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How to Hire an Asphalt Driveway Paving Contractor
Asphalt paved driveways are extremely
popular and the most cost effective to install over most other
driveway options. Hiring the right asphalt paving contractor however
can sometimes be a challenge. If the paving contractor installs the
asphalt driveway correctly the driveway should last 25-30 years with
only minor maintenance.
Unlike concrete, an asphalt paved driveway is both strong and
flexible and is ideal for colder temperature zones where constant
freezing and thawing occur.
Asphalt paving, also known as Hot Mix Asphalt paving, consists of an
aggregate of stone and sand mixed with liquid asphalt cement. The
aggregate is carefully mixed and heated prior to being mixed with
liquid asphalt. The mixture needs to be delivered to the job site
hot else your newly paved driveway will not cure properly.
In order to ensure a quality paved driveway it is critical that the
paving contractor first properly prepare the driveway for the Hot
Mix Asphalt. Preparation includes removing topsoil or clay type soil
and replacing it with a sub-base layer of crushed stone and gravel.
A typical asphalt paving job consists of the application of two
layers of Hot Mix Asphalt over the sub-base layer. In some cases a
paving contractor may suggest a full-depth asphalt application. This
type of application is best if very heavy vehicles will be regularly
parked on the driveway. With a full-depth asphalt application the
entire driveway, including the gravel sub-base layer, is constructed
using liquid asphalt cement. By additionally binding the sub-base
gravel layer with the liquid asphalt cement a much stronger paved
driveway is created.
When hiring any contractor you should plan on getting 3-4 quotes to
get the best comparison of workmanship and price. Talk with friends
and family members, as well as search the yellow pages or the
internet to find local paving contractors in your area.
With any contractor you hire, make sure they are insured and bonded
to protect you from any liability as well as to protect you from any
sub-par performance on the contractor’s behalf.
Lead times for paving a driveway can be up to several weeks, so plan
appropriately when talking with your prospective paving contractors.
In order to obtain accurate quotes from the asphalt driveway paving
contractors it is best to have a sketch of the home and the desired
driveway footprint. You should also walk the site with the paving
contractor and have him or you stake or paint lines where the paved
driveway is to lay.
When talking to the prospective paving contractors make sure the
subject of installing proper slopes and drainage is discussed.
Otherwise you may wind up with water pooling on the finished
driveway, or even worse, draining into your garage or home.
It is also critical that during the installation of all the various
layers to the driveway that they are each compacted prior to the
installation of the next layer of material. Quoted depths should be
after compaction, not before.
Also, if there are any municipal pipes that need to be raised to the
finished height of the driveway, find out if the paving contractors’
quotes include performing this task.
In addition, confirm that the contractor will remove and reinstall
any type of gate or door to the new finished level of the paved
driveway.
With these few basic tips you are on your way to hiring the right
paving contractor for your driveway.
For more help on how to hire an Asphalt Driveway Paving Contractor,
see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid sheet. The
Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid Sheet will help ensure that your hire
the right contractor so that your driveway is paved correctly and
you get the finished driveway you are looking for. In addition, it
will help to ensure that installation of your driveway will be
accomplished on time and on budget.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
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