Seal Coating: Should Be of High Importance

Roadways, runways and pavements, all are prone to damage. Just imagine the number of people walking and number of cars passing over them. External factors like heat, rain and snow also add to their degradation. According to experts, maintenance work should be done quite frequently in order to avoid heavyweight expenses in the future. Especially, pavements are prone to severe damage. If you neglect minor cracks now, they might magnify sooner or later. Then, you might have to suffer huge expenses on a re-construction. If you do not want all that to happen, get a seal coating done for your pavement. It would help you enhance its quality.

If you are still considering seal coating callously, these following points might just change your mind.

• An effective coating helps in developing resistance. The pavement becomes resistant to UV rays. These rays penetrate into the asphalt surface and infuse damage in the long term. Therefore seal coating helps a lot in keeping the pavement penetration free. Moreover, it keeps many chemicals (that encourage degradation) away from the pavement. Isn't this quite a substantial reason to incorporate such coats on your pavement?


• These types of coatings help the pavement endure the weight of heavy vehicles passing over it. You must have noticed huge cracks due to the pressure of vehicles on certain pavements. This particular coating is specially designed to endure the heavyweight.


• This coating makes the surface of the pavement extremely smooth. A spell of rain would be enough in clearing up the entire surface. Moreover, you have to invest even lesser in getting the pavements clean.


• Coatings are waterproof. They do not let water seep into the base level. Moreover, the smooth surface discourages water stagnation.


• Seal coated surfaces are friction free. Drawing traffic lines and guidelines would be extremely easy. Certain service providers provide services for line marking as well. They do it flawlessly.

Hopefully, these points should change the way you look at your pavement. However, there are certain points to consider as well.

1. Accreditation - The company should be recognized by the Better Business Bureau and should be appreciated by its customers too.
2. Experience - Don't settle with inexperienced companies. You might have to pay the price for improper seal coating.

So, keep these points in mind before even taking a step ahead towards seal coating for your pavement.

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Five Key Elements for a Quality Asphalt Driveway

When it comes to asphalt driveways, whether for commercial or residential properties, there are five key elements that make or break their dependability and longevity. Specifically for commercial properties, a good asphalt installation job is vital for several reasons. Not only does it make the investment worthwhile, it safeguards drivers and pedestrians that enter commercial premises because potholes and other road hazards are not present. And aesthetically speaking, good asphalt driveway installation is important so that a commercial business looks professional and prioritized. Continue reading to learn what these five key elements are, and who to trust for quality asphalt concrete paving and installation services.

A Suitable Foundation

The first aspect to consider is the ground foundation. For proper driveway paving, there must be a solid subgrade and a strong aggregate base. Often times, problems occur during paving projects like these because the subgrade is not stabilized correctly. For example, if the ground is full of soft wet clay, a contractor must remove this clay or cover it with a durable stone base that will reinforce the ground surface. Failure to do any of the above methods can result in driveway buckling, cracking, crumbling, and ever-increasing deterioration.

Good Drainage

Water is the number one threat to asphalt and concrete pavement. So when it comes to asphalt driveways, proper drainage is absolutely crucial. Water must drain away from the edges of pavement, rather than collect or amass on top of it. If there is no slope to the pavement, water will not properly runoff the sides and away from the driveway. Water will seep into the pores or open crevices of asphalt and freeze, thaw, and expand the pavement overtime. This is what causes potholes, crumbling, and cracks.

Proper Supplies

If the wrong pavement mix is used to pave an asphalt driveway, problems are bound to ensure. Asphalt driveways are vulnerable to weathering and oxidation, so the right type of hot asphalt mix is vital. Although opinions differ among pavement companies and contractors as to which type of mix is best for such projects, driveway mixes should contain less air voids than highway mixes, but more binder. It should result in a finer aggregate finish to look smoother and darker.

Routine Maintenance

Once a driveway is paved and completed, the work is not done. Routine maintenance all year round is critical for all pavements to last. This includes a daily sweeping of debris, regular power washing, seal-coating, crack repair, and more. Consult a professional pavement contractor for advice on proper asphalt maintenance practices. Companies can even outsource these services.

Ethical Workmanship

It is highly important to hire a licensed, bonded, and insured pavement company for proper construction practices and ethical workmanship. Commercial companies that outsource such services want their providers to be liable for any defects or issue during the installation process. In addition, proper workmanship guarantees a proper job. Trained and experience paving contractors can provide this kind of work for commercial companies and more.

