A little preparation can go a long way in making sure you hire the right driveway company
Driveway companies handle installation and repairs, so start by contacting at least three local contractors to compare quotes and verify their experience with your specific project.
Planning your driveway dimensions, slope, materials, and design details helps you get accurate quotes and ensures the contractor understands exactly what you need from the start.
Written contracts protect you by clearly outlining the scope of work, payment structure, permit requirements, and change order process before any driveway work begins.
Hiring a local asphalt driveway company provides confidence through verified insurance, bonded protection, and experienced guidance on permits, materials, and proper installation techniques.
A beautiful driveway is worth its weight in gold. Well, maybe not quite, but it sure adds to the aesthetic appeal of your home. Whether you’re building a new one or repairing an existing one, you want to hire the best driveway company for the job.
But how can you be sure you’re choosing the right driveway pro? There are a number of things you can and should do as a homeowner to select a company that will install the driveway of your dreams.
The first thing you should do is contact at least three driveway companies near you. Talk to a few of them and get some quotes. Prepare a list of questions and contact the company’s references. Ask them if they have experience with the type of work you want done. Once you have a few bids, you can compare.
That covers the basics, but there are a few other things you can do, such as talking to your neighbors about driveway companies they’ve hired in the past. If you’ve noticed a neighbor recently got a driveway paved, ask if they were satisfied with the work.
Before you hire a driveway company, prepare with these tips.
No one likes surprises when it comes to driveway projects, so you need to properly plan the driveway project to ensure that the quote the contractor gives you is an accurate one. Measure the driveway thoroughly. Remember that the length of your driveway is determined by the distance from the street to your home. Don’t forget any parking spots and turnarounds.
Also, measure any incline on your property, which has a big impact on the driveway project. You don’t want the pitch to be any steeper than 15%, as that can be dangerous particularly when it’s raining. You may need a curved driveway to reduce the slope.
There are other considerations, like aesthetics. Do you want decorative elements to frame the edges? Do you want the driveway to wind up a hill? Do you want to experiment with special designs, like a horseshoe or circular driveway?
And finally, you need to figure out the best driveway materials for your project. Asphalt, concrete, and brick are popular options.
As a homeowner, you need to do your due diligence to vet any contractor working on your property, and that is even more important for your driveway. Verify in writing that the company is covered by liability insurance, and don’t just take their word for it. If something goes wrong, you don’t want to be the one on the hook. You might want to go with a contractor who is bonded.
Also, verify the number of years and work experience they have. Consult references about their experience and the level of satisfaction customers have with the final product, as well as whether they’d use them again.
Here are a few questions you should ask a driveway company before hiring them:
What is the driveway installation process like?
Are there any subcontractors involved in the project, or are the contractors responsible for all of the work?
Is the work covered by warranty?
Do you have experience using the specific materials that I want installed?
Do you have experience with the type of driveway I want installed (i.e., a circular driveway)?
Here are a few tips that will make hiring a driveway company as seamless and successful as possible.
Learn as much as you can about what goes into installing a driveway. This allows you to understand what skills and knowledge are important, and that will make it easier to choose the right contractor.
Research what permits are needed and make sure your contractor has them. Don’t just trust that the contractor knows what permits they need. It’s your responsibility as the homeowner to ensure local laws and ordinances are followed.
Always, always, always have a clear contract with your driveway company, as well as a payment arrangement. Don’t do verbal or handshake agreements, as if there’s a disagreement later on down the line, you’ll be in a tough spot and likely out of a lot of money. Put together a written contract, and find another contractor if they aren’t willing to sign it. The contract should lay out the parameters for the scope of work, the change order process, the payment structure, the final payoff, and final approval.
Anytime you hire a contractor, you want to keep good records of the project, and that’s doubly true for a big job like installing a driveway. Keep track of all hours worked, any progress made, how well the contractor is sticking to the schedule, and any other pertinent details.
The truth is, you never know just how good of a job a contractor did until potentially months after a project. Here are a few red flags that indicate that your contractor didn’t do the work properly and should be held responsible to repair it:
Potholes: Potholes are unsightly and cause serious damage to your tires and suspension, particularly when you’re driving over them daily.
Drainage: If heavy downpours are leaving large amounts of standing water, that could risk damaging your home and it needs to be fixed.
Disrepair: If chunks of driveway are breaking off, that could be an indication your contractor has installed a weak base and that larger cracks are likely to form.
Warping: While we most associate warping with hardwood floors, driveways are not immune. If the regular movement of vehicles causes warping shortly after the project, that’s a sign it wasn’t installed correctly.
Once the job is done, give it a final inspection to ensure there aren’t any obvious issues. Once you’re satisfied with the work, sign off on it and send the final payout amount to the contractor. Be sure to leave an honest review after the project to help other homeowners make an informed choice.
Archie did a good job cleaning up the driveway before he laid down the sealer. It looks good. He was gracious and even helped me bring up my groceries. His rate was comparable to another company who came out to give me a quote and he talked to me personally rather than just text me a quote...
Pro Seal Roofing & PavingD1 Roofing delivers outstanding service from beginning to end, backed by a strong warranty and expert teams. I highly recommend them for their excellence in meeting and surpassing expectations with unmatched communication. Choosing D1 Roofing was flawless decision
Division 1 Roofing LLCFirst of all, the gentleman I dealt with (Cam?) was very responsive to my many questions and concerns throughout the project, which is a huge plus to me. From the first time I met him for the estimate all the way til the completion of the job, he and his crew were professional and respectful....
All Star Paving and SealingWe had a 20+ year old landscape lighting system that needed replacement. Midwest Lightscapes worked with us to design a much improved lighting system, lighting the exterior of the house and the back yard. Installation of the 45 light system took one and one-half days, and went very smoothly....
Midwest LightscapesWorking with Peter and his crew was a breeze. They were exceptionally polite and did a neat job to repair and seal our driveway. I will definitely talk to them first for additional work.
Central PavingWe hired Jim to replace our hardwood floors with new hardwood. He and his helper Jerry did a fantastic job. Their work ethic is impeccable!! We would highly recommend McColl Floors!
The preformed a really good job the staff is incredible never been so happy with my home, A brand new driveway is like a face lift!!
Pristine PavingCalled Mark on a Thursday morning. Not really knowing if he could help me or not. I was having driveway, flooding issues due to a clogged channel drain and I was trying to figure out what direction to take. Heavy rains had come on Monday and again on Thursday leading to flooding in my garage...
Mark Rodgers ConstructionHad already met with 2 other contractors before Blue Ring, and Blue Ring's price quote for the work was better than either of the other 2, and the came out the next morning and cleaned up a very large fallen tree branch from a storm that was blocking my driveway. Work was completed in...
Blue Ring Residential Services, LLCHIRED TO CLEAR SNOW FROM MY DRIVEWAY. HUGE SNOW STORM COMES, THEY DON'T SHOW. MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS TO ''SNOW EMERGENCY'' NUMBER PROVIDED WERE IGNORED. UNRELIABLE, UNPROFESSIONAL. ALMOST TWO DAYS SINCE SNOW STOPPED, STILL NO WORD. THEY DID SHOW UP A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST WINTER, BUT VERY...
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