However, fraud and poor work are not common in the field of home improvement. driveway work isn\’t an exception.
In reality, it\’s one of our most talked about categories and appears in the most sloppy roundup of contractors every year. In 2013 twelve percent of asphalt driveway reviews and 11 percent of the concrete reviews posted from Angie\’s List were negative. Keep your head on straight with these guidelines for hiring and staying to a reputable driveway builder.
1. More is better
Asphalt can cool rapidly after being laid, so contractors need to be quick to act. Tony Damico, owner of highly reviewed Damico Paving located in St. Charles, Ill. The company sends large crews to asphalt projects. \”If you\’re not equipped with enough workers, your driveway will not last for as long.\”
2. Let me know how bravery is
Damico claims that reputable contractors harm his work by failing to lay the right amount of asphalt. \”Don\’t be afraid,\” he says. \”Go out and take a seat on a chair in the lawn, and ensure they\’re putting down three inches. If you must take an axe and place it into the ground then put it there.\” Although many people are afraid to try this, Damico likens being shorted on asphalt to purchasing an apartment and getting only half of the windows.
3. You can torch some shoe leather
Any reputable business will give you directions for driveways that they\’ve constructed in your local area. Visit them. \”You do not just want to contact references, as you might be calling their families,\” Damico says. \”It\’s not as if you\’re entering the home to look at cabinets. You can simply go by and take a look.\”
4. Do not let doorknockers in.
\”Never let anyone knock at your door to claim they have more asphalt or are in the process of sealing since that\’s the most common way to be conned,\” Damico says. \”You cannot have any extra asphalt.\” A trustworthy business doesn\’t have to knock on doors.
Related: How to Avoid Door-to-Door Sales Frauds
5. The key is in the finer details
Steve Leigh, co-owner of highly appreciated Sammson Concretein Frankfort, Ill. It is recommended to get a complete receipt in case anything goes wrong. \”Without this receipt indicating the mix and batch that you purchased, you\’re only relying on the contractor\’s word and have nothing to prove it,\” he says.
6. Verify the authenticity of your credentials
Everyone you deal with must be licensed, bondedand insured, and a member of workers insurance. In addition, Leigh says local building inspectors must be on work on a regular on a regular basis. \”Inspections safeguard the consumer as well as construction companies,\” he says. \”Consumers must insist on it.\”
7. Let someone else\’s word be the judge for it
\”Look at the testimonials,\” Leigh says. \”There\’s your credibility. The knowledge about the firm you\’re hiring.\” Check the list for contractors with high ratings. Request multiple estimates before making a hiring decision and then take your time before making a decision.
Highly highly rated Colorado business Enviroshapes Concrete\’s director Jay Allman always tells people to go through the List. \”Hire someone who has a great background and history,\” he says. \”Those reviews cannot be purchased.\”