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Asphalt paved driveways are extremely popular in Redland and are the most cost effective to install compared to most other driveway options. And unlike concrete, an asphalt paved driveway is both strong and flexible and is ideal for colder temperature zones where constant freezing and thawing occur. If the paving contractor installs the asphalt driveway correctly the driveway should last 25-30 years with only minor maintenance.

But hiring the right Redland asphalt paving contractor however can sometimes be a challenge.

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 blended with liquid asphalt. The mixture needs to be delivered to the job site hot, or 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 Redland area paver, you should make sure they are a local company who has been in business for many years, and also who has plenty of online 5-star reviews of their work. Reviews should be from real clients who are account holders on reputable sites like Google, Facebook, Yelp, MapQuest, RatedTrades and others. Talk with friends and family members to learn of their experiences with local paving contractors in your area. To assure you are getting a good value, you can get 3-4 quotes to get the best comparison of workmanship and price. But make sure the pricing is consistent with their online reputation. If there are few or no online reviews on the company you are considering, it is best to avoid them. A new driveway is an important investment, and poor workmanship will not be worth the risk.

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 Redland paving contractor for your driveway.

With these few basic tips you are on your way to hiring the right Redland paving contractor for your driveway.