If you work for a municipality and are responsible for finding a paving contractor for a large paving project, we understand how big of a responsibility that is. After all, hiring a substandard contractor can result in poor quality pavement, delays in construction and/or additional costs. And all that can be a bad reflection on you! That’s why it’s so important to choose the right paving contractor to begin with. Here are five things you should look for when choosing a paving company for your large-scale municipal paving project:
- A good reputation. It’s easy to check out online reviews and get an idea of how happy or unhappy previous clients have been with the work done by a paving company. But don’t just rely on what you read on the Internet. Check out the Better Business Bureau to make sure no complaints have been filed against the contractor. And don’t hesitate to ask the contractor for references from other clients that they’ve completed large-scale projects for in the past.
- Insured, licensed and bonded. Any reputable paving contractor will be licensed, bonded and insured. So make sure the contractor you’re considering has a valid contractor and business license, as well as surety bonds and appropriate active insurance policies in place. Insurance should include general liability, workers compensation and commercial vehicle insurance that covers all paving equipment that will be used in the project.
- Experience in other large-scale projects. Completing a large-scale municipal paving project is a lot different than paving a driveway. Make sure that the contractor you choose has several years of experience in similar-sized projects. Ask for a list of projects they’ve done in the past in your local area, and do a drive-by so you can see the quality of their previous work in person.
- Contractor-owned equipment. A paving contractor that is fully prepared to take on a large-scale project should not have to rent equipment to get the job done. They should own their own machinery and manufacture their own paving material.
- A competitive bid. You should always get at least 3 bids from different contractors, particularly for a large-scale paving project. But it’s important to remember that the lowest bid doesn’t always come from the best contractor! In fact, just the opposite is often true. The contractor you choose should prepare a professional, complete bid for your municipality, and the cost should be competitive with other bidders – in other words, not outrageously low or high.
Finding the right contractor for your large-scale paving project can seem like a daunting task, but if you follow these steps carefully, we feel certain you’ll make the right choice.