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Choosing a Paving Contractor to Install Your Driveway.
January 16, 2009
Do you have an asphalt driveway that is in shambles? The global market forces unique challenges for consumers to spend wisely. Take some advice from an expert so that you will get the most for your money.
Paving an asphalt driveway may seem like a simple task to some people. Basically you just get a couple of companies out of the phone book to give you an estimate and then pick the cheapest one right? Well, not if you’re concerned about the craftsmanship or making sure you get what you pay for. This is the number one mistake people make when choosing a contractor. Before you call any company do some research first. Information is readily available 24 hours a day on the web. Stay away from people that knock on your door. You will never ever get a good job from someone telling you he has an extra load of asphalt from a job up the street. These people are called travelers and never deliver on what they promise. There is plenty of info on the web regarding these types of people.
Try to zero in on companies that specialize in residential asphalt
drives. Commercial contractors excel in putting down lots of asphalt
really fast, but usually fall short of a homeowner’s expectations when
it comes to details. Review a company’s website, check them against
the BBB or other reporting agencies, and compare your notes about your
research. When you look at their website, be sure to pay really close
attention to the details you find both in the content and in the
pictures on the site. You want to see what kind of work they are
capable of, and you want to be confident they fully know what they are
doing. You’ll also be able to make sure they have adequate equipment
if they have good pictures. Once you have 1-3 good companies with a
clean history and a good reputation now is the time to talk to them and
request a bid. Always get a written proposal. This makes sure both
parties’ expectations are clear and known. It also helps protect you
if a legal matter ensues.
When reviewing the bids pay close attention to the entire proposal;
including the letterhead that it’s composed on. Sloppiness or
inadequacies on paper now may be what you’ll get on your asphalt
driveway too. Be sure that everything you expect from your paving
project is included in the scope. Make sure you understand everything
that is taking place. Be sure you understand how the job will be
scheduled, how thick the driveway will be after the asphalt is
compacted, how much rock will be installed prior to paving, and the
dimensions or square footage. Signing a contract means you have
accepted what is in writing. If something is left out, make sure you
get an amended contract.
Before you sign a contract you should take some time and use good
judgment to compare the estimates. Price should never be your number
one concern. We’ll discuss price in a moment. Take an opportunity to
ask a contractor for referrals that best match the design of your job.
Some companies keep a cheat sheet of their best referrals, but you
should insist they provide you with 1-2 jobs nearby that best match
your own asphalt driveway. You want this because you should be
inclined to physically investigate what kind of work they do. Ask
about jobs they might be doing in the area so you can personally
witness them while in action.
How do you know what to look for when looking at a referral driveway
that a company has already completed? Here are a few great tips that
will bring you up to an educated level.
- Check all the transitional areas such as sidewalks, garage floors,
and streets. These should all be flush, with no bump, and should have
the proper thickness. Without these details you will see water
problems, or unraveling of the asphalt. These symptoms only get worse
as time goes on.
- Streaking or pock marks are a good indicator of a thin surface.
This happens when there is not enough material to encapsulate the
larger stones while paving. The larger stones will tumble and cause
imperfections in the surface, or “mat”.
- Seams and joints should be flush with each other, and barely
visible (if at all) to an untrained eye. Seams and joints that are
severely visible or are not evenly matched will fail prematurely.
- Exposed edges of the perimeter should be properly constructed.
This is where most companies sink or swim. You should pay most of your
attention here. Stand back and carefully look at the edges from a
distant point of view. You should observe several aspects: The edges
should be either in a perfectly straight line, or consistently
“flowing” with the turns. The edges should be properly shaped,
beveled, or tamped in a consistent looking 60 degree angle. The edges
should be compacted properly without looking “squashed” from the top.
Without these characteristics you will have problems later and it just
doesn’t look as good as it should.
- If you look at the job after a rainstorm, be sure there is no
considerable ponding, or puddling of water. If you do see water spots
you can quickly deduce if they are too deep by measuring them with a
coin placed flat in the water. The water should not be deeper than the
coin.
- Last but not least, if the driveway was paved recently look for
trash or debris left behind. This will indicate the level of
cleanliness the crew is at.
You should really focus on the importance of inspecting past jobs by
the company before spending your own money on having your asphalt
driveway paved. By printing out this guide you can take it with you to
create a checklist to write notes and comparisons on. Once you have
done this, talk to the home owner and ask how their experience was with
the firm. If you are diligent about researching your contractors prior
to hiring them, you nearly eliminate the chance of getting a bad
asphalt driveway. It’s your money, be sure it’s well spent.
Certainly ask your contractor about asphalt prices. Since early 2008
prices have gone up and down every month (typically up). Most paving
contractors will not absorb a price increase. You and your contractor
need to be in agreement with what will happen in the case of rising
material costs.
Since we are on the topic of price now, let’s explore a few matters.
There are a few ways of eliminating contractors before price. Be sure
they are completely aware of your expectations. Have they presented
you with a solution that gives you the absolute best return on
investment? Does their reputation meet what you are looking for? If
you have done your homework and still are lucky enough to have several
contractors to choose from, price now becomes an important focus. Ask
about available discounts. Typically, discounts are usually for cash
payment, multiple jobs done at once (i.e. neighbor also needs a
driveway), senior citizen, or repeat work. Also inquire about getting
free or discounted maintenance packages once they have completed your
driveway. Ask about including other options such as crack barrier or
curbing at a lesser amount. Before asking a contractor to directly
drop his price, be aware of several things. If you have found a very
good contractor, chances are they are very passionate about their work
and may feel a bit insulted if asked to match another company’s price.
If you ask them to match a price and they feel as though their
competition is as good as they are, a price reduction might be made to
try to satisfy you. Be very considerate when asking for a direct
reduction. These days it’s very expensive and stressful to operate a
successful paving operation. The last thing you want to do is cause
your contractor stress that may influence how your driveway is
constructed.
Hopefully this has answered any questions you may have regarding the
selection process of a residential asphalt contractor. If you have
problems or questions regarding anything asphalt, feel free to look me
up at our website. www.ccpstl.com
The author, Richard Dinkela II is employed by Creve Coeur Paving, a
family owned, full service paving company operating in the Saint Louis
Metro area since 1973. They are focused on serving the needs of
commercial and residential patrons.
Contact:
Creve Coeur Paving
Richard Dinkela II, Operations
314-427-3303
www.CcpStl.com
“Our Passion, Your Pavement”
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