Getting the best paving contract possible
You need to hire high-quality paving contractors in the near future and want to make sure that you get the best possible results for your money. However, you’ve been burned in the past by contractors and want to make sure that you get involved with the best possible paver. Doing so will ensure that you get an incredible paving job at a price that you can afford.
Just as importantly, you want to ensure that your contract is fair and reasonable for your specific needs. Follow the tips below to create a paving contract that is good for both you and the contractor. Most paving contractors will expect you to follow these guidelines, so make sure that you fully understand them before you start.
Discuss the job you want done
The most important step in crafting an effective and fair paving contract is fully understanding what type of job you want done in the first place. Thankfully, you can work with the contractor to gauge the elements below, as well as many others that the contractor will help you decide:
- What pavement you want. Make sure that you discuss the type of paving you want with your contractor to ensure that you get the best job possible. This can include various types of asphalt, concrete and more.
- How long the job will take. A good contractor should be able to give you an estimate on how long a job will last. Try to find one who can do the job sooner rather than later but not somebody who will rush the job. A rush job will be almost always be poorly executed.
- Which materials are necessary. Every paving job is different, and the materials required will change depending on what type of pavement you use. For example, concrete jobs will not only need cement but water, sand and other types of mixing materials.
- Tools necessary for the job. A multitude of tools are available for many types of paving jobs. For example, you’ll need specific mixers, various types of hammers (to create a framework), and tools to flatten the surface of the concrete as much as possible.
- Preparation methods required. Many types of paving jobs require specialized preparation methods that ensure things go smoothly. For example, you typically need to create a framework for a driveway or parking lot that holds the pavement in place while it dries.
These elements are just a few aspects that you need to consider when creating a paving contract. Working with high-quality paving contractors ensures that you create a detailed and effective contract that covers every aspect of your job in a comprehensive and effective way.
Get bids from multiple pavers
Too many people feel tempted to accept the first contract that they get from a contractor. This is a huge mistake because it limits the possibility of finding a less expensive—but still high-quality—contract for a competitive paving professional near you.
And when you get these bids, make sure that you talk about them or at least casually mention that you’re discussing contracts with other pavers. You don’t want to be too heavy-handed, here, but a casual mention of another paving professional could cause many pavers to decrease their prices or give you a discount to get your job.
Cover your material costs
A good bid and paving contract should not only discuss the labor costs of the gig but also cover the material costs involved in the job. However, you shouldn’t just take a basic estimate of how much will be needed for a gig. Instead, you should make sure that the contractor breaks down every element of the job in a way that makes it absolutely clear what materials are used.
For example, you should understand all the tools that will be used, how they will be shipped to the area, how much sand and mixing material will be necessary, and much more. Beyond that, you also deserve a detailed breakdown of how much each material item will cost, including the cost of individual units. In this way, you can get an idea of where the price originates and can compare other contracts and bids more effectively. Pavers who don’t provide this type of detailed material list are not worth your time.
Ask about insurance coverage
When working with paving contractors, you need to make sure that they have some type of insurance coverage to take care of any issues that occur on your job. This doesn’t have to be literal insurance policies here, but a good paving contractor should have a warranty that covers any damage or errors that they cause on your driveway of parking lot.
Talk to the contractor about this warranty, including what issues it covers, how the coverage is enforced, and how long it lasts. A good warranty should last at least six months to a year after the initial installation process and should cover any issues that the contractors caused. Problems that occur due to weathering damage are not likely to be on a warranty, though.
Contact us to learn more
By now, you should have a pretty good idea about what you need to do to write a high-quality paving contract. You not only understand the benefits of high-quality material coverage but how to find paving contractors to meet your specific needs. So when it comes time to get your driveway paved, make sure that you contact us right away to get the high-quality job that you deserve.
Our experts and paving contractors fully understand the specific needs of your paving job and will work hard to ensure that you achieve the high-quality look and style that you deserve. Just as importantly, our professionals fully understand the necessity of providing maintenance and repair procedures for problems that may occur on a driveway. So please call us to learn more about our rates and our specialties.