Paving glossary
Subgrade,
defined plainly.
One term, one honest explanation — from the shop that deals with it daily.
Subgrade: The native soil a pavement is built on, graded and compacted before any rock goes down. Its strength and moisture behavior decide how much section the pavement needs.
Why it matters on your job: Central Valley clays swell and shrink with irrigation cycles, which is why our estimates start with what the ground is doing, not what the surface looks like.
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