Name: Burnaby Blacktop LTD
Address: 4641 Byrne Rd, Burnaby, BC, V5J 3H6, CA
Telephone: 778.855.0513

Sep 08, 2019

Every home is as unique as the people that live inside of it – down to the seemingly most unnoticeable things. While many eyes may be drawn to the front yard, entryway, siding, or architecture at Burnaby Blacktop the attention of our experts is always on the driveway. Vancouver is full of interesting driveways, with no two homes alike. From asphalt and concrete to gravel driveways there are many possibilities when it comes to the access point of your home. At Burnaby Blacktop we’ve seen it all and see the value in each different surface option. Each lot and homeowner will have a preference on which driveway surface is best for them, and every one comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. While perhaps “old-fashioned” upfront, gravel driveways can actually be the perfect option for many homeowners. The professionals at Burnaby Blacktop are well versed in the pros of choosing gravel over concrete or asphalt and very familiar with the challenges associated with gravel driveway maintenance, grading, and excavation. What is the proper way to install and grade a driveway you ask? Continue reading to find out!

Properly installing a gravel driveway can be broken into three basic steps: excavation, grading, and compaction. When it comes to excavation, the experts at Burnaby will clear the area of any debris or obstacles in the area to be graveled. We will dig out large boulders, break up root systems and, as we dig, work to create a level and deep base to pour gravel. Once excavated, we will lay down the special fabric to prevent vegetation from growing up through your driveway and then lay the gravel. Now for the fun part: grading!

When grading your gravel driveway our professionals will make sure to avoid making the surface completely flat. If totally level, water can pool and compromise the integrity of the surface. While some contractors will “crown” a driveway, sloping it off to either side, we have recognized over our years in the industry that this isn’t the best practice and can cause more harm than good to both vehicles and the surface itself. Instead, we will work to slightly drop your driveway away from your home to promote water drainage away from anywhere it could cause larger issues from potential flooding. As we work through the grading process, we will also ensure that the depth of gravel is equivalent throughout and properly fill any weak or low spots with additional substrate instead of spreading other areas thin. Once gravel has been laid and graded, we will move on to step three: compaction.

A gravel driveway is only truly complete when compaction is finished. Granted, it will be getting compacted throughout its life by vehicle and pedestrian usage but initially, our team at Burnaby Blacktop will use special equipment to compact the gravel efficiently and effectively. This helps solidify all layers of gravel and will help settle the entire surface before it starts being used. Proper compaction translates to less maintenance in the long run. Once compacted, final detail work will be put in raking and spreading gravel – leaving you with a functional, beautiful, and affordable final product.

While many homeowners skew toward asphalt or concrete driveways, they are by no means the best or only option. Gravel driveways are the perfect choice for many homes and homeowners, and the experts at Burnaby Blacktop know how to do them right. If you are debating between surface types for your driveway or are ready to pull the trigger and get a project started give us a call. Our passionate staff is always eager to help!

COVID-19 Pandemic: Your Safety is Our Priority

To our valued customers

As a company, we prioritise health and safety for our employees and most importantly, our customers. We would like to assure you that we work under strict compliance with the BC Centre of Disease Control (CDC) and adheres to the guidelines provided by Health Canada and the World Health Organization regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our business procedures, including estimating, collections, on site work procedures and overall customer interaction have been adjusted to ensure a healthy interaction between our employees and customers:

All our estimators are being cleared daily via a health check to see if they are showing flu like symptoms (dry cough, fever, headache, etc.)
Anyone who have travelled outside the country or had any interaction with anyone who came from an overseas trip within the last 14 days are requested to complete a home quarantine procedure to ensure that they have not contracted the virus
When estimating a project, physical interaction is not necessary. Our estimator can visit the site if needed or look at the site plan, measure and calculate costs without a face to face contact with the customer. The quote will be sent via email and further questions or requests can be discussed over the phone
Our crew and clients must pass a health check before starting any project. Face to face interaction is limited as we practice social distancing on job sites. We maintain at least 6 feet distance from each other

Our employees have been educated with regards to the health and safety requirements amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We make sure that they strictly adhere to the following:

Regularly and thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands
Cover their mouth and nose with the bend of the elbow or use tissue when coughing or sneezing
Properly and immediately dispose tissues in a garbage can and wash hands and bend of the elbow after coughing or sneezing
Adhere to social distancing guidelines (at least be 6 feet away from others), refrain from going to gatherings, parties and public events
Frequently disinfect touched objects and surfaces such as door handles, computers, phones, remotes, toilets, tools, equipment surfaces, etc.
Refrain from greeting people with a handshake or via any physical contact like embracing
If a staff member has or will be travelling outside of Canada, they will not be allowed on-site until the recommended 14-day quarantine period has lapsed
Employees who have flu like symptoms or have been exposed to someone who have flu like symptoms are requested to stay at home to recover and monitor themselves carefully
Team members who have flu like symptoms or taking care of someone who have flu like symptoms are reminded to wear a mask to avoid spreading the virus
If a staff member suspects they have Covid-19 Symptoms, they should contact Health Link at 811 to obtain professional advice and testing if deemed necessary

Our company representative will contact the customer before starting the project to ensure a safe environment for our workers:

If the customer has travelled outside the country within the last 14 days, we will reschedule the job after they have completed the quarantine period
We will reschedule the job start date if any person in the household is displaying flu like symptoms

We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will ensure that all policies and preventive measures are adhered to. We also would like to encourage you to be up to date with COVID-19 pandemic by visiting the Health Canada’s website and watching the daily news.

If you have queries and concerns regarding the above practice, please feel free to contact us at 778.855.0513 or send an email to [email protected]. Be assured that we will continue to be at our best in providing a safe and healthy work environment.

Thank you.

Burnaby Blacktop Ltd.

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