How to Choose an Asphalt Contractor

Asphalt Paving Company Grand Rapids, MI Contractors

Asphalt is a big investment, especially for large-scale projects like parking lots. It’s important to choose an asphalt contractor that can get the job done right. Improperly installed asphalt can develop cracks or potholes more easily, leading to increased expenses for you in a shorter amount of time.

Follow these steps to ensure that you find the right asphalt contractor.

Don’t Hire Door Knockers

A reputable contractor will never knock at your door to solicit business. But scammers love to target homes with crumbling driveways.

A scammer may even watch your home before approaching to see who lives there. That’s because a lot of scammers will prey on the elderly, young and inexperienced, or uninformed.

Once you open the door, they’ll present themselves as a contractor who has extra asphalt leftover from their previous job. Another common scam is to say that they’ve been sealcoating in your neighborhood.

Once they’ve got you interested, they’ll pressure you into giving them money right away so they can skip town with your cash.

Always be suspicious of low prices that seem too good to be true.

Do Your Research

It’s important to do your research before you hire an asphalt contractor. Start by searching for asphalt contractors in your area and reading any reviews they might have. Don’t just read what’s on Google: Visit the company’s social media pages to see what local customers have to say.

The star rating is important, but other criteria to consider include the asphalt company’s response time and how they deal with negative reviews. It’s important to remember that the occasional negative review is inevitable no matter the business. It’s how the company resolves customer complaints that really shows its character.

Keep in mind that not every customer leaves a review. If you only consider the reviews, you won’t be getting the full picture of what an asphalt company has to offer.

Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask for the information you need to know! Asphalt is a big investment, and a company’s website can only tell you so much about what they do and how they do it. Our team is always happy to answer your questions, even if you ultimately end up choosing not to work with our asphalt company.

Here are some questions you should ask a contractor:

  • Do you own your own equipment?
  • What does your process look like?
  • How many years of experience do you have?
  • Are your asphalt services environmentally friendly?
  • What safety precautions do you take on the job?
  • Are you insured? Can you show me proof of insurance?
  • What would you charge for my asphalt project?

If an asphalt company is uncertain with its responses or outright refuses to answer, those are major red flags. Don’t hire a contractor until you have all the information you need.

Check References

If an asphalt company has experience in your area, you should be able to ask them for a list of local references that you can contact. Ask their references about the quality of the asphalt company’s performance, the demeanor of their employees, and the price in relation to the services that were completed. These references will be able to give you a much more candid idea of the company’s work than online reviews alone.

Request a Free Estimate with A-1 Asphalt Inc.

A-1 Asphalt Inc. is proud to be an asphalt paving contractor serving Grand Rapids and surrounding West Michigan areas. To request a free estimate for any of our asphalt services, call (800) 871-4401.

This blog post has been updated.