If you want a new outdoor paving area or driveway, you have lots of decisions to make. You need to work out where it’s going to go, what materials you’re going to use and how much it’s going to cost.
You can make most of these decisions with the help of a reliable paving company. They will have specialised knowledge and be able to give you expert advice. But how can you find a quality paving company that’s right for you?
The best thing you can do is ask questions. Talk to several companies and find out their credentials and what they can offer you. To help you find a quality installer who’ll give you what you want, we’ve come up with 6 questions you should ask when you’re looking for a reliable paving company.
1. What products do they use?
There are lots of different brands of paving product out there. These vary in quality, style and material. Different paving products suit different projects and it’s important that you get the right paving to suit your requirements. A good paving company should be able to offer you quality products from leading brands. They should also have enough industry experience to give you reliable advice on which paving products will suit your property.
2. Do they offer guarantees?
If you’re investing in a new paving area, you want to be sure that you’re getting value for money. A quality paving company should be able to offer you a guarantee on the work they do, so you can rest assured that you’ll get a long-lasting paving area for your money. Ask paving companies how long their guarantees are for each product they offer. Often, companies offer longer guarantees for more expensive products.
3. Do they offer finance?
One of the main things most people consider when they’re thinking about installing new paving is how much it’ll cost. If you’re happy to use finance, it might mean that you have more products and options to choose from. Make sure you ask paving companies to tell you about all their finance options so you can make an informed decision.
4. Is the work sub-contracted?
Lots of paving companies use sub-contractors to carry out their work. This isn’t necessary a problem but it can compromise the quality of the work. It’s a good idea to use a paving company that you know will be carrying out the work themselves.
5. Are they an accredited installer?
Nowadays, there are lots of different accreditations that a paving contractor can have. They can have certain qualifications and be part of an accreditation scheme run by a paving manufacturer. If you choose an accredited company this doesn’t guarantee that their work will be high quality but it certainly makes it more likely.
6. What other work do they do?
Lots of landscaping companies offer more than just paving. For example, they might also lay turf and install garden walls and fences. It’s worth finding out what other work a paving company does before you decide whether to hire them. Then, if you have any other work that needs doing you might be able to get them to do this too. This might be cheaper than getting the jobs done by separate contractors, so could save you money.
So hopefully these questions should help you on your way to finding a reliable paving company. If you want to find some paving installers in your local area, we can help. Fill in our online form and we’ll put you in touch with up to 4 contractors. You can then speak to these professionals yourself to work out whether you’d like to hire them.