An asphalt parking lot or driveway can last upwards of 30 years when properly maintained and cared for. A key piece to ensure your asphalt will live up to its lifespan is to have a professional complete the necessary work. Not only will your parking lot look good and last a long time, but you will also get the most out of your investment.
But, how do you know how to hire an asphalt contractor?
Finding a reputable contractor can be challenging and time-consuming. To help you hire an asphalt expert that is going to maintain your pavement and ensure it will last, we’ve put together this list of best practices.
Ask Your Friends For Recommendations
When you start the process of looking for an asphalt contractor, who better to ask than your family or friends for recommendations? Whether your friends and family have first-hand experience or they know someone who has recently had work done by a contractor, they will be able to give you a good recommendation. They may also offer advice on a contractor they had a negative experience with. Regardless, trusting those around you will likely give you the best results for your pavement.
Do Your Due Diligence
Before you hire a company, doing your own due diligence will ensure you are comfortable with the contractor you want to hire. A few places you can look at can include review websites, such as Google, Yelp, or Better Business Bureau. Also, look at their website and social media for photos of recent projects.
Asking the asphalt contractor for their own references will give you the opportunity to talk to a business owner who has worked with the contractor. You can also view the quality of the work by visiting the reference’s parking lot. If a contractor cannot provide you with a few strong references, this would be a red flag to not hire them to perform your work.
Ask For Proof of License & Insurance
Asking for proof of licenses and insurance is always a best practice when hiring an asphalt contractor. Again, if a contractor is unwilling to share this information with you, it is a big red flag that you should not hire them. If something were to happen on your property, you would be held liable if the company is not properly insured.
Having skilled workers performing the work on your project will help ensure the best results. Ask for any certifications or specialties that the company employs to help you feel comfortable hiring them.
Get Three Quotes
If you are looking to have significant asphalt work completed, it is best practice to obtain three quotes from three different asphalt contractors. Talking with three different companies will give you a good idea of what the work should cost. If there is a company that comes in much lower than the other two, it may be a red flag that they are just looking for a quick dollar while not completing the job properly.
Each contractor should also provide you with a written quote. This will give you added peace of mind knowing there will not be any surprises once the work is complete as far as price. Be sure to review what is listed and compare each of the quotes before making your final decision.
Ask All Of The Questions
There is never a dumb question and you should be given the opportunity to ask all of your asphalt questions to a contractor. Specific questions to ask a contractor could include:
- How long have you been in business?
- What type of material do you use?
- What will be the thickness of asphalt?
- What grade of asphalt do you use?
- How many people will be on-site?
These are just a few items you might ask the asphalt contractor. Whether they can answer these questions quickly or not could be a red flag. Asking for an estimated timeline is also recommended to further understand what to expect.
If you are located in the greater Mooresville area, call Toste Construction for your asphalt needs. Our team is highly skilled at completing quality asphalt work on parking lots and driveways of every size. Call our office to schedule your FREE estimate today!
Toste Construction specializes in sealcoating and crack filling to ensure you and your customers have a smooth surface to drive on. We are your Mooresville asphalt and pavement maintenance company. Our services include asphalt sealcoating, striping, patching, pothole repair and crack filling for both residential and commercial projects throughout western North Carolina.