What an HOA Should Look For in an Asphalt Paving Contractor

When some HOAs need pavement-related work in their communities, they mistakenly assume that all paving companies are the same. However, that is simply not true. Some contractors only handle residential work, others focus on state or federal highways, and still other contractors only handle minor repairs. When you start looking for an asphalt paving company, there are a few questions that you need to have answered to find the best contractor for your HOA.

What an HOA Should Look For in an Asphalt Paving Contractor

What Questions Should HOAs Ask Paving Companies?

The exact phrasing of the questions will depend on the nature of the work you need. The areas you need to cover involve the contractor’s experience, equipment, staffing, insurance, and references. Having all asphalt contractors that you are considering answer the same questions gives you a chance to evaluate each contractor’s transparency and communication skills.

Why Is Experience Important for Contractors Providing Paving Services to HOAs?

Contractors handle projects of all sizes, and they may provide a variety of services. For example, some asphalt contractors are not comfortable sealcoating an airport tarmac, and other contractors prefer to focus on asphalt repair rather than new pavements or overlays. As projects become larger and more complex, a paving contractor must become increasingly adept at planning and scheduling all steps in the job. Contractors must also maintain their focus on even tiny details that could impact the timing, quality, or appearance of the finished work. It is said that experience is the best teacher, so you should make sure that your contractor has learned the lessons that were provided while performing similar projects.

Why Do Asphalt Paving Companies Need the Right Equipment?

If you were going to build a storage shed in your backyard, you would want to have the right tools for the job. Without a hammer, some nails, a saw, and a few other basic tools, your task would be virtually impossible. Whether asphalt contractors are paving, repairing, sealcoating, or resurfacing a pavement, they need the right equipment. Furthermore, they need equipment that is well-maintained, and they may need multiple pieces of the same or similar machines and devices.

What Should an HOA Know About the Staffing of an Asphalt Company?

Even asphalt contractors with decades of experience must rely on others to perform the actual work. If the workers are not experienced and well-trained, the quality of the work can suffer. Furthermore, the contractors need a sufficient number of people to execute the tasks efficiently. Regardless of the type of project you need, be sure to ask whether the workers are the contractor’s employees or casual laborers. Ask about the training they have received, how long they have been working for the contractor, and how experienced they are with the tasks they will be assigned, especially if they will be operating milling machines, rollers, or other pieces of heavy equipment.

What Insurance Should a Paving Contractor Carry?

In general, the more types of insurance and the higher the policy limits, the more protection you will have if something goes wrong. At minimum, contractors should carry workers’ comp insurance that covers every employee who will be present on your property, a general liability policy with a limit of at least $500,000, and vehicle liability insurance. Reputable contractors will not object to providing you with proof of valid insurance coverage.

Why Are References Important When Hiring a Sealcoating or Asphalt Paving Company?

When you contact customers for whom the contractor has performed work, you can learn details that might influence your decision. You want to ask whether the contractor completed the project within budget and on time, how satisfied the customer was with the results, and whether the contractor was communicative and respectful. If problems arose after the job was completed, you want to know how the contractor addressed the issues.

At Peterson Paving & Grading, We Understand the Challenges That HOAs Face

Peterson Grading & Paving is a highly respected paving contractor serving HOAs and other clients throughout Orange County with numerous services, including sealcoating, asphalt resurfacing, concrete work, parking lot striping, asphalt repair, shot blasting, asphalt paving, traffic sign installation, marking removal, asphalt milling, warehouse striping, and bollard installation. We have an impeccable reputation for the exceptional quality of our work, our extraordinary customer service, and our professional ethics. It is easy to request a free quote by filling out the online form, emailing Ryan@GradePave.com, or calling 949-402-6979.