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Essential Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Driveway Contractor

There is nothing more frustrating than a concrete driveway that is not maintained correctly. Driveways are the first thing people see when they approach your home and can make or break how they feel about it. If you’re thinking of hiring concrete contractors to do some work for you, there are a few things you should know before committing. This article will review essential points you should consider before getting started on your concrete project.

What is a concrete driveway?

A driveway can be any portion of your property paved to drive from one area to another. The benefits of having a properly maintained drive include bringing in supplies quickly, having guests park outside, so they don’t track mud into the house, improve your home’s curb appeal, and allowing you to enter/exit the property safely.

This image features a residential setting with a focus on a curving concrete walkway that leads to a driveway. The concrete is neatly sectioned and appears freshly laid and smooth. The walkway is bordered by well-maintained landscaping, including a variety of shrubs and ornamental grasses set in dark mulch. A prominent American flag is displayed on the left side of the image, with houses visible in the background. A pickup truck and a trailer parked on the street can be seen in the distance, and multiple American flags adorn the lamp posts, suggesting a patriotic or holiday setting.

What are the advantages of custom concrete driveways?

Custom concrete driveways have several advantages.

It is solid and durable – offering long-term protection from the elements for your car or other vehicles as well as providing you with a smooth surface to walk on without risk of injury. In addition, concrete looks excellent compared to asphalt, which can look old and tired over time, making cracks appear on the surface.

Concrete driveways will provide a low-maintenance option for your home. They have the additional benefit of being easier to clean than asphalt because dirt does not get caught up in it as quickly.

Another great benefit is that they are available in various colors and patterns, giving you plenty of choices for the style that best suits your home.

Concrete driveways are durable and require very little maintenance.

Concrete driveways are available in various colors and patterns, making them an ideal choice for homeowners looking to enhance the look of their home’s driveway.

The biggest advantage is that they can last up to 30 years without any need for repairs or replacement.

What should you do if your driveway is not working?

If the surface of your driveway becomes uneven or cracked, it can cause problems for homeowners, including damage to vehicles and safety issues when walking on the drive. If this happens, then something must be done about it as soon as possible.

Many people choose to do the repairs themselves, but it may not be a good idea if you don’t have any expertise. The best option is likely to hire a professional that knows how to handle problems like these. Hiring an expert will ensure that your driveway issues are taken care of.

If nothing is done about deteriorating concrete driveways, then there will likely come the point when they become too expensive to fix and may need to be replaced entirely, which is a more costly solution than just having them repaired.

decorative driveway edged with stamped concrete

Tips to getting the right company

You should first ask for references from past customers and see if they were satisfied with the work done. They wil be able to give you a good idea of who you should hire.

Past projects

Check the contractor’s past projects - are they high quality and well done, or do shoddy workmanship cut corners to save money? Make sure that they are not using any shortcuts that will create problems in the future. If you get a good feeling from talking o them, aney are competent and trust; then you are probably on the right track.

Costing

Ask for a list of project costs before agreeing on one and make sure there are no hidden costs. Make everything in writing before you sign anything. If the contractor is pushy about getting a deposit, they are probably not suitable for your project. Only give them half of what they ask for to make sure that their work will be done correctly and on time before giving out more money. It’s better to get all of these things in writing so everyone knows what’s expected.

If possible, make sure that all materials are included in the price, so you know exactly what everything will cost upfront without surprises later on down the line! This also helps you get exactly what you want without being surprised by prices when it’s too late. Include the price of all materials in your contract so that you know exactly how much it will cost, and be wary of contractors who try to charge more than the materials are worth.

Get bids

Get bids from at least three different North Carolina contractors to compare quotes and guarantees, as well as experience levels. This way, you will be able to compare apples to apples, so you are getting the best deal possible. Make sure that they are all quoting on similar jobs and not taking advantage of your lack of knowledge about their trade by trying to charge more for something than it’s worth.

Be wary if one or two contractors come in very low with bids while another is much higher - this may mean they are cutting corners or not doing the job properly, so be sure to do your research on them before hiring. When you find someone who is fair and reasonable with their price, that’s a good indication of how much work they will put into you.

Ask for their portfolio.

As long as the contractor has experience with similar projects and is willing to show you some examples of their work, they should do an excellent job for you.

Consider your project size.

Consider the size of your project when making your decision; smaller jobs can be completed by any North Carolina contractor, while larger jobs might need more specialized expertise.

If the project is large or complicated, hiring the best concrete contractors with experience in that type of work might be necessary. For example, building an addition onto your home would probably require specialized tools and knowledge to do properly, so using someone local who has never done anything like that before may not produce good results.

On the other hand, if you are adding a new coat of paint to your home, then it doesn’t really matter who does the job as long as they have experience painting.

Turn around time

Find someone comfortable with what type of project you need done and also match their prices accordingly so that both parties are satisfied at the end of the day. Take into account how quickly you want the job done - some contractors take longer than others because they’re focused on doing high-quality work rather than rushing through it to get paid quicker.

It might be worth it to pay a bit more for someone who can do the job quickly and efficiently so that you don’t have to wait around for them. However, if you are willing to wait around a little longer for someone who does their work the right way the first time around, then that is also a valid option.

Scheduling

Find someone who works well with your schedule, and their prices will depend on how quickly they can get things done. Make sure that your contract includes an agreement about how much time it will take to finish their work (e.g., if there’s no timeframe specified in the contract, then it could take years!)

It’s important to know how long you can expect the work to avoid getting upset when it doesn’t get done quickly.

Ask about their process

It’s important to find the best North Carolina concrete contractors that is willing and able to work with you on what type of materials you want to be used in the project. Be wary of contractors that try to charge more than materials are worth or take advantage because they know you don’t have any other options at the moment.

If you aren’t sure what to expect, then ask about their process so that you know how long it takes them from start to finish! Look up reviews online as well as asking friends and family members who have had similar projects done before using contractors.

The image displays a well-maintained concrete driveway leading to a closed white garage door. On either side of the driveway are neatly landscaped garden beds with shrubs. A small American flag is visible to the right, attached to the facade of the light brick-colored home. The driveway is divided into even rectangular sections, showing the control joints that prevent cracking. The photo appears to have been taken during the day, given the clear visibility and the shadows indicating sunlight.

Conclusion

You may be thinking, “What does a concrete driveway have to do with anything?” But the truth is that your driveway can make or break your curb appeal. If you’re looking for contractors in Raleigh who will work within budget and provide quality service, give AJ Concrete Contractors a call today!

Contact us to get a free estimate and excellent customer service from start to finish. Whether it’s new construction or repairing existing driveways, we’ve got the experience necessary to get the job done right.