What to Look for in Affordable Asphalt Paving

There are plenty of paving companies in Raleigh, NC – how do you find one which can offer affordable asphalt paving, while still delivering good quality? Properly installed, an asphalt slab, road, or driveway can easily last 15-20 years, possibly longer. Asphalt can be an excellent option if you find the right contractor. 

Fortunately, it’s not hard to find quality paving in Raleigh. You just need to know the right questions to ask when you’re researching companies. Remember: don’t go with the first contractor you call. Make contact with a few, so you can compare the companies and their bids!

Five Questions to Ask a Raleigh Paving Contractor

1 – Are you licensed and insured?

Above all else, never work with any kind of construction contractor who can’t prove their bone fides. They need to be properly licensed by the state, and they must carry their own insurance. Ask to see it!

Why is insurance so important? If something goes wrong and your property is damaged, their insurance will pay for it. Further, if one of their workers was harmed on your land without insurance, your own insurance might be liable! In other words, their insurance protects you from damage or penalties.

2 – How long have you been in business?

Paving is a relatively easy business to get into – but unproven contractors tend to fail quickly. The more experience the company has, the better. Ideally, they should have been in business for at least 5-10 years, but more is a bonus! 

3 – What references or examples can you provide?

A good paving contractor should have plenty of satisfied customers. Ask for referrals from past customers, or at least to see pictures of their asphalt jobs. If they’ve done good work in the past on jobs that are similar to yours, you can be reasonably sure they’re qualified for the job.

However, don’t stop there. Ask around your friends, coworkers, social media contacts, etc. See if anyone has had experience with them and get their opinions.

4 – Do you offer sealcoating or painting?

Asphalt should be sealcoated fairly regularly, which protects it against the sun, rain, ice, and other elemental threats. If your Raleigh asphalt contractor offers sealcoating, it’s best to stick with one company for both installation and longer-term maintenance.

Likewise, if the asphalt needs to be painted – such as dividing lines or road markers – ask ahead of time if they can do it.

5 – Can you match this bid?

The big reason to contact several companies and collect bids is that they can be used in negotiation. You don’t want to go with the lowest bidder, but you might be able to use their bid to haggle down the company you do want to go with. At least, it can’t hurt to ask!

Blalock Paving has been offering affordable asphalt paving services to the Triangle since 1968! For a high-quality asphalt installation that will last for years, just contact us.