Unsealed roads play a vital role in connecting rural properties, farms, and local infrastructure—especially in regional locations like Parkes, NSW. Over time, these roads experience wear from traffic, weather, and drainage issues. Road grading is a crucial maintenance task that restores surface shape and function, ensuring safe and smooth access for vehicles.
At Parkes Road Tek, we offer expert road grading as part of our asphalt and bitumen surfacing services. In this article, we’ll highlight the key signs that your road needs grading and explain why timely intervention is important for both safety and road longevity.
What Is Road Grading?
Road grading involves using specialised machinery—typically a motor grader—to reshape the road’s surface, redistribute gravel, and improve water runoff. The aim is to restore a crown (slight central ridge) that helps water drain efficiently to the edges and to eliminate surface defects such as ruts and potholes.
When done correctly, grading improves vehicle safety, reduces wear on vehicles, and prolongs the lifespan of the road.
Common Signs Your Road Needs Grading
Knowing when to grade a road can help prevent more costly damage down the line. Here are some of the most common indicators that it’s time to call in professionals like Parkes Road Tek.
1. Deep Ruts and Wheel Tracks
As vehicles use an unsealed road over time, ruts and depressions form in the wheel paths. These ruts collect water, making the road slippery or boggy, and increase the risk of erosion. Once ruts are visible, grading is typically overdue.
2. Potholes or Scalloped Surfaces
Potholes in gravel or unsealed roads are a clear signal that the surface has become unstable. They can damage vehicles and worsen rapidly if left unaddressed. Similarly, scalloping—where the road surface develops dips and bumps—indicates uneven compaction and material distribution.
3. Poor Drainage and Water Pooling
Effective drainage is one of the most important features of a well-maintained unsealed road. If water is pooling in the middle of the road or failing to run off to the sides, the crown may have been lost. Grading restores the proper shape to ensure water flows where it should.
4. Corrugations (Washboarding)
Corrugations are those annoying ripples that develop across the surface of the road, usually from repeated vehicle acceleration and braking. They reduce ride comfort and vehicle control. Grading can eliminate these ripples and restore a smooth surface.
5. Reduced Vehicle Traction
If you’ve noticed that vehicles are slipping, struggling for grip, or kicking up excessive dust, the road may have become too loose or compacted unevenly. A fresh grading can balance material distribution and re-establish surface texture.
6. Encroaching Vegetation or Edge Break
As the edges of an unsealed road deteriorate, vegetation may begin to encroach or edges may crumble away. Grading can reshape the road profile and clear overgrown sections for safer, wider access.
How Often Should Roads Be Graded?
The frequency of road grading depends on several factors, including traffic volume, weather conditions, and the type of surface material. In a regional area like Parkes, NSW, roads may require grading every few months or after heavy rain events.
At Parkes Road Tek, we offer scheduled maintenance programs or one-off grading solutions tailored to the needs of landowners, councils, and agricultural clients.
Benefits of Professional Grading from Parkes Road Tek
Grading is more than just scraping the top layer of gravel. To achieve long-lasting results, it must be done with precision, using the right equipment and technique.
Our road grading services include:
- Site inspection and assessment
- Correct shaping of the road crown and crossfall
- Redistribution of existing gravel or application of new material
- Edge repair and vegetation management
- Drainage improvements as required
Our experienced team at Parkes Road Tek understands the local terrain and climate conditions. We use modern graders and equipment to deliver consistent, high-quality results across the Parkes region.
Conclusion
Regular road grading is essential for maintaining unsealed and gravel roads in good working condition. Whether it’s ruts, potholes, poor drainage, or surface corrugation, recognising the early signs that your road needs grading can save time, money, and reduce safety risks.
If you’re located in or around Parkes, NSW, and have noticed any of these issues on your property or local access roads, contact Parkes Road Tek. Our team provides professional, reliable grading services tailored to the needs of rural and semi-urban clients.
Call us on: 02 5839 3400
Click here to find out more about Parkes Road Tek
Click here to complete our contact form and see how we can help with your Asphalt and Bitumen Surfacing needs.
