Rock Splitting for a Wider and Safer Driveway

A driveway may have worked perfectly well when a home was first built, but household needs can change. Adding another car, making garage access easier, improving the comfort of parking or just making entering and exiting the property easier are some of the reasons people may start thinking about widening the existing driveway.

But it could be that the ground does not give the possibility to widen the driveway as easily as one would expect.

If the ground in the area has a lot of rocky formations, then there may be boulders or bedrock right where the driveway widening should happen. Removing the whole rock formation may not be required. In such cases, the rock splitting technique may be used to make the ground ready for widening.

For the homeowners who deal with tough ground, professional rock splitting and driveway rock removal services may be a great way to prepare the ground for widening a driveway and take into account the surrounding conditions.

What is Rock Splitting?

Rock splitting is the process of breaking big rocks, boulders, or bedrock formations into smaller fragments. It may be required during excavation and site preparation if there are solid rock formations that obstruct the grading, width, or layout of the project.

But instead of treating all rock formations in the same way, the contractor will need to evaluate the material and the site to determine the appropriate solution.

During driveway improvement, rock splitting may be done if the rock formation interferes with:

• Widening the driveway;
• Creating a new parking area;
• Making access to the garage easier;
• Creating turnaround areas;
• Improving grading and drainage of the driveway;
• Building the retaining walls;
• Doing the utilities or the landscape work near the driveway;

After splitting, the rock will be removed, and the site will be ready for the next stages of construction.

Features of Rock Splitting Service

As one could expect, rock removal requires more than just breaking the stones one sees. The success of the project depends on the knowledge of the site and the ways of driveway improvement relate to the surroundings.

Controlled Rock Removal

One of the key features of rock splitting is the ability to work with the rock obstruction instead of trying to remove a large section of the area where the rock is present.

The method depends on various factors such as the type of rock, the size of the rock, accessibility, the presence of other constructions, the amount of rock to remove, etc.

Site-Specific Planning

No two driveways are alike. Some of them have a big boulder right at the edge, others – a bedrock layer under the place where the driveway needs to be expanded.

Professional evaluation will show the amount of rock to be removed and how to incorporate it into the excavation plan.

Integration with Site Preparation

Sometimes rock splitting is a part of the bigger project. After breaking down and removing the necessary rock, the area will require such treatments as excavation, grading, drainage improvement, base preparation, and the landscape restoration.

Coordination of these procedures will help to prepare the ground properly for further driveway widening.

Benefits of Rock Splitting for Driveway Widening

What are the reasons for choosing rock splitting to widen the driveway?

One of the main benefits of the process is that it will allow working with the difficult ground. If the solid rock occupies the very area where the extra space for a driveway should appear, breaking down and removing the obstruction will make new possibilities for widening the driveway.

Creates Extra Driveway Space

A narrow driveway may make it very uncomfortable for the homeowners to park their cars. Widening the driveway will allow having more space for:

• Extra width of the driveway;
• Side-by-side parking;
• Easier vehicle movement;
• Improved garage access;
• Better parking configuration;

Of course, the amount of the available space will depend on the boundaries, grade, drainage, zoning requirements, and other aspects of the site.

Increases Vehicle Clearance

Big rocks near the driveway will reduce the comfortable width of it even if they are just close and not inside the driveway area.

Professional driveway rock removal will help to gain more clearance and make the driveway easier to use.

Helps to Prepare the Ground Properly

Removing the obstruction is only a half of the work. Before making a new driveway, the area needs to be excavated and graded. It will help to establish the proper elevations and prepare the base for further construction.

Allows to Incorporate the Project to the Property

Difficult rocky terrain does not mean that widening the driveway is impossible. An experienced excavation contractor can evaluate the rock formation and the required changes and determine whether something can be done in this case.

Applications of Rock Splitting Service

While driveway widening is one of the most common applications of the service, rock splitting may be used for a wide range of excavation and landscape construction.

Driveway Widening

During the driveway widening, it might be necessary to remove some rock located on the existing driveway.

New Parking Areas

Sometimes homeowners decide to make an extra parking space and find out that there are big rock formations in the ground while preparing the site.

Improve the Garage Access

If the approach to the garage is too narrow and difficult to use, rock removal may help to improve it.

Landscape Construction

Solid rocks will be the obstacle for such landscape construction elements as retaining walls, patios, walkways, drainage improvement, planting, etc.

General Site Preparation

Sometimes a site needs to be excavated or graded to meet the requirements of the upcoming construction project. In such cases, rock splitting may be included.

Driveway Rock Removal Process

When thinking about driveway rock removal services, one may have doubts what will happen during the project. Although each site will have its specifics, the process usually starts with the assessment and planning and not with excavation.

Step 1: Evaluating the Existing Driveway

First of all, the contractor will try to understand why the homeowners want to change their driveway.

Do they want to add an extra parking space? To make the whole driveway wider? Improve the entrance? Get some more space near the garage?

Defining the goal clearly will allow assessing the space needed.

Step 2: Evaluating the Rock Obstruction

The rock obstruction will be assessed next. Important factors in this case are:

• Approximate size of the exposed rock;
• Whether it looks like a boulder or bedrock;
• The location of the rock in relation to the driveway;
• The surrounding constructions or landscape features;
• Accessibility for the equipment;
• The slope and grade of the area;
• The amount of rock to remove;

One of the rocks that look small may be much bigger underground. That is why it is crucial to know the on-site conditions.

