When you’re looking for quality pavement repair for your commercial or industrial property, there are many things you’ll want to consider before you partner with an asphalt repair company. The truth is, not all service providers are created equal, and without the knowledge and research necessary to hire the right crew, you may find yourself disappointed in the outcome of your asphalt project. The last thing you want is to shell out a substantial amount of your budget on asphalt repair, only to have the project redone by another crew a few months later. And if your asphalt repair project requires downtime—which could mean lost productivity or profitability for you—you want to minimize this risk as much as possible by partnering with a knowledgeable team of experts who can get the job done quickly and efficiently. Here are a few things to look for as you seek out an asphalt paving service to complete your high-quality pavement repairs this spring.
Contractor Experience and Knowledge
First and foremost, you never want to hire an asphalt repair service that doesn’t have the knowledge and expertise—as well as a portfolio of proven experience—to complete your pavement repair job. Your pavement should not be the guinea pig, it should be one project in a long line of highly successful asphalt repair projects on this company’s docket.
But how do you know if the asphalt repair company you’re considering has enough knowledge or experience? Start by doing a little research online. A Google search can yield a lot of information: the company’s founding date, history, profits, and even reviews from satisfied (or unsatisfied) customers. The company you choose should be fairly established, with at least a decade or more of proven business and profitability. It should also have deep experience in the type of pavement repair you need. In other words, if a company typically fills small cracks and potholes in residential driveways, but you need substantial improvements done to a major roadway, you may want to reconsider.
And the team of contractors you hire should certainly be knowledgeable not only about the type of repair work being done, but also about the climate your facility is located in. Those property managers in the snowy, icy Northeast United States are certainly facing different annual and seasonal challenges than those in Southern California or the deserts of New Mexico. So make sure that you partner with contractors who have worked on your exact type of asphalt repair project in your exact region.
Equipment Used
When you consider your options for an asphalt pavement repair service to work with, you’ll definitely want to take experience and a strong demonstration of successfully completed projects into account. Beyond that? Consider the types of specialized equipment your potential team of contractors will be working with. This is not always something that asphalt repair companies will be upfront about, so you may need to do a bit of independent research and ask some questions as you narrow the playing field of candidates for your pavement repair services.
Old, outdated equipment will naturally result in the project taking longer than expected—either by a little or a lot. You want to ensure the service you hire has not only a team of experts, but the most up-to-date equipment to get the job done right the first time. Also, be mindful of specialized equipment you may need for your region’s specific climate. Hot mix asphalt, for example, requires asphalt to be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the nighttime. But this isn’t common for many months of the year in New England, even in the spring, so many asphalt repair companies will use a “hot box,” which allows the asphalt mixture to maintain its temperature on the inside regardless of the temperature outside.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions as you speak to asphalt paving companies. At the end of the day, you want to make sure you’re making the right choice and the right investment in your asphalt paving repair services.
Scheduling Optimization
When you’re doing asphalt pavement repair or concrete pavement repair, you want to make sure that you schedule your project according to the times that are most optimal for you and all the people and vehicles using your pavement. For example, repairs being done to a school sidewalk or driveway may mean rerouting students, staff, and parents, redirecting the carpool line, and considering bus, delivery, and garbage disposal truck entryways. If you’re making minor updates to potholes in your business’ parking lot, could you have your employees park offsite or on a different side of the lot? Sometimes, if repairs are extensive, you may need to do a total shutdown of the asphalt being worked on, and this will require scheduling considerations, a solid communication plan, and factoring in any loss in productivity or profitability as an effect of the work.
Different projects will take different lengths of time, of course. You may be able to fix a few small holes in the pavement speedily, but buckling and upheaval may take more time, especially if there is any structural damage. Keep in mind that you are not necessarily responsible for knowing all this. Your team of experts should be able to determine off the bat how to repair cracks in asphalt pavement, exactly what tools and equipment to use, and what the timeline is going to look like upon assessing and inspecting your asphalt.
Finally, seasonal considerations are a must. Not all projects can be done at all times of year, as asphalt is porous, and it contracts and expands with temperature fluctuations. Snow and ice removal aside, the outside air temperatures may need to be at a certain point in order for your asphalt repair project to get done effectively. This, again, is something that a reputable asphalt repair service will be able to tell you when they do their initial assessment of your pavement.
Insurance and Coverage
Often, when hiring contractors, you may not think about insurance or liability concerns. And you shouldn’t really have to. The best asphalt repair companies will have full liability and full workers’ compensation insurance, no questions asked. But this is certainly something to look for and ask about as you vet potential candidates for your pavement repair services this spring. Otherwise, you could be seeing yourself with liability issues you never would have imagined or planned for.
Additionally, does the company you’re looking to hire have any guarantees on satisfaction? While you’d like to hope for the best, not all projects are guaranteed to come out the way you’re most satisfied with, and you don’t want to be left with a sour taste in your mouth. What can the pavement repair service offer you in the case of a botched project, or simply one that doesn’t live up to your expectations? These are helpful questions to ask before you sign that contract.
Contact Cassidy Paving Today to Discuss Your Needs and Concerns
As you plan your pavement repair this spring, focus on quality, quality, quality. Make sure that any company you choose to work with checks all the boxes above and then some. When it comes to expert asphalt repair, do your research on the leading service providers in your region. Then, undergo the vetting process so you can weed out the no-go options and start speaking with the potential candidates who can take your project to the desired level of completion with your utmost satisfaction.
If you’re located in New England, Cassidy Paving is one of those industry leaders. We’re a family-owned and operated asphalt paving company headquartered in Haverhill, MA, serving clients throughout Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. We serve industrial, commercial, and government clients on projects ranging in scale from small repairs on driveways and parking lots to extensive repaving of major roadways. We are highly knowledgeable about the climates in which we work, so you can count on us to be forthcoming about scheduling your projects at the right time for longevity, stability, and durability. And we offer a wide range of additional services, including ADA compliance upgrades, parking lot restriping, and even snow removal services.
Our full-time crew has over 100 years of combined experience and is bonded with full liability and full workers’ compensation insurance. And yes, we do certainly offer a satisfaction guarantee on all new paving services. Don’t hesitate to do your research on us—our extensive client portfolio will show project after project where needs were met or exceeded. We use state-of-the-art, industry-leading equipment to execute every project on time and on budget. Our customer service is unmatched, and we are happy to answer your questions and keep the lines of communication open with you every step of the way. Don’t wait until spring is in full bloom—start planning your paving and repair projects now, so you can feel confident in the timelines and deliverables and when they could impact your facility and its occupants. Contact us today to speak with one of our helpful representatives about your asphalt paving, repair, or maintenance needs.
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