Why not learn more about Pavement?
Finding an Asphalt Paving Company
There are plenty of things that can influence the cost and outcome of an asphalt paving project. Getting the lowest bid is not always the best way to go when hiring an asphalt paving company. The following are tips to help you decide wisely:
Insurance
Just like automobile insurance, contractors usually pick the minimum coverage required by the law. When accidents take place within YOUR property, you need to be protected as much as possible. To make this possible, your contractor must have General and Auto Liability, and Workers Compensation insurance, plus an Umbrella policy, with a minimum worth of $500,000 for every policy. For your complete protection, the contractor should be covered by General Liability and Auto Liability insurance, and Workers Compensation insurance, with an Umbrella policy, with a minimum per-policy worth of $500,000. To ensure your full protection, your prospective contractor needs Workers’ Compensation insurance, General Liability and Auto insurance, plus Umbrella coverage, at a minimum of $500,000 for each policy.
Material
Asphalt is often recycled over and over. There are different grades of asphalt with varying percentages of recycled material content. Using low quality asphalt during installation can impact the look and strength of your asphalt pavement. Higher grade asphalt containing a minimal amount of recycled material is always the wiser option.
Equipment
It’s important to know the type of asphalt paving equipment used by your potential contractor? Is it worn-out? Anything that breaks down often can stall the completion of your project. Also, keep in mind that asphalt can cool fast. Taking a while to install the asphalt can make your pavement look less pleasing upon completion. In any asphalt project, the availability of properly maintained equipment is important.
In any case, avoid hiring a company that performs asphalt paving with their hands. Asphalt paving machines generally cost north of $100,000, which is reasonable for the efficiency and technology they bring to the table.
Crew
Is the contractor well-staffed? A regular asphalt paving crew has about 5-8 workers, depending on the size of the project. An understaffed crew won’t only reduce the overall quality of your asphalt paving, but it can also delay the completion of the project.
Down Payment
Unless the worth of your asphalt paving project is above $10,000, you should not pay a down payment to the contractor. Most trusted asphalt paving firms have lines of credit with a lot of suppliers. They should never ask for any deposits from the client. With deposits, there’s a risk of funds being misused by the contractor. Sadly, some contractors use deposits to complete other asphalt projects.
In this industry, as in most others, you get what you pay for. You should think of your asphalt paving project as a long term investment. Asphalt paving can live over 20 years when installed properly. You may be able to save a few hundred dollars in the short term, but his can lead to thousands of dollars lost down the road. Be sure you do your homework and ask contractors questions to make an educated decision as you choose your asphalt paving contractor.
