Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Pavement Contractor

The right questions reveal whether a pavement contractor is professional, transparent, and capable of doing quality work. Ask about insurance, surface preparation, materials, pricing breakdown, timeline, and warranty. A good contractor answers directly and in detail. A bad contractor is vague, evasive, or pressures you to skip the questions and just sign. Here are the specific questions to ask and the answers you should expect.

Insurance questions

• Can you provide a certificate of insurance?
• What are your general liability coverage limits?
• Do you carry workers' compensation insurance?
• Can you list my property as an additional insured?

A professional contractor will provide this documentation without hesitation. If they cannot or will not, do not hire them. For more on what insurance to look for, see our contractor evaluation guide.

Process questions

• How do you prepare the surface before sealcoating?
• Do you seal cracks before sealcoating, or is that extra?
• How do you treat oil spots before sealing?
• How many coats of sealer do you apply?
• Do you squeegee or spray the sealer?
• For striping: do you measure stall dimensions and verify ADA compliance?
• For asphalt repair: do you saw-cut straight edges?
• For pothole repair: how do you determine if the base needs repair?
• How do you handle phasing if the lot must stay open?
• What happens if it rains during the project?

Material questions

• What type of sealer do you use (coal tar or asphalt emulsion)?
• Do you follow the manufacturer's mix specifications?
• Do you add sand for traction?
• What type of crack sealant do you use (hot-pour or cold-pour)?
• What type of striping paint do you use (water-based or solvent-based)?
• For asphalt repair: do you use hot mix or cold patch?
• Where do you source your materials?

For why material choice matters, see our sealcoating mistakes guide and crack filling vs sealing guide.

Pricing and scope questions

• Can you provide an itemized quote, not just a lump sum?
• What is included in the price, and what is excluded?
• How did you calculate the square footage?
• Is crack sealing included, or is it a separate line item?
• Is striping included in the sealcoating price, or separate?
• What is your minimum charge, and why?
• Are there any additional fees (mobilization, traffic control, disposal)?
• What are the payment terms (deposit, progress payments, final payment)?
• How long is the quote valid?

A transparent contractor will break down the pricing so you can see exactly what you are paying for. For cost references, see our sealcoating cost, striping cost, and crack sealing cost guides.

Timeline and logistics questions

• When can you start, and how long will the project take?
• How will you coordinate with my tenants or business operations?
• How will you section the lot if it must stay open?
• How long before vehicles can drive on the sealed surface?
• How long before pedestrians can walk on it?
• What hours will you work (daytime, nighttime, weekends)?
• Who is responsible for notifying tenants?
• What happens if weather delays the project?

For cure times, see our drying time guide.

Warranty questions

• Do you offer a warranty on your work?
• What does the warranty cover?
• What does the warranty not cover?
• How long is the warranty period?
• How do I make a warranty claim?
• Will you fix problems that arise after the job is complete?

Answers that should concern you

• "We don't do crack sealing, just sealcoat over everything." This means water will continue to reach the base through open cracks. See our sealcoating vs crack sealing guide.
• "One coat is fine for a commercial lot." One coat is insufficient. Two coats are the standard for commercial properties.
• "We can sealcoat in November, no problem." In Middle Tennessee, sealcoating after early October risks failure. See our temperature guide.
• "We don't need to saw-cut, we'll just feather it in." Feathered edges fail. Permanent repairs need saw-cut edges. See our repair guide.
• "We can give you a discount if you sign today." High-pressure sales tactics are a red flag. A professional contractor gives you time to evaluate the proposal.
• "We don't carry insurance, but we've never had a problem." Unacceptable for any commercial property. See our red flags guide.
• "We'll just patch it, no need to check the base." Patching without checking the base means the repair will fail if the base is compromised. See our pothole repair guide.