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Why Asphalt Paving is the Top Choice For Most Property Owners

Whenever construction related topics are discussed, the use of asphalt VS concrete always creates a bit of controversy. This is especially true when the discussion focuses on paving. Even the word paving these days is used to describe mostly asphalt. But the truth is pavement is any material used to created roads or driveways. The most common modern paving methods however are asphalt and concrete.

Both asphalt and concrete have a long history in the building industry because of the variety of ways the materials can be used. However, in regard to paving parking lots and driveways the biggest argument has mainly been about initial cost.

Now comes the inevitable question, "Which is the better material for parking lot and driveway surfaces?" The answer may surprise nearly everyone. And if you are a property or business owner, the results documented by industry experts as well as scientific studies are quite revealing.

According to Wikipedia, Discovery.com and Industry Sources, here are the latest findings. We'll start with Concrete Paving:

The Complete Details About Concrete Paving:

• - Concrete is more prone to cracking and buckling because it's rigid and dense design. Tree Roots, Ground Movements, Freeze Thaw Cycles and soil movement are huge contributors to concretes deterioration.

• - According to the Ohio Highway Commission, concrete costs of $70 to $100 per cubic yard were more than double the costs of asphalt paving. All Ohio highway paving is now done with asphalt.

• - Concrete paving of parking lot and driveway surfaces requires more time and initial cost than asphalt paving. This hold especially true the larger a project gets.

• - Repairs to concrete paving surfaces are more costly to repair than asphalt. They also don't blend as well as asphalt paving does. Especially after asphalt gets freshly seal coated.

• + Concrete paving last far longer than asphalt paving surfaces.

• + Concrete paving maintenance cost over time, is far less expensive than asphalt paving.

• + Concrete paving requires far less on-going maintenance to keep its strength.

The Complete Details About Asphalt Paving:

• - Asphalt requires continual maintenance including seal coating, striping, crack filling, and many other forgotten costs when deciding what type of pavement to install.

• + Asphalt Paving offers more flexibility giving a light advantage over concrete in terms of handling stress and cracking.

• -+ Asphalt is the easiest to use and most economical pothole repair product available. It can be applied as a cold patch, hot patch, and become a permanent solution for repairing potholes in a shorter amount of time than concrete and other more costly hybrid mixtures. Keep in mind that potholes are far less likely in concrete.

• + In addition to pothole repair, asphalt is used to repair parking lots, driveways, and roadways on a larger scale. The preparation for paving with asphalt is relatively easy, depending on the condition of the surface being covered. Asphalt paving can be done directly over the present pavement in many cases.

• + Asphalt is very strong, durable and weather resistant in addition to being resistant to damaging effects from chemicals

• - Only when the maintenance schedules are kept up.

• + Asphalt sets faster than concrete giving it a strong advantage in both cost and convenience for parking lot and driveway paving.

In summary,

Asphalt:

An environmentally friendly and recyclable paving product that provides many benefits for driveway, road, and parking area applications. With its upfront cost savings, it is by far the more popular choice for parking situations and driveway paving construction. However, those upfront savings are quickly lost with in the first 5 years of installation through ongoing and costly asphalt construction projects.

Concrete:

Also highly green in its recyclable qualities. Concrete paving is a long lasting, low maintenance cost product which looks great over time. Although typically more difficult and slightly costlier to repair, when that time comes. Over time the cost to maintain a concrete pavement surface is much lower. Over the life span of 20-30 years there will be even a larger saving on concrete constructed projects VS its asphalt counterpart.

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What Does Your Parking Lot Say About Your Business?

When was the last time you looked at your parking lot? Really looked at it - from a customer, visitor, or residents' perspective?

Ask yourself these few questions: Is the entrance to your facility making a good first impression? Is it causing long-term tenants to not renew their lease or customers to drive on by? Does it cause a safety hazard to cars and foot traffic?

For many businesses, the parking lot often is not on many facility managers or property owners' radar - until it becomes a problem. If your customers or tenants start complaining, or worse, not coming back to your facility because of the poor repair of your parking lot, you have a big problem.

