Asphalt paving offers a durable yet budget-friendly alternative to concrete and gravel – more accessible to maintain while more cost-effective over time. However, installation requires professional skills, so ensure the contractor you select has experience installing this solution. The best guide to finding Hometown Asphalt Paving of New Orleans.
Attractive options such as color are available at an additional cost, while porous asphalt, which reduces runoff costs, can add $8 per square foot.
Materials
Asphalt pavements are a cost-effective choice for driveways, parking lots, and roads, offering more excellent durability than concrete or other alternatives such as pavers or cobblestone. Asphalt can withstand regular maintenance to reduce cracking and deterioration, with regular upkeep to keep it looking its best.
Asphalt stands out among other pavement options as a semi-liquid material that makes it easier for professional pavers to spread onto a smooth surface. However, asphalt paving also requires extensive preparation and grading work in order to drain properly – otherwise, water erosion could occur and necessitate costly repair or replacement work on its surface.
A standard asphalt driveway without significant leveling or grading costs $7 to $13 per square foot in terms of materials and labor costs, with additional expenses for coloring it according to your home’s aesthetic by adding pigment in the hot mix. Color options add further to overall costs.
If your primary goal is to minimize environmental impact, opt for porous asphalt – this allows oxygen and water vapor to pass through, making it a more eco-friendly surface option. As it remains asphalt, though, a layer of crushed stone should help minimize drainage issues. Alternatively, recycled or reclaimed asphalt typically sells at significantly discounted rates than standard blacktop; plus, you may even be eligible to claim it against taxes!
Labor
Asphalt paving requires skilled laborers known as paving contractors or blacktop contractors, who can be hired to pave residential driveways, roads, parking lots, and more. Their experts can also offer guidance regarding design and materials choices (i.e., asphalt vs. concrete), advice for caretaking the new surface, as well as recommendations such as resurfacing or sealing options.
A good paving contractor will be licensed and insured; their workers should carry both general liability and workers’ compensation policies in case of accidents or injuries while providing proof of coverage via certificates issued on request and showing examples of previous work completed.
Asphalt driveways tend to cost less than their concrete counterparts. This difference in price stems from its composition as a petroleum product that fluctuates with crude oil prices; on average, paving projects usually range between $2-4 per square foot for installation costs alone.
An asphalt driveway that is well maintained can add significant value to your home, as well as improve functionality by offering smoother driving surfaces for vehicles. Furthermore, its maintenance requirements are more straightforward than block paving or concrete; regular jet washing should suffice to keep it looking its best while remaining functionally sound.
Equipment
Professional asphalt contractors possess all the tools to speed up paving projects and produce quality work efficiently and quickly. Their equipment includes pavers, rollers, rakes, and tampers – these machines work together to form the ideal pavement surface; pavers layout asphalt mix while rollers compact it down before smoothing surfaces using rakes before compaction.
Asphalt contractors use more specialized tools but also employ dump trucks and sweepers. Dump trucks transport large volumes of new asphalt material from their plants directly to paving sites; their sizes and models vary to meet various applications.
Milling machines may be required if paving work will take place over an existing surface in order to remove any remaining asphalt material that would interfere with bonding between the new paving mix and the stone base underneath it.
When selecting a contractor, be sure to ask for references from previous clients as well as visit their website gallery page to view examples of their work. Expert contractors should gladly provide this information and direct you toward a portfolio of completed jobs on time and within budget. Inquire whether the contractor carries workers’ compensation and general liability insurance – failing which should raise red flags that should be avoided immediately.
Insurance
Regardless of whether it be your driveway, parking lot, or any other surface you need to be paved, hiring an asphalt contractor should always be considered an option. They have experience installing materials correctly for long-lasting results while possessing all of the necessary equipment to complete work efficiently and safely – something that a DIY job cannot achieve! Improper installation could result in expensive repairs in the future and should therefore always be considered carefully when looking to pave surfaces such as this.
Search for companies offering insurance such as workers’ compensation and general liability policies to protect yourself and your employees against medical bills and lost wages should an employee become injured on the job, as well as lawsuits if an accident takes place at your business.
Professional contractors provide detailed estimates for your project before beginning, which allows you to compare prices and select the one best suited to your budget. Furthermore, expect them to use only high-quality materials while adhering to industry best practices.
Ask the contractor about their experience in the industry, as this may indicate quality services provided and relationships built with vendors allowing access to discounted rates.