The Paving Contractor Diaries

This contractor is employed by a company that makes surfaces that are paved like sidewalks, floors made of concrete, and roads. Some companies will even work on bigger projects like an airport runway. They will be hired by municipal agencies, homeowners, and business to repair existing paved surfaces or make new ones. Many of the companies that paving contractors work for will focus in either commercial or residential work but some will do both. It depends on the job and equipment needed.

Commercial paving contractors

They are the ones that will usually provide the pricing for the jobs needed in the outline of a bid. The one that is offered the job is typically the lowest bidder but not always. When working in commercial jobs, the contractor will report to the construction manager or general contractor instead of the owner. One of the jobs a paving contractor does is pour parking lots, walkways, and floors in new developments. If it is a municipal project they may repair any damage in an existing paying like potholes or cracks or lay new sidewalks, or roads,

Residential paving contractors

They will meet with the homeowner to discuss the project that is needed, figure out the approximate cost of materials and labor, and then give an estimate to the homeowner. The homeowner may hire them to put down a patio, walkway, or floor. They can also repair structures like stairs or walkways. Some of these paving companies may concentrate just on landscape paving. This can include laying stone items like outdoor tiles or pavers or installing a poured surface.

Machines used

Working as a paving contractor requires being able to use big pieces of equipment, which can include:

- Paving machine to smooth the freshly laid out road or parking lot surface
- Excavator to set up the land for paving
- Tamping machines, which are large machines that are used to help flatten out the gravel or dirt surfaces
- Dump truck to haul away any excess waste products and dirt and to haul in gravel or stones

Becoming a paving contractor

If you would like to have a career working in this field, you need to be one that does not mind working outdoors in any type of weather. When traffic is passing nearby, you also need to feel at ease working on roads that are busy since this type of work is done in the daytime. You may also work as a flagger so you should have experience with road safety and flagging. Working as a paving contractor, you can expect to work in conditions that are busy, noisy, and dirty. If you work with hot asphalt, you need to be aware of the different heat levels and potential toxic fumes.

Paving jobs, whether they are small or big, should always be taken seriously and thoroughly planned from top to bottom. For anyone who is unfamiliar with paving work and would like to do the job on their own, there are several things that have to be considered which may end up costing quite a lot of time and money along the way.

To get any paving work done efficiently and of the highest standard, it's always recommended to hire a professional paving contractor. Though many believe them to be very expensive, there are many benefits to getting a good contractor. Those benefits are part of the investment made on a professional contractor rather than cutting corners to save a few dollars.

Get Expert Opinions

With a professional paving contractor, you will be able to get expert opinions for the job at hand. They will know how to properly assess an area that needs paving and know of all the proper methods and materials that should be used for specific jobs. The experienced paving contractors will be able to clearly explain the environment and potential problematic areas of the job paired with the solutions they plan on using.

By hiring a professional paving contractor as opposed to doing a job solo can be the difference between a lifetime of clean and solid paving or a lifetime of headaches and new expenses.

Avoid Problems

There are many different problems that can arise from paving jobs and professional paving contractors are aware of them all. They have the training and expertise to handle any problem and carry through with a job as a professional should. If you are trying to do a job on your own and come across a problem, you may end up spending even more time and money to fix it compared to hiring someone in the first place.

Another benefit of hiring a contracting company is the reassurance of them having proper certification and insurance for any work that's being done on your property. This will keep you out of any trouble should complications or problems arise during the job.

Save Money

A paving contractor is always considered the more expensive option for getting paving word done but in many cases, they are actually the more economical option in the long run. Many do not expect to run into problems for simple paving jobs, there are times when they are unavoidable and cost extra money to fix or alter plans. This is on top of the costs involved to get the proper equipment and materials to get the job done well.

A professional paving contractor will include everything in one fee and this usually includes labor, equipment, materials and any extras from problems that may pop up. The contractors will be able to complete everything safely and in a timely manner whereas many private jobs can stretch over a long period of time.

Save Time

When a professional paving contractor is working on a job, you have more time to do other important things in your life. While the contractors do the paving, you don't have to take time off your own work or worry about holding off other plans that are more important or more enjoyable to do. In the end, you can enjoy professional paving done as you like without missing out on other things in life.

Many of the companies that paving contractors work for will focus in either commercial or residential work but some will do both. If you would like to have a career working in this field, you need to be one that does not mind working outdoors in any type of weather. Working as a paving contractor, you can expect here to work in conditions that are busy, noisy, and dirty. Many of the companies that paving contractors work for will focus in either residential or commercial work but some will do both. Working as a paving contractor, you can expect to work in conditions that are busy, noisy, and dirty.