So, how do you keep up with the maintenance and asphalt repairs for your parking area to keep the visitors to your business happy? First, find a paving contractor that offers a preventative maintenance plan. Second, be sure your asphalt repairs, sealcoating and other parking lot maintenance is performed by a licensed contractor. And last, but certainly not least, be sure your paving company and its employees are ones that you can trust to offer fair pricing and effective solutions.

Determining Your Needs

Here's a quick list of some of the things you and your paving contractor should be on the lookout for in your parking area:

Pot Holes - Does driving through your parking lot feel like you're on a bumpy dirt road? Pot holes cause tremendous wear and tear on vehicles and are a safety hazard to pedestrians. They are also a sign that water is seeping beneath the asphalt pavement through cracks that have been caused by wear and tear of traffic. Pothole repairs can be easily fixed by simply cleaning out the loose debris and filling them with an asphalt patch. However, crack filing and proper sealcoating can help prevent the need for pothole repairs, or worse yet -- the need for a complete asphalt pavement replacement.

Drainage Issues - Does water sit on your parking lot after a rain storm? Do you often have to strategically jump across huge puddles just to reach the sidewalk or get in and out of your car? Your paving contractor can evaluate any drainage issues and correct these drainage problems. There are many reasons for drainage issues. Sometimes vehicle traffic that is heavier than the pavement was designed can cause pavement depressions and in turn, standing water. Your paving contractor can make this type of repair by correcting the grade through localized leveling. For other drainage problems he'll offer other solutions to correct the drainage issues.

Faded Traffic Markings - Are your parking lot lines visible? Can pedestrians and motorists clearly see crosswalks and other traffic markings like stop lines? Line striping designs and pavement markings ensure safe and efficient traffic flow. Proper layout is also required to keep parking lots in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. To best maximize the number of parking spaces, your paving contractor can design and install an acceptable traffic flow and line striping layout to meet your business needs and be in compliance.

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Crack Sealing Asphalt Pavement

Maintaining a commercial facilities parking lot is important to the safety of your buildings' visitors and important to the overall appearance of your business. No one wants to pick their way through a pothole filled parking lot to go shopping. Businesses with weeds growing through the asphalt, standing water or crumbling pavement appear to be un-kept and mismanaged. Your parking lot is the first impression your customers get when it comes to your business. It's important to properly maintain the area by sealing cracks and making asphalt repairs as needed.

Why Does Asphalt Crack?

There are several reasons for cracks in the asphalt. First, asphalt cracks are more prevalent in dry weather. When the ground under the asphalt dries, it can cause the asphalt to pull apart and cracks can occur in your asphalt pavement.

Trees are also a cause of some asphalt cracks. Overtime, the roots of the trees will grow under the asphalt as they seek out moisture. It's normally moist under asphalt, so they are attracted to this area. As the root removes the moisture, the pavement can separate as in the first example. Also, roots can cause bulges in the asphalt pavement if they grow in an upward fashion. To avoid this from happening, the planning of landscape area and trees should be in conjunction with the planning and paving of your parking area.

Applying Crack Sealer

Ask your paving company to take a look at any cracks you have in your parking lot. Sometimes, after a little rain the cracks may close a bit and become almost unnoticeable; however, if this isn't the cause, your paving contractor can apply a crack sealer. A crack sealer should be applied to cracks before sealcoating to prevent them from growing and further damaging your asphalt parking lot.

To keep your asphalt parking lot and driveway in pristine condition, asphalt cracks should be filled and asphalt repairs be made very year. Additionally, your parking lot should be seal coated every two to three years. Sealcoating will help protect the asphalt from the harmful effects of the weather as well the damaging effects of petroleum-based products like gasoline and oil.

As we just discussed, if asphalt is not property seal coated or, not sealed at all, cracks can start forming in the asphalt. If the cracks are not managed and filled every year, this can then lead to potholes making it necessary to perform an asphalt repair.

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Professional Asphalt Paving Contractor's In California

Choosing an asphalt paving contractor can be a major event if you don't take cautionary measures to ensure proper work to be conducted. First, you must review your service provider's credentials and make sure that they have a well known history of success in the asphalt paving industry. Consequently, make sure they are licensed and or bonded before any work is conducted. Furthermore, get proposals from different companies to make the best choice that meets your needs and price specifications.

