machines to ensure proper thickness.
  
  If you are having a concrete road installed, it will be formed using wooden or metal formwork, and then the concrete will be poured into the forms. Before it is cured, air will be vibrated out of the concrete and then the road surface will be textured (finished). The pavement will need a few days to cure before it can handle traffic, and it will take a few weeks before concrete is at its maximum strength.
- Additional construction (such as curb and gutter systems, sidewalks, etc.) – Your road may require additional features, like a curb and gutter system for drainage or sidewalks for pedestrian access. These features will be built around the road, either in tandem or once the road is complete. Reputable Houston road contractors are also skilled in other forms of pavement construction and have the equipment needed to install these additional features.

At this point, your new road should be usable within a few days, depending on the amount and weight of the traffic it will handle.

What Should I Look for in a Houston Road Contractor?

You will need an experienced, reputable road contractor in Houston to oversee your project, and that means looking for the following in the company you choose:

- An impressive work portfolio – Your Houston road contractor must be experienced, and it is ideal if they have completed projects similar to yours. That includes work on Houston projects, as the city and surrounding areas pose unique challenges. Ideally, that portfolio will include roads still in service that you can inspect in person and verify the work quality.
- Testimonials from previous clients – A reputable road contractor in Houston will provide contact information for previous clients if requested. Use this contact information to speak with previous clients and confirm that that the contractor is professional, punctual and provides high quality work.
- Full-service capabilities – Road construction requires a comprehensive set of site preparation and pavement installation skills. As such, you will need a Houston paving contractor that does not just build pavement but is also capable in site preparation and pavement maintenance. You will likely save money and time working with a single contractor through the process.
- Insurance – Insurance (general liability, workers’ comp) is an essential client protection mechanism and your road contractor should be fully insured. This will protect your organization should damage or an injury occur during the project.

The difference between high quality and cut-rate road work is vast. If site preparation or installation is rushed or poorly executed, your road will likely fail several years earlier than it should. Choosing a quality road contractor is not just about cost or performance, it is also the best way to extract maximum value from your pavement.

Experienced Houston Road Contractors Can Provide Start to Finish Pavement Services

Every stretch of road construction starts with a thorough site assessment, includes extensive site prep work and ends with precise pavement and drain structure placement.

If your property needs a road for better access or better utility, contact a reputable Houston road contractor that can provide experience, professionalism and full-service capabilities. You will get a more reliable, safer and better performing road as a result.