5 Things to Look for When Hiring a Driveway Contractor
It's important to look at your options and see who's the best fit for your needs. In this post, we'll go over 5 things to look for when hiring a driveway company.
Are you looking for a contractor in the Bay Area to replace your driveway? It's important to look at your options and see who's the best fit for your needs. In this post, we'll go over 5 things to look for when hiring a driveway company.
Making sure your contractor is licensed and insured is one of the most important steps when searching for a contractor. A driveway is a large investment and you should only work with contractors who are willing to provide their license information. This is a good sign that they're committed to following local standards and regulations. Insurance will help show that they prioritize safety and they are prepared in the event that an accident happens during the installation. In California, licensing is handled by the CSLB. You can search for a contractor's license number on there to verify information and see if the contractor or company is licensed and insured.
Of course you'll want your driveway to be installed by someone with a history of quality work. There's multiple ways to look into this. Most contractors will probably have examples of previous work they have done.
You can also look into their reviews on sites like Yelp or HomeAdvisor. From there, you'll get to see whether others were happy with the work and can get a better idea of what your experience could be like. You could even check around your neighborhood to see if anyone has experience with the contractor you're looking into.
Like any major project, you'll most likely have some questions. For a good contractor, this won't be a problem. They'll answer your questions and help you find the best options for your driveway. But be sure to watch out for anyone who seems avoidant or dismissive of your questions. Installing a driveway can be complicated and often requires multiple permits. It's important to make sure that all of your questions are answered and the contractor knows what they're doing.
Also look out for anyone who seems focused on constantly up-selling you instead of actually listening to your needs and working with you to see what's best. Sometimes a more expensive option will be a better idea, but make sure that it's something you agree with and the contractor is recommending it so you'll have the best results.
Always have a contract before you begin. Make sure you understand the scope of the project and know exactly what you're paying before. An itemized quote can help you with this. A contract will also help you avoid possible conflict in the future. If the terms and scope are clearly written out and agreed upon, then you'll have a better idea of what to expect.
Warranties are also important. Legitimate contractors will have some sort of warranty for their work that applies to their workmanship. Keep in mind, that warranties will not apply to everything that could possibly go wrong. For example, earthquakes are common in California and could potentially crack a concrete driveway. This isn't something that would be covered by a warranty.
Driveway Guides
Driveway Guides
Driveway Guides
