Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Driveway Contractor

Finding the appropriate contractor when having your driveway paved or repaired is of utmost importance, and asking the proper questions can help narrow your options down significantly. Choose the best Asphalt Paving Contractors in San Bernardino.

Standing water can quickly compromise asphalt materials and cause them to deteriorate over time, leading to premature wear and tear. A qualified contractor should take measures to identify and address these problems prior to beginning their task.

Experience

If you need a concrete contractor to plan, design, and construct your new driveway, make sure they have extensive experience. To do so, ask them how long they have been in business as well as for past client contact details and whether or not they are insured and licensed – which will protect both parties during any damages or accidents during construction projects.

Request that the prospective contractor provide you with a detailed quote outlining costs and time estimates so you can compare bids and find one best suited to your needs. This will also shed light on any hidden fees you weren’t aware of before! A professional concrete contractor should have no issue providing references and photos from past projects.

Finding a contractor to build your driveway can be a substantial financial investment, so you must hire someone reliable. One way to identify reliable contractors is through recommendations from friends, family, and neighbors who recently had their driveway constructed, as well as reaching out to local builders or property developers who work with asphalt contractors. By investing the time in doing your research, you can ensure a high-quality, well-built driveway will emerge at the end of it all.

Materials

A driveway contractor should be familiar with a wide variety of materials used to build or repair driveways, depending on soil conditions, drainage patterns, and other factors. They will select appropriate base layers such as crushed stone, gravel, or both in accordance with local conditions. Heavy machinery will then compact this sub-base until it can support concrete that will be poured on top.

An established driveway contractor should have access to an expansive network of suppliers. With this source network comes access to materials that are attractive, eye-catching, durable, and offer endless decorative possibilities that other paving materials simply cannot – for instance, making your concrete driveway look like tile, brick, or stone at a fraction of the cost!

An established concrete driveway contractor will begin their process with an in-depth site inspection, taking note of existing soil and drainage patterns as well as clearing away vegetation or debris that might obstruct the paving process. After this, they’ll dig out old materials from the driveway and prepare the area by compacting soil for new builds by eliminating soft spots and softening spots if present; typically, this involves placing a sand and gravel base prior to pouring concrete on top.

Cleanliness

Driveways are subjected to extreme elements year-round, so regular cleaning is essential not only to maintain their appearance and curb appeal but also to help avoid costly repairs in the future.

Automotive grease, oil, and fluids from vehicles can leave unsightly stains on concrete driveways, which need regular cleaning in order to remove and prevent premature cracking and crumbling.

Mold and mildew are other common problems on concrete or asphalt driveways, but they can be challenging to eradicate without professional cleaners with enzyme-based enzyme cleaners capable of targeting organic material without harming concrete or asphalt surfaces.

Standing water can also be an issue on driveways, often due to poor drainage or damage that allows water to seep into the pavement and degrade it, leading to cracks, potholes, and other unsightly damage. Regular cleaning helps alleviate this issue by clearing away dirt and debris from puddles.

Finally, weeds can be an enormous issue for driveways. If left to take root in these spaces, they can find their way through cracks in the pavement and destroy its integrity. Regular cleaning with appropriate herbicide spraying can help keep these unwanted guests at bay.

Warranty

A reliable contractor should offer you a warranty that protects their work. Make sure you understand what this covers, such as major cracks, discoloration, or staining of the driveway from installation and any settlement due to installation.

A limited warranty must be clearly articulated to set forth what it covers and who it applies to. The specification must include details regarding contractor work during the warranted period and construction activities; this could range from covering only mainline pavement to long-term performance warranties that also encompass auxiliary lanes/shoulders/subgrade/roadway hardware items.

Should any disputes arise under your limited warranty agreement, there should be a dispute resolution procedure set out to address them. Any disagreement will be submitted to an arbitration panel for binding decision-making; exclusions could include damage caused by vehicles driving over your concrete surface or foreign substances such as salt and deicer chemicals that damage it directly.

Warranty providers must also include a list of contractors eligible to receive coverage, with eligibility typically being determined through evaluation of prior warranty projects and comparison with their quality control systems. Agencies should consult local bonding representatives early in the development process in order to avoid resistance; clarity in warranty specifications and familiarity with contractors completing work can often help overcome initial resistance from them.