When you are looking into residential asphalt paving services chances are you’re researching a large, costly job. Just like many other home improvement services, there are plenty of poor contractors looking to scam you or provide sub-par workmanship. To protect yourself and ensure you’re getting something you’ll be happy with for years to come, here are four things you can check or ask your contractor for.
Material Selection
Almost all asphalt is made from a mixture of new and recycled material. Ask what mixture options you have. The higher the percentage of recycled asphalt the lower the cost will be, but it will also degrade faster.
Depth
If you are paving over an existing surface, the industry standard is at least 2 inches of asphalt. If you are completely redoing your driveway then you should get a gravel base with 3 inches of asphalt. Anything less than this is poor for residential asphalt paving services.
Detailed Estimate and Receipt
When you get estimates ask for anything that will cost you more. Make sure these are detailed by line item. Your receipt for the work should also be detailed and include a line item for exactly the mix you purchased.
Past Work
The average price for residential asphalt paving services ranges between $2500 and $5000 dollars. A poor job will start to fall apart after a few years, while quality work can last 20 years or more. Ask for addresses of previous jobs that have been done and drive by the property. Get a range of ages so that you’re not just looking at recent work. If you are able to look at a project that is five to 10 years old you’ll know what you can expect for your driveway years down the road.
With any home improvement project, you need to do your due diligence while in the research and planning stage. If you spend a little extra time analyzing what you are getting and checking your service provider you can be assured of a high-quality job that you’ll be happy with for years to come.
