Asphalt paving: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering asphalt paving

Asphalt paving is judged on how smooth it stays and whether the water leaves it, so customers trust the crews that prepare the base first. Win the job by showing your base work, your grade plan and your proof-roll results, not just the finished surface.

What customers ask

  • How thick will the asphalt be, and what base is under it?
  • Will it crack or sink in a few years?
  • How long do I have to keep cars off it?
  • Can you pave over my old asphalt, or do I need it removed?
  • Where will the water go after you pave?
  • Can you stripe the parking spaces when you finish?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask what will drive on the surface, how often, and how the water flows now, because those decide the thickness and the grade.
  • On site, check the old surface and the base, dig a test pit, and note where the soft spots are before you quote.
  • Put the base depth, the asphalt thickness and the tack coat in the quote, so the customer can compare it fairly.
  • Show photos of your proof-roll and your recent grading work, along with a finished lot that drains properly.
  • Explain the grade and the drainage plan on a sketch, marking where the water will go and how the drains will catch it.
  • Give a written traffic and cure plan, and mention when the first seal or striping should be scheduled.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of the base, the proof-roll and the paving in progress, showing the thickness and the grade
  • Finished lots and drives with drainage visible, shot after rain if possible
  • Services you offer, such as paving, patching, sealcoating and striping
  • Your service area and the types of surfaces you have paved, including residential and commercial

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a sealcoat plan once the new asphalt has aged, explained with the timing and product
  • Suggest a crack seal check after the first winter, with a note on keeping water out of the joints
  • Mention striping or a parking layout as information when the customer is planning the lot

Licenses and permits

Asphalt paving is commonly done under a contractor license in many areas, and new drives and lots often need a permit, especially for changes at a public road. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What do I do when the base fails the proof-roll?

Stop and show the customer the soft spots, then quote the removal and replacement of the failed base. Record the proof-roll results with photos and the customer's decision in writing.

Should I pave over old asphalt or remove it?

It depends on the condition of the old surface and the base under it, so inspect both before you quote. Explain the trade-off in writing, since an overlay on a failed base will fail again.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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