Commercial asphalt paving is a significant investment requiring thought and planning. You need to ensure you’re getting quality work at a fair price. Not all commercial asphalt paving companies are created equal, so it’s crucial to ask the right questions. Find a company that can do the job quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality. Here are the top 18 questions to ask a commercial asphalt paving company before hiring for your next paving project.
1- What is Your Experience in Commercial Asphalt Paving?
This question is crucial to know you’re hiring a company with the experience and expertise to get the job done right. You don’t want to be a company’s guinea pig while they learn on the job.
2- What is Your Timeline for This Project?
As we mentioned, commercial asphalt paving projects can disrupt your business if the paving company does not complete them quickly and efficiently. It’s important to ask specifically about the length of time the project will take. You don’t want to be left with a half-finished parking lot for weeks on end. Make sure you know the company’s timeline for the project and whether it fits your needs.
3- How Many Workers Are On Your Team?
Asphalt must have enough workers to spread it immediately. Otherwise, it hardens into the wrong shape. The workers must immediately spread the hot asphalt while it’s still hot. After spreading, the workers must tamp down the asphalt with a roller before hardening.
You risk a lumpy and uneven surface without enough team members to do the work.
4- How Can You Show Us Your Quality Work?
There are several specific ways we can show you what quality work is, including the:
- Thickness of gravel under the asphalt
- Thickness of the asphalt itself
- Number of workers we bring to spread the asphalt before it hardens
- Smooth nature of our finished product
- Levelness of the ground after we complete a project
- Length of time our projects last
- Commercial references we can provide
When looking for commercial asphalt paving, don’t settle for anything less than the best. By asking questions, you can be sure that you’re hiring a company that will produce quality work and get the job done right.
5- What is the Estimated Cost of the Project?
Of course, you’ll also want to know how much the commercial asphalt paving project will cost. Get a few estimates from different companies so that you can compare them. Make sure to ask about any hidden fees or extra costs, so there are no surprises later on.
6- What is Your Process for Commercial Asphalt Paving?
You’ll want to ask about the company’s process for commercial asphalt paving. Their process includes everything from initial consultation to final cleanup. Before hiring, you should feel confident and comfortable with the company’s process.
7- Can you Provide References from Previous Clients?
Asking for references is a great way to get an idea of what it’s like to work with a commercial asphalt paving company. You can hear first-hand from other business owners about their experience with the company.
8- What Happens if There are Problems with the Project? What If We are Not Satisfied with the Work?
You need to know that the company you hire will stand behind their work. Make sure to ask what happens if there are problems with the project or if you’re not satisfied with the result. An excellent commercial asphalt paving company will have a plan to make things right.
9- What is Your Warranty or Guarantee?
Commercial asphalt paving is a significant investment, so you need to know that you’re protecting your company’s money if something goes wrong. An excellent commercial asphalt paving company will offer a warranty or guarantee on their work.
10- Does Your Company Have Liability Insurance?
Asking about liability insurance is crucial for your company’s financial protection. If something goes wrong during the commercial asphalt paving project, you want to ensure that the company has insurance to cover any damages.
11- Do You Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Another critical question for your protection. If one of the workers is injured while working on your commercial asphalt paving project, you want to ensure that workers’ compensation insurance covers them.
12- What Type of Asphalt do you Recommend for our Project?
There are different types of asphalt, so you’ll want to ask which type the company recommends for your project. Depending on your needs, one type of asphalt may be better than another.
If your design needs run toward trendy looks, ask about different mixes that may give you a different color than the typical blacktop colors. The asphalt mix determines the look and color of your final result.
“StreetPrint®, the pioneering stamped and colored asphalt product is available in twenty-four colors. An asphalt driveway can also be stamped with a steel template to mimic stone, brick or pavers. StreetPrint® offers patterns such as offset brick, herringbone, ashlar slate, European fan and many more.” (1)
13- What Maintenance Do You Recommend After the Project is Complete?
Once the commercial asphalt paving project is complete, you’ll need to know how to care for the new asphalt. The company you hire should be able to give you recommendations for maintenance, including when to:
- Drive on your new blacktop
- Apply the first fresh seal coat
- Apply additional seal coats or handle other maintenance tasks
14- How Thick Do You Lay Asphalt and the Layers Underneath?
This question gets to the heart of the paving company’s quality of work. You’ll want to hear answers that give you confidence in the company’s ability to do a quality job. For the gravel underneath the asphalt, look for 10 inches deep. Find a company that guarantees their work is 3 inches thick for the asphalt itself.
15- Do You Also Stripe Parking Lots? Is Thermoplastic Paint Available?
You may also want to ask about other services that the commercial asphalt paving company offers, such as parking lot striping. You should also inquire about thermoplastic paint, a durable type of paint often used for commercial parking lots.
16- Do You Handle ADA Parking Lot Requirements? Do You Know Our City Ordinances?
If you have a commercial parking lot, there may be ADA requirements that you need to meet. You’ll want to ask the company if they’re familiar with these requirements and if they can help you meet them. You should also ask about city ordinances that may apply to your commercial asphalt paving project.
17- How Does Your Company Care for the Environment?
Asphalt paving can have an impact on the environment if not done correctly. So, you’ll want to know how the company you hire is working to minimize that impact.
Why Ask Questions?
If you don’t ask, you risk your company’s assets paying for a half-baked company without the skills, tools, and workforce to get the job done right. The result could be disastrous with uneven or lumpy paving.
These are just a few questions you can ask commercial asphalt paving companies before deciding on a company. By getting clear answers to these questions, you can be sure you’re hiring a company that will get the job done right with quality work at a fair price.
So get out there and start your commercial asphalt project by asking questions and getting the answers you need. Feel confident in your final hiring decisions!
We Can Help
At AMP Paving, we are happy to answer these questions and any others you may have. We stand behind our work 100% with guarantees that will take you into the next decade. We also offer a wide range of commercial asphalt paving services to meet your needs. Find out how we can help you meet your company’s project goals on time with the desired results! Contact us today for a free quote!