When Clients are pricing their projects and doing some shopping around naturally they all want the cheapest price. However the cheapest price often means the lowest quality! There are many Scam Artists/Gypsy Pavers that have been pulling the wool over many people’s eyes. Southwestern Virginia and the New River Valley are not immune to this type of paving scams in fact it is very prominent in our area. 

We want to take some time and provide you with some helpful information so you can protect yourself and your investment. 

 

•  All asphalt sealer is not created equal: Many of these Scam artists will add gas or water to the sealer they buy so it will last them longer. That is very bad for you as a customer because once the chemical composition is changed the Tar will not bond as well as it should to your existing pavement. This means that you will end up with a driveway that will need to be sealed much sooner, than if you had it done by a licensed Contractor. If we are not happy with the premix that we get at the Tar plant we add extra Tar and rubber latex. Yep, we make sure it’s the right mix to bond securely!

• Selling Door-to-Door: Reputable asphalt contractors will sometimes offer their services if they are doing a legitimate job in the immediate area. Always Always ask for references. Check all of the facts before you decided to go with someone who is trying to sale you something at your door step!

• Claiming they have leftover asphalt from another job: Professional asphalt contractors will know, with great accuracy, how much paving material is needed to complete a project. Very rarely will they have leftover material. Contractors are professionals that have been trained to make accurate calculations. Some of the reasons a contractor might have left over material are due to weather, equipment problems, cancellations and etc., but when this does happen they normally take it as their loss they don't go door to door trying to push it onto people.

• Push you to make a quick decision: Reputable contractors will provide a written estimate that will be valid for weeks or months. If the great deal they are offering you today is not available tomorrow or next week it may be a scam! We have no need to rush you our estimates are valid for 30 days, if you wait longer we have no problem coming back out and giving you second or third free estimate. We understand that you have a big decision to make. 

•  No contract offered: Insist upon a written contract specifying in detail, the work to be performed and the agreed upon price. If you ask for one you got it! We will print it and email it to you for your convenience. 

• Cash only sales: Most reputable contractors take checks or credit cards and don't require cash-only terms.

• Deals that seem to be good to be true: If the quoted price seems very low, chances are the quality of the work will also be quite low.

• Unmarked trucks: Often the trucks they travel in are unmarked or they have an out of town address and phone number. Sometimes though it is the opposite. So also look out for Brand new equipment with just a name but no phone numbers or address. A little research will reveal that they have no permanent address and the phone number is often an answering machine.

 

 

It all comes back to doing your research and take your time to insure that you are finding a respectable licensed contractor to finish you project. We promise that you will be happy and the process will be smooth if you go with a professional. We personally believe that we live in the same community we see you at the local grocery store, at church on Sunday, at the little league games, and so on so we want to do right by you and provide you with the best.