It’s easy for a company to get into the business of laying asphalt – but that doesn’t mean they’re actually qualified for a major project.
Creating paving is more difficult than it seems, and requires a lot of expertise to do properly. You need to find asphalt companies in Raleigh with the tools, talent, and experience to do the job right the first time.
These are the biggest ‘green flags’ of great Raleigh asphalt installers you can trust.
What You Want in A Raleigh Asphalt Company
1. Long Experience
It’s not hard to get started laying asphalt – but it is hard to stay in business for more than a couple of years. Avoid startup companies if at all possible; they’re just too untested to be trusted. On the other hand, a company with a long history of service – a decade or more – has clearly proven that it can do jobs properly, time after time.
2. Personal Recommendations
Do you know anyone who has had paving work done that is similar to your job? If so, they’ll likely be able to give you a great recommendation or – at worst – at least tell you who to avoid. Some companies even give preferential treatment to customers who were referred by past customers, so it’s always worth asking around.
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3. Local Offices
All other things being equal, you should pick an asphalt contractor who is nearby – hopefully in the same city. There are three reasons for this:
- Lower transportation costs should help keep the price down.
- Local companies know the local laws and regulations.
- Local companies are easier to hold accountable if something goes wrong.
In particular, never work with out-of-state contractors if you can possibly avoid it.
4. Full Licensing, Certification, And Insurance
Whenever you contact asphalt installers in Raleigh, be sure to ask about their certifications and other bone fides. They should always be fully vetted and licensed to work in your area. Also, be sure they carry robust insurance, particularly for a job on private property. If an uninsured contractor gets hurt on your property, there’s a very good chance that you or your insurance would be legally responsible for it, even if the accident was their fault.
5. A Detailed Price Estimate
One of the oldest tricks of shady contractors is to give out bids or price estimates with very few details, often little more than the final price with no elaboration. This is a setup to tack on “unexpected” charges later on.
Generally speaking, the more detailed the bid or estimate is, the more trustworthy the company will be. If they’re breaking it down by materials, manpower, transportation costs, etc., they clearly know their business.
Finding a great asphalt company in Raleigh takes some legwork, but it’s absolutely doable. Just place some calls, and keep in mind the key factors you want to see in a contractor.