Be sure to conduct your own research on the asphalt paving company's work that has already been done for other consumers like yourself. Lastly, you want to get a written agreement of the final job costs to ensure that you have a binding legal agreement between the asphalt paving contractor and yourself. At least this way you will have plenty of ammunition against the contractor if things get out of hand and have to go to court. A professional asphalt paver should have nothing to worry about when asked to submit references and a paving license. If so, you should be wary of conducting business with such companies.

Paving companies should be out to provide you with the best services possible and should be will to make your experience one to remember. Never rush into an asphalt paving job without having all of the facts in front of you. Once you give your money to the contractor, you have no more bargaining power.

Finding the best asphalt paving contractor can be daunting work if you don't take the proper steps to ensure your work conducted will be professional in nature. But, by following these simple guidelines you can rest assured that you will be working with a professional asphalt paving contractor in your area.

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Parking Lot Striping Makes a Good First Impression

Your parking lot is one of the first things that customers, clients, and visitors see when they enter your facility. The color contrast of a freshly striped lot is attractive and gives the impression that the property owner cares about maintenance.

A well-striped parking area guides people around the lot safely. Crosswalks, loading-zone markings, stop bars, and properly marked pickup areas for customers or vehicle boarding, let pedestrians know where they should walk, when to give right-of-way to traffic, and areas to avoid.

To help preserve or improve the flow of traffic on a parking lot, a professional striping contractor will re-stripe or lay out new markings based on the customer's blueprints or their own design.

Maximize Space!

As a property owner you know that your parking lot is very valuable, usually comprising at least half of your square footage. A Professional Striping Contractor focuses on getting as many cars as possible into your lot to maintain cost-effectiveness. Brand new striping and the right layout will help meet this goal.

Re-striping should be done every one to two years; depending on the amount of traffic and wear and tear from weather and other factors. The process is simple, but must be done by a professional striping contractor for the best results.

First, the empty parking lot must be cleaned and checked for any major damage such as cracks, potholes or sunken areas. A good striping contractor will also check for water damage. Next, chalk lines will be used to ensure the final painted lines will be clean and straight.

The lines have to be as bright as possible. Not only for people who will be parking, but striping also serves to direct lot traffic to ensure safety of drivers and pedestrians. Drivers must easily see where they are supposed to go at all times. Also, having bright yellow speed bumps on your lot, makes it safer for pedestrians as well as drivers.

Generally, the number of parking spaces on the lot is used to determine how many handicapped spaces are required by law. Proper signs must also be displayed on the parking lot as well. Crosswalks, loading zones, and pick-up and drop-off areas should be bright and clear.

A professional striping contractor uses high quality paint and a walk behind style striping machine. The quality of the paint ensures greater life expectancy of the clean look and the striping machine gets the painted lines to be approximately 6 millimeters when dry.

That brings us to the final stage of striping. Barricades are used to keep other drivers from entering the parking lot until it is completely dry. The lines cannot be driven on until the paint has had time to fully dry (at-least 30 minutes).

Striping is a great way to keep a parking lot looking new and professional. Customers always appreciate a well designed and striped parking area. It's the first thing they see when visiting your property, so you want to create a positive overall first impression.

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Asphalt Seal Coating and Maintenance - Find Out What You Are Getting!

Spring's rolling around again, the grass is getting green, the leaves are budding from the trees and the seal coating and pavement maintenance people are out in full force, looking for your business.

Being in the pavement maintenance and marking business for over 29 years, I've had a lot of people that asked me "Is it really worth it? Seal coating you know." Well, that is really a wide-open question, and one that I can answer a variety of ways. Now if you're calling up your local seal coating contractor, or have someone knocking on your door, asking you to seal coat your driveway, you need to be educated about this process.

Oh I know, nothing to this, go down to your local hardware store and buy the product, and they will tell you everything you need to know about it. Or you can call the local contractor and get some estimates, look at who is the cheapest and sign that contract. Well, maybe, maybe not! Remember that old saying let the buyer beware? Or you get what you pay for? Well it is no different in the world of seal coating and pavement maintenance.

I guess you really need to know a little bit about asphalt before you make a decision about whether to do any pavement maintenance or seal coating. First, do you even know what holds the asphalt together or what's in the product?

