South Jersey sits on a diverse geological landscape where soil conditions change dramatically within just a few miles. From the heavy clay deposits in Gloucester County to the sandy Pine Barrens soils in parts of Burlington and Camden Counties, each soil type presents its own challenges for driveway paving. Harrison Paving has been building driveways across all of South Jersey since 1985, and our four decades of experience in every soil condition means we know exactly how to prepare a base that will support your driveway for decades.
Much of Gloucester County, including Harrison Township, Washington Township, Mullica Hill, Deptford, and Swedesboro, sits on clay-heavy soils. Clay retains moisture like a sponge. In summer, clay soils shrink and contract. In winter, the retained moisture freezes and expands, pushing the surface upward — a process called frost heaving. This repeated seasonal movement is the single biggest cause of driveway cracking and settling in the Gloucester County area. For clay soil properties, Harrison Paving installs deeper base sections — typically 8 inches or more of dense-graded aggregate — and may add geotextile fabric between the soil and stone to prevent clay from migrating into the base over time.
Parts of Burlington County (Medford, Marlton), Camden County (Winslow, Berlin), and areas near the Pine Barrens feature sandy soils that drain quickly but may lack the bearing capacity needed to support a driveway without proper compaction. Sandy soils do not retain moisture the way clay does, which reduces freeze-thaw heaving risk. However, sand can shift under load if not properly compacted, leading to uneven settling. For sandy soil properties, we focus on thorough compaction of both the subgrade and the stone base, often adding finer-graded materials that lock together under compaction for maximum stability.
Many South Jersey properties, particularly in transitional areas between clay and sand zones, have loam or mixed soils that combine characteristics of both. Loam generally provides good bearing capacity and moderate drainage. However, inconsistent soil composition within a single property can cause differential settling — where one section of the driveway settles at a different rate than another, creating cracks at the transition points. During our free on-site estimate, we probe soil conditions at multiple points along your driveway to identify any variations.
Shore community properties in Margate, Ocean City, Somers Point, and surrounding areas face unique challenges. Coastal soils often have high water tables, organic material mixed into the substrate, and salt exposure from ocean spray and winter storm wash-over. These conditions require extra attention to drainage design and may necessitate raised base construction to keep the crushed stone foundation above the seasonal water table level.
During every free estimate, Harrison Paving evaluates your soil conditions. We check soil type, moisture content, compaction potential, and evidence of past movement or drainage problems. On properties with known difficult soils or previous driveway failures, we may recommend test excavation to assess conditions at the base depth before quoting the final price. This thorough approach prevents surprises during construction and ensures your driveway is built on a foundation designed for your specific conditions.
Call Harrison Paving at (856) 694-4181 for a free on-site estimate that includes thorough soil and base condition assessment. We design every driveway base for the specific conditions on your property — not a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores the ground beneath your home.
Contact Harrison Paving at (856) 694-4181 for a free estimate.