With so many paving contractors vying for your business, how can you be sure you’re hiring the right one? How will you know if a contractor has the qualifications and experience to complete your project professionally and meet all your needs?
However, asking the right questions upfront can help you identify the best fit for the job. A reputable paving company should be transparent and informative throughout the selection process.
With your investment on the line, here are five key questions you’ll want answered satisfactorily before signing a contract.
1. How Long Have They Been in Business?
Experience truly matters when it comes to paving. An established company will have proven processes dialed in over many projects to ensure consistent quality and safeguard against issues down the road. The Vancouver paving company should have been in business long enough. This helps demonstrate their strong track record and commitment to the local community.
However, longevity doesn’t necessarily guarantee quality on its own. Be sure to verify start dates, ownership changes, or other potential red flags. Ask for client references from various projects completed over the past 5-10 years to get a sense of the Vancouver paving company’s reliable track record.
Seek out a reputable contractor with a history of successfully serving numerous cities across the state, ensuring the expertise necessary to address any issues that may arise. A transient fly-by-night operation likely won’t stand by their work over the long haul.
2. What Credentials and Certifications Do They Hold?
The first step should be looking for remodeling companies that are licensed by your state or village and have requisite money bonds or commercial general liability insurance. Moreover, well-known firms usually achieve certifications and NAPA accreditations that prove their good knowledge.
If you need more information, check the employee’s record for the presence of certificated IATF16949 registrations for commercial vehicle production. Professional certifications indicate that the craftsperson knows the right techniques, materials, and tolerances; thus, they may solve problems creating non-skilled workers. Make sure that the one you choose is not a hit-and-run contractor.
3. What Materials and Process Will They Use?
Request documentation outlining the proposed asphalt mix design, thickness, and any additives like recycled content. The mix design documentation should specify the aggregate sizes, asphalt cement type and ratio, and other material properties. Find out in-depth details about the compaction methods, such as the number of roller passes and types of rollers.
Furthermore, inquire about the base preparation process, which may involve measures like proof rolling, base repairs, or geotextile fabric. Determine the extent of the subgrade inspection they will perform to ensure the soil is sufficiently compacted and stable.
A reputable company will want to thoroughly evaluate your site to recommend the optimal materials and design tailored specifically to your project needs, budget, and site conditions. Beware of bids that seem artificially low, as this could indicate planned cost cuts through inferior materials or shortcuts in quality assurance processes.
Only reputable contractors with a proven track record will stand behind their work long-term without compromising quality to chase the lowest bid.
4. Do They Provide Warranty? If So, What Does It Cover?
A multi-year artistry and materials warranty should be standard to protect your investment in the event of premature failure or wear. Reputable contractors will provide a warranty covering a minimum of 3-5 years.
However, thoroughly review the detailed terms, coverage limitations, and exclusions in writing before signing a contract. Determine precisely what types of failures or defects the warranty will cover – for example, whether it addresses issues with just the asphalt surface layer or extends to the underground base layers.
Additionally, ask about the specific claims process for filing a warranty claim, such as any required documentation, expected response and remediation timelines, limits on the number of allowed claims, and whether the contractor will charge for repairs.
Therefore, it is essential to understand if the warranty places any costs on the property owner for repairs. By only hiring contractors with robust warranty terms that provide full coverage and support, you can have confidence they will stand behind their artistry for the long term.
5. What Is Their Safety Record and Protocols?
Work site safety should be your top priority, as accidents can impact your operations, liability, and workers. You should request documentation from the contractor’s OSHA 300 logs to review if there is any recordable incident rate over the past 3 years.
Moreover, inquire about any regulatory agency inspections or citations received. Find out if their workers are certified through accredited safety training programs like OSHA 10. Reputable firms conduct documented weekly tailgate safety meetings and pre-shift equipment inspections and enforce proper use of personal protective equipment at all times.
Ask for specifics on how they control worker exposure to hazards like heavy machinery, vehicular traffic, heat/cold stress, and airborne particulate matter. Reputable contractors will also clearly outline their traffic control plans using OSHA-compliant signage, barricades, and flagging to ensure pedestrian and driver safety throughout the project.
Protect your workers and operations by avoiding contractors with a history of unaddressed safety deficiencies or prior serious incidents resulting in injuries or fatalities.
Conclusion
Having made qualified proposals, you should arrange for a walkthrough so that you see a plan, scope of work, and responses to any other unanswered questions face to face. Be sure you completely survey several bids and verify references.
So be sensible and don’t make any compromises before signing the contract. Be extremely careful about who you choose to do the job for you.