Step 3: Considering the Surrounding Conditions of the Site

Driveway widening cannot be done considering only the rock.

The project will need to take into account such aspects as boundaries, drainage, utilities, retaining walls, landscaping, slope, road access, and other local requirements.

Such comprehensive evaluation is especially important if there are changes in the amount or configuration of the driveway surface.

Step 4: Splitting and Removing the Required Rock

After evaluating the project requirements, an appropriate rock splitting method will be used to break the rock formation into the smaller pieces that can be removed.

The amount of rock to remove should be proportional to the excavation and grading work that is required.

Step 5: Excavating and Grading the Area

When the rock will be removed, the newly appeared area will need to be prepared.

It may involve removing the unnecessary soil, setting the required elevation, grading and preparing the appropriate driveway base.

Step 6: Driveway Drainage Improvement

Any changes in the driveway layout will need to pay special attention to the driveway drainage.

Water should be directed appropriately and should not fall on the house, neighboring property, or the areas that are easy to erode.

It means that the driveway improvement should be considered in relation to the whole site grading and drainage.

When Is Driveway Rock Removal Recommended?

There are some cases when driveway widening does not require rock work. But there are also some situations that may require professional evaluation.

Contact the excavation contractor if:

• There is exposed bedrock that limits the driveway width;
• There is a large boulder that prevents driveway expansion;
• Vehicles do not have enough clearance along one side;
• There is a desire to make extra parking space;
• Rock interferes with access to the garage;
• Driveway grading cannot be done due to the solid rock;
• Driveway widening is done together with the other site work;

On-site evaluation will help to determine whether rock splitting or conventional excavation is required.

Why Proper Site Preparation is Important

It is not enough for a widened driveway just to have some extra physical space. The ground under and around the new driveway is also important.

Proper site preparation will allow setting up the stable and functional ground before installing the final driveway materials.

Depending on the project, preparation may include such procedures as:

• Excavation of the ground that is not suitable;
• Rock obstruction removal;
• Setting of the appropriate grades;
• Preparing the driveway base;
• Drainage management;
• Coordination with the nearby landscaping works;

Avoiding these procedures will make it much harder to achieve the result.

This is why the rock splitting and site preparation should be considered as related components of the whole driveway improvement project and not separate procedures.

Planning a Wider and Safer Driveway

If safety and convenience are priorities, one should think about something else than widening the driveway.

The good driveway improvement project will take into account the ways vehicles move within the property.

Some of the questions to ask are:

• Are two vehicles able to use the space comfortably?
• Is there enough clearance from rocks, walls, trees, and other obstructions?
• Can vehicles enter and leave the property without complicated maneuvers?
• Does the garage access look comfortable?
• Where will stormwater go after widening the driveway?
• Does the proposed configuration fit into the existing slope?

Answering these questions in advance will help to design a driveway widening project that will be practical and useful.

Why Choose Professional Rock Splitting and Site Preparation Services?

To work with rocks one needs to understand the excavation, equipment access, terrain, and the surrounding environment.

Professional site preparation is especially useful if there is the combination of conditions for one site improvement project – for example, rock removal, grading, drainage improvement, or landscape construction.

RFC Excavating & Landscape Construction offers professional rock splitting and site preparation for projects where difficult terrain requires the carefully designed approach.

Instead of viewing the rock as an isolated obstacle, the site will be evaluated in connection with the project. This will help to determine the amount of rock to remove, the amount of rock to keep, and the procedures that will be required after it.

Conclusion

The narrow driveway becomes less and less convenient as parking and access needs change. When there is solid rock that interferes with widening, rock splitting is the way to make the difficult terrain workable.

Professional driveway rock removal will allow gaining some extra space for a widened driveway, extra parking, or other improvements. Just as important, rock splitting and site preparation will allow to prepare the area for the intended purpose properly.

Every site has its own conditions. This is why on-site evaluation is the best way to determine the appropriate approach.

If rock obstructs driveway widening, contact RFC Excavating & Landscape Construction at (973) 304-0500.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is rock splitting?

Rock splitting is the procedure of breaking the big boulders or the bedrock formations into smaller pieces. It is used during excavation and site preparation in case solid rock interferes with a driveway, foundation area, landscape project, or any other construction.

Why rock removal is part of site preparation?

After rock removal the area will get the required space. But it will still need excavation and grading to be prepared for a driveway. Site preparation will include such things as elevations, base conditions, drainage, and other aspects of the construction.

Can rock splitting help to widen the existing driveway?

Yes, depending on the on-site conditions. If there is a rock formation or a big boulder at the place where driveway widening is needed, rock splitting will allow breaking and removing it. The site should be evaluated in advance to know the extent of the rock formation and other project conditions.

What should be taken into account before widening a driveway?

Property boundaries, local requirements, drainage, slope, utility locations, surrounding landscaping, vehicle clearance, and the ways of using the new area are the things that should be considered in advance. If there is rock, its size and location should also be evaluated.

Where can I get rock splitting and site preparation services?

RFC Excavating & Landscape Construction provides rock splitting and site preparation services. Contact (973) 304-0500 to learn about your options.