Choosing a company to pave your driveway is not a decision you make everyday. Therefore, it could be a daunting task because you may not know what questions to ask to differentiate companies from one another to eventually pick the best one. However, it is a process that could cost you thousands of dollars and will be one of the first things that people see when they visit your home. Here are 5 questions you should ask a driveway paving company before hiring one.
What does the timeline look like?
You should ask for a detailed timeline for your project. Some companies will give this to you automatically, but if not, it is important that you get this information. A timeline will be able to tell you two things about the company. First, you will be able to recognize how efficient they will be, which is a reflection of how your money is being used. A company with a longer timeline could reflect a purposeful lengthening of the process to scam more money from you. Also, you want to be given a definitive day of when they will be done. The following testimonial is from Chris, a customer who switched to our company after a nightmare experience with another company:
“A company prepared our driveway for paving, and said they’d be back in 2 days to finish the job. The day they were supposed to finish came and went, with no call from them. It was not until a week later that they called us back and apologized that they got too busy.”
What is the installation process?
Some companies may have slight variations in their process, but the main process to install a quality driveway should be largely the same across companies. First, the company should grade or excavate the current pavement to clear a level surface for the new pavement. This is done to make sure that the driveway is stable, durable, and has proper drainage systems installed once the pavement is placed down. Some companies may offer additional services as well, but this excavation, leveling, and paving sequence should remain common across companies to ensure that you are getting a quality driveway installation.
What driveway paving options do you offer?
Today, there are several different options that you need to consider when deciding what type of material you want to use to pave your driveway. Some options for paving include asphalt, concrete, pavers, and blacktop. Make sure you research each material before meeting with each company so that you can ask if they provide that material as an option as well as what they charge for that material. You should compare prices and quality of material when deciding on what company to hire for your driveway paving needs.
If we hire your driveway paving company, what will my final cost be?
This is a question that should be at the top of your list. Companies can vary their charges widely, and you should compare the prices and qualities of services that each company will offer when making your final decision. Also, you should consider the deposits that each company asks for when making your decision. You should be suspicious of any company that asks for a higher than average deposit to make sure that you are not being scammed. Last, you need to ask if there will be any other hidden costs associated with the services to make sure that you will not be blindsided by additional charges at the end of the installation. One client of ours, Jamie, had a terrible experience with another company in regards to cost.
Jamie said, “I thought we were getting a great price with a company until we signed the final paperwork when the job was finished. There were “signing fees” added on to the final bill that totaled up to several hundred dollars. Never again will I hire a company without seeing a detailed bill beforehand!”.
Do you have any photos of completed driveways and can you refer me to any homes nearby that you’ve paved the driveways for?
You can listen to companies talk about the quality of their services, but this fact cannot be confirmed until you see what their end product looks like. Although photos can suffice, it is better to see the final product in person if possible. Also, ask around with neighbors to see if they know of anyone in the area who has used certain companies so that you can ask more specific questions, such as about the professionalism, efficiency, and friendliness of the staff.
About the Author
Rich Fidlow is the Owner of Driveway King (links to: https://www.drivewaykingus.com/), and he has over 20 years of experience providing high quality driveway paving services throughout New Jersey. Customers choose Driveway King for their affordable services, high quality results, and efficient and friendly staff. Call Driveway King at 908-499-7590 for a free estimate to get your driveway paving process started!