Asphalt is made of aggregate, stone and bituminous, or in common terminology a type of tar. Well really these terms have been simplified so that anyone can understand them. See the asphalt is just the finished product. There is a lot more that goes into paving then simply putting the asphalt down. You need to have a good stone base, something that allows water to drain away from it, something that is solid. The depth and type of the base depends a lot on what kind of traffic you're going to be driving across the asphalt surface.

Once you have your stone base, then they apply the asphalt. Asphalt may be put down in various layers if you're trying to build a base for heavier traffic, again all dependent on what your intended use may be. After all that is completed, you should have a nice paved area. Then you wait! Yes you heard me - wait, wait, wait! You see, most seal coating manufacturers recommend that you do not seal coat new asphalt for at least a year. And remember you don't need to seal coat every year, even if that guy comes around and wants to do it every year. Parking lots should be done on a rotation of about every 2 to 5 years depending on the traffic volume and winter conditions. Driveways should probably be sealed about every 3 to 5 years.

Now we get into the down and dirty. If the only thing the contractor you're talking to wants to do is make that asphalt look new again, with a nice coat of sealer, send them packing! If you have cracks, they need to be addressed. Yes, I know somebody is going to tell you, that the seal coating material will fill in the cracks. If the cracks are more than a quarter inch wide and this is what you're told, you better get your boots out because it's going to get deep.

You see cracks are the place where water enters the base of your asphalt. This is where water gets in during the winter, freezes and thaws and then causes potholes or bigger cracks. A good reputable pavement maintenance contractor will want to seal those cracks properly and preferably with some kind of hot rubberized crack sealer. And no, it's not the same as seal coating material. Even if you don't have enough money to seal coat the driveway you should at least fix the cracks. Yes I know, it will look like there are all these black snakes all over your parking lot or driveway. But the question you need to ask yourself is if I would rather have this look, or be paying thousands of dollars to repave my asphalt surface.

If you have the money you can still seal coat. There are protective factors to seal coating material that extend the life of your asphalt surface. But your first priority should be the cracks. Now with all this being said, there are times when an asphalt surface is so cracked up, that it is beyond the repair of crack sealing and seal coating. For instance if your asphalt surface cracks look like one big spider web, you may be past the point of crack sealing and seal coating. Or at the very least you may need to do some asphalt paving repairs before you seal the remainder of the asphalt surface. But you need to have a reputable person tell you the truth. There are a great deal of reputable people out there. Just ask questions, and you will find one.

Remember, they should be a licensed contractor. You should not have to pay them before the work is completed, if they can't buy the material up front, ding, ding, ding a bell should be going off in your head! Check the Better Business Bureau to see if there any complaints about them. Ask for a certificate of insurance, including workers compensation. Always pay with a check or credit card. Don't give them cash! Get a receipt and get a written contract, that both of you have signed before any work begins.

The Internet provides a lot of opportunities to become educated about what you are purchasing. Seal coating is no different. Like everything else if it is performed correctly and by reputable people, I'm sure you will get a good product. But be wary of that person that wants to promise you the world, because you can't buy that for free.

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How To Find The Right Asphalt Paving Company That Best Suits Your Needs

A smooth, well-maintained driveway is most essential if you want to make an excellent impression on a visitor to your property. Due to its shiny black appearance, smooth texture, resilience and durability, asphalt is the most preferred choice for constructing driveways. In fact, it is the best material for many other paving jobs such as parking lots, walkways, etc.

However, it is not only the material, but also the way it is installed that determines whether your surface will be as sturdy and long-lasting as you expect it to be. It is important that you hire a good asphalt contractor if you want your property to benefit from the advantages offered by asphalt paving.

If you look around, you may find several asphalt contractors servicing your area. You need to sift through them to find the most skilled, experienced and reliable one to handle your job. And to be sure that you make the correct choice, you should take out time to learn the basics of the process of asphalt paving and know about the essentials that make a good asphalt paving contractor. The pointers given below can help you hire the perfect professional.

