For most Northern Virginia homeowners, hiring an asphalt paving contractor is a once or twice in a lifetime event. A professionally installed and maintained asphalt driveway will last 20 to 30 years. That’s one of the reasons asphalt is such a popular paving material for driveways, parking aprons and turn arounds.
So, you may be wondering if asphalt is so durable, why are you looking for a contractor to repair the cracks and pothole in your 9-year-old asphalt driveway. The answer may be that the drive was improperly installed or that low quality material was used. To avoid a reoccurrence, you want to ask prospective contractors some key questions.
The 3 No-Brainer Questions
There are three basic questions you ask any kind of contractor so let’s get them out of the way now.
- Are you licensed?
In Virginia there are three levels of contractor licensing. The important differences involve experience, and the maximum individual project value the contractor can enter into. Ask your contractor for their license number.
Virginia Class A Contractor License:
- Requires Minimum Net Worth of $45,000
- Qualified Individual needs at least 5 years experience.
- Maximum Project Size is unlimited.
- Maximum Annual Revenue is unlimited.
Virginia Class B Contractor License:
- Requires Minimum Net Worth of $15,000
- Qualified Individual needs at least 3 years experience.
- Maximum Project Size is less than $120,000.
- Maximum Annual Revenue is less than $750,000.
Virginia Class C Contractor License:
- There is no Minimum Net Worth requirement.
- Qualified Individual needs at least 2 years experience
- Maximum Project Size is less than $10,000.
- Maximum Annual Revenue is less than $150,000.
- Are you insured?
At a minimum, your contractor should carry General liability and workman’s compensation coverage. Unless your contractor has adequate insurance, if they damage your property, or your neighbor’s, or if a crew member is injured, your homeowner policy can be on the hook for the costs. Ask to see a valid certificate of insurance.
- Ask for references.
Every contractor is going to have a list of favorite customers. Check the Google Reviews for a more candid evaluation than you might get from a hand-picked list. Also ask for addresses of recent and older projects in your area that you can drive by. Newer projects will give you a good idea of what your project will look like and older jobs will indicate how well it will wear.
The 4 Questions You Need to Ask a Virginia Asphalt Paving Contractor
Once you have established that the asphalt paving contractor is licensed, insured, and has worked in your neighborhood, it’s time to ask four specific questions.
- How long have you been in business?
A contractor’s length of time in the business not only speaks to the experience of the organization but to its sustainability. Because asphalt paving has relatively little repeat business, customer satisfaction and referrals to new customers is vital to a company’s growth. The longer a company has been in business, the more likely they are doing a decent job. A poor reputation will quickly dry up a paving company in this capital heavy industry.
- What do you think are the most important parts of my paving project?
This may be the most important question you ask the contractor. After he has inspected the site, ask him how he sees the asphalt paving project progressing. Are there any unusual challenges like a steep grade, drainage issues, or traffic congestion? An experienced, professional contractor will lay out all of the steps, how special issues will be addressed, and he will do it in a language that is easy to understand. If the contractor’s answer inspires confidence, you have the right guy. Open and honest communications is a good sign that doing business with this contractor will be easy.
- How many workers will be on the job?
The size of the crew will depend on the type of service being provided. Sealcoating requires fewer workers and equipment than a paving project. Generally speaking, an efficient paving crew will run 5 to 8 workers. A project that is understaffed can affect the quality and durability of the finished product. Hot mix asphalt cools fairly rapidly and a cold installation caused by being short-handed,will not result in optimal performance.
- Do you warranty your work?
Contractors who take pride in their work have no problem offering a warranty on their services and materials. A warranty also provides a financial incentive for the contractor to ensure the work is professionally completed and meets the customer’s expectations. A one year warranty is common among the leading asphalt paving contractors in Northern Virginia.
If you are comfortable after asking these four questions, you are likely to be happy with the contractor’s finished product. But if you have any questions you feel were left unanswered, don’t hesitate to push for a clarification.
At Standard Paving we have been doing asphalt paving in Northern Virginia for over 30 years and have installed thousands of projects of all kinds. We know what concerns customers have. Having an informed customer that you can speak openly and frankly to, is the best way to ensure a successful project.
Call us today if you have any questions.
