Looking to get your driveway paved or repaired? Good. It's a big investment, and you want it done right. As someone who's been in this business for years, I've seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly when it comes to asphalt work here in Billings. This isn't about selling you on Diamond Asphalt; it's about making sure you know how to hire a legitimate, quality contractor, no matter who you pick.
Questions to Ask Any Asphalt Contractor
When someone comes out to give you a bid, don't just stand there and nod. Ask questions. A good contractor expects it and will have solid answers. If they get defensive or vague, that's your first warning sign.
- How long have you been in business in Billings? Experience matters, especially with our crazy weather. Someone who knows how to handle the freeze-thaw cycles we get here is invaluable.
- Can you provide references from recent jobs? And don't just take their word for it. Call those references. Ask about the quality of work, if they stuck to the timeline, and if there were any surprises.
- Are you licensed and insured? This isn't optional. They need general liability insurance and workers' comp. Ask for proof. If they can't show it, send them packing. You don't want to be liable if someone gets hurt on your property.
- What's your warranty? A reputable contractor will stand behind their work. Understand what's covered and for how long.
- What's your process for this specific job? They should be able to walk you through it: excavation, base prep, asphalt layers, compaction, and cleanup. Pay attention to the details, especially about the base. That's the foundation of your driveway.
- Who will be doing the actual work? Your crew or subcontractors? It's not necessarily a deal-breaker if they use subs, but you should know who's on your property.
What to Look For in a Quote
A quote isn't just a number. It's a detailed breakdown of the work. If it's just a single price on a napkin, that's a problem. Here's what a good quote should include:
- Detailed Scope of Work: It should clearly state what they're doing. Is it a full tear-out and replace? An overlay? Patching? What areas are included?
- Materials Specification: What kind of asphalt mix are they using? What's the thickness of the asphalt layers? What about the aggregate base? This is crucial. A thinner layer or poor-quality base means a shorter lifespan for your driveway.
- Measurements: The square footage or linear footage of the area being paved. This helps you compare bids accurately.
- Preparation Details: How will they prepare the site? Will they remove existing material? How will they grade for drainage? Proper drainage is huge, especially with the heavy spring rains we get around the Rimrocks.
- Timeline: An estimated start and completion date.
- Payment Schedule: When are payments due? Be very wary of anyone asking for a huge upfront deposit, especially cash. A reasonable deposit is usually 10-30%.
- Warranty Information: Clearly spelled out.
- Cleanup: What's included in the cleanup after the job is done?
Red Flags You Can't Ignore
I've seen these pop up too many times. If you encounter any of these, walk away, fast.
- Door-to-door solicitations: Especially if they say they just finished a job down the street and have