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Tips For Hiring The Best Asphalt Driveway Contractor

Asphalt driveways are a very cost effective and popular choice in driveway options. However, it is very important that you hire a competent and experienced asphalt paving contractor in order to get the results you want. Asphalt driveways are very durable and can last twenty years or longer if they are properly installed and maintained. Therefore it definitely pays to make sure you get a competent contractor to install your driveway.

Asphalt driveways are durable, flexible and strong, making them ideal for colder climates where freezing and thawing occur on a frequent basis. They are not as well suited for warm climates however. In hot temperatures asphalt can become soft and ruts can develop due to the weight of the vehicles parked on them. However, if you live in a cold climate, asphalt is an ideal material to install for your driveway.

Asphalt paving consists of an aggregate of sand and stone which is then mixed in with a liquid asphalt cement. The aggregate need to be mixed carefully and heated before being combined with the liquid asphalt. In order for the asphalt driveway to cure properly the mixture must be delivered to your residence while it is still hot.

It is very important that the paving contractor prepare the driveway properly in order to ensure that you end up with a high quality asphalt driveway. The preparation process includes removing the clay soil or topsoil and replacing that with a sub base of gravel or crushed stone.

A paving job will typically consist of applying two layers of the hot asphalt mix on top of the layer of sub base. If you are going to have heavy vehicles, RVs or boats parked in the driveway on a regular basis you may want to opt for full depth asphalt. With this type of application, your entire driveway as well as the layer of gravel sub base is constructed with liquid asphalt cement. This binds the layer of sub base with the cement and creates a much stronger driveway.

It is important that you hire an experienced paver in order to make sure that the job is done right and you end up with a high quality, strong asphalt driveway that will last for many years. When choosing a paving contract you need to get several quotes so you can compare several contractors not only on price but on their experience and other qualifications as well. You can get initial recommendations from family and friend and also search in directories locally as well as online.

Ask for references from prior customers to make sure that they were happy with the work done by the paving contractor. Also check to make sure that the contractor is bonded and insured. This will protect you from any liabilities while the work is taking place and well as any potentially sub-par work done by the contractor.

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