• You should start your search for a suitable contractor by looking in a reliable, high-traffic online local business directory. You can also get references from your relatives, friends or acquaintances in the local construction industry.
• It is best to avoid 'traveling' contractors who approach you for handling your asphalt job. These contractors may claim to have materials leftover from a previous project and offer to do your work at a discounted price. Take care not to get tempted into hiring such unpredictable services.
• Determine your budget so that you can select a contractor whose services suit your needs and are also within your budget.
• Get estimates from at least 3-4 contractors and compare their services before choosing any one. But, remember that lowest bid does not necessarily mean the best option.
• Feel free to discuss matters such as how long the contractor has been in the industry; machines and equipment owned by it; skills, certifications and training of its technicians; quality of materials and mixtures to be used; etc.
• Use online resources and also your local network to learn about the reputation these asphalt paving contractors enjoy.
• It is most imperative that you ask the contractors for local references, preferably recent ones. Check out a few of these references through personal visits to reassure yourself about the quality of the job done, timeliness of project completion, level of customer service, etc.
• Get a written contract detailing all the terms agreed upon between both the parties before initiating the project.

As an informed customer, you should make sure that you select the best contractor that deliver on its promises and delivers a high quality, durable surface.

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The Proper Way to Pave an Asphalt Driveway

Asphalt driveways can last many years when they are installed properly. To start, you will need to select the contractor that you want to make your paving repairs to your new or existing driveway. There are several things to consider when selecting the contractor.

You will need to use a contractor with adequate general liability and worker's compensation insurance. Also, it is important to choose a contractor known for their quality work. The contractor you choose should be able to present you with a certificate of insurance upon your request.

It is also a good idea to get written quotes from several different qualified contractors as well. This may require that you meet with the contractors at the work site to make sure everyone is on the same page.

To get started, even before any grading or paving takes place, it is always a good idea to get a utility locate. This will insure no utility lines are interrupted as well as insure overall safety at the work site. This helps the contractor who will need to haul in the equipment necessary to complete the job.

Next, you will want to take into consideration any drainage issues before the grading starts for the new driveway. The water should be directed away from the house or any other structures. The driveway can even be pitched to help direct the water in a certain direction.

It is very important that your base for your driveway be on good compactable dirt. Your contractor should put down a minimum of 4" of base material underneath the new pavement. It is also a good idea to have 2" of new asphalt topping added onto your new driveway. The asphalt should be compacted with a vibratory compactor, as soon as the new pavement is in place.

Following these simple steps will help to insure a quality paving job, by a qualified contractor.

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Selecting A Good Asphalt Contractor Is Must To Get High Quality Durable Surfaces

A smooth, well-maintained driveway is most essential if you want to make an excellent impression on a visitor to your property. Due to its shiny black appearance, smooth texture, resilience and durability, asphalt is the most preferred choice for constructing driveways. In fact, it is the best material for many other paving jobs such as parking lots, walkways, etc.

However, it is not only the material, but also the way it is installed that determines whether your surface will be as sturdy and long-lasting as you expect it to be. It is important that you hire a good asphalt contractor if you want your property to benefit from the advantages offered by asphalt paving.

If you look around, you may find several asphalt contractors servicing your area. You need to sift through them to find the most skilled, experienced and reliable one to handle your job. And to be sure that you make the correct choice, you should take out time to learn the basics of the process of asphalt paving and know about the essentials that make a good asphalt paving contractor. The pointers given below can help you hire the perfect professional.

• You should start your search for a suitable contractor by looking in a reliable, high-traffic online local business directory. You can also get references from your relatives, friends or acquaintances in the local construction industry.
• It is best to avoid 'traveling' contractors who approach you for handling your asphalt job. These contractors may claim to have materials leftover from a previous project and offer to do your work at a discounted price. Take care not to get tempted into hiring such unpredictable services.
• Determine your budget so that you can select a contractor whose services suit your needs and are also within your budget.
• Get estimates from at least 3-4 contractors and compare their services before choosing any one. But, remember that lowest bid does not necessarily mean the best option.
• Feel free to discuss matters such as how long the contractor has been in the industry; machines and equipment owned by it; skills, certifications and training of its technicians; quality of materials and mixtures to be used; etc.
• Use online resources and also your local network to learn about the reputation these asphalt paving contractors enjoy.
• It is most imperative that you ask the contractors for local references, preferably recent ones. Check out a few of these references through personal visits to reassure yourself about the quality of the job done, timeliness of project completion, level of customer service, etc.
• Get a written contract detailing all the terms agreed upon between both the parties before initiating the project.

As an informed customer, you should make sure that you select the best contractor that deliver on its promises and delivers a high quality, durable surface.

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