Beware

For a Stronger Foundation

Not all contractors are liable and offer reliable asphalt and concrete parking lot repair and replacement services. You need to be aware of some unscrupulous contractors before hiring to be on the safe side.

A group of construction vehicles parked on the side of a road.

Fly By Night Contractors

  • Never hire someone for your job on impulse.
  • Avoid encouraging the contractor from using the let over the materials from another job. Since reputable contractors carefully measure supplies and rarely have a small number of leftovers, that’s not enough to do an entire job more than ever before.
  • Never go for the deals that are good to be true since the quality of work may below.
  • Most contractors take checks and require no terms for cash only.
  • Get one-time bid quotes to be well aware of the result and shop accordingly.
  • No door to door sales. No professional contractor will be at your front door, offering low-cost asphalt.
  • Check for the contractor’s vehicle state license plates.
  • Often the large equipment may be licensed in Colorado, while the smaller equipment like pickups and trailers be licensed in other states.

Advantages of Asphalt Pavement Over Concrete One

  • Cost: Asphalt is 30 to 40% less costly than concrete.
  • Speed: Depending on the size and nature of work, it typically takes 1 - 3 days to set up a new asphalt driveway, while concrete can be completed for up to several days longer.
  • Usability: Depending on the time of the year, a new asphalt driveway-parking lot will normally be used from 3-14 days. The driveway/parking lot recovers better in the spring and fall because the days are not as hot, and at night it becomes cooler. It takes longer to cure in the summer season due to the heat. Unless you have an early high mix that costs considerably more, concrete takes seven days to cure.
  • Spalling: Asphalt does not spall like concrete, which can be caused by improper installation and mix design. When salt is being thrown on the concrete, it can make any snowmelt.
  • Cracking: All concrete or asphalt pavements can get lineal cracks, but it does not mean the pavements are failing. When the soil expands, concrete pavement fails while asphalt is flexible and is not cracking much.
  • Repairs: Owing to the price of the material, asphalt is easier to fix than concrete. At any hardware store, the things to fixate can be bought.
  • Weather: In the winter, the dark surface draws heat from sunlight because asphalt is black by nature, melting snow faster than concrete.

Tips for Choosing a Contractor

  • Since asphalt occupies a considerable portion, hiring a reliable contractor with the right equipment and services is essential.
  • Get at least three written estimates. Remember not always does the cheapest bid mean the best bid. Sometimes to re-do the work, you can end up having to employ another contractor. The scope of work and terms of payment should be included in the plan.
  • Check for references to know their past works.
  • Refer complaints from the Better Business Bureau. To get a reliability report, log in to www.bbb.org, or call your nearest BBB to receive details by phone 24 hours a day. You will find out how long they were in operation and how many, if any, complaints were lodged and resolved.
  • They should be covered for any harm or injury that could arise when they are on your property: Review your homeowner's insurance policy for the contractor's coverage.
  • Find out if the contractor guarantees their work for one year and will get back to you for any inspections if needed.