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Sealcoating Contractors; 5 Uncommon Questions To Ask When Hiring A Sealcoater.
Mostly, we get asked about price when bidding for a sealcoating job. That is fair. However, the quality of the contract or is very important, whether they are mowing your lawn, fixing your boiler or sealcoating your driveway. It is often easy to judge the quality of the former of the 3 examples I just gave, but how do you determine a good sealcoating contractor or determine if they are worth what they asking? Should you just throw away the highest bid?
No. But you shouldn’t just assume it is the best either.
Here are 5 questions you should ask the sealcoating company you are considering that most people do not think to ask. They are beyond the usual “do you have references?” questions that most think about. The answers can give you much insight into the company you are dealing with, not just factually, but also their preparedness in answering them. If they seem to stumble and are thrown off by the question, you need to consider heavily if this is really who you want working in your yard. If they are knowledgeable, professional and confident, then they might cost a bit more, but might be well worth it in the long run.
- Is a salesman or the owner going to be on the job?
- The owner cannot always be there, but he/she should have a reason as to why. If it is vital for you to have them there, work something out to ensure that this can happen. It IS possible. Because of the nature of this business, sealcoating companies are not multi billion $$ corporate giants where the ceo sits in an office all day. They are often driving the trucks, sweeping and simply getting into the details of as many projects as they can.
- Will the sealcoat be applied by spray or by hand?
- If it is a residential sealcoating job, the best quality jobs are done by hand. This is to ensure the edges are done properly and the rest of your landscaping is not affected. Sprays, well spray. This is good for covering huge areas like parking lots. If the contractor plans to spray your driveway, ask them how they will prevent it from spreading to the lawn.
- If a spray is being used, ask how many coats will be applied. This matters to ensure an even coat.
- What is the warranty?
 Notice I didn’t say “IS there a warranty?” There should be one. This type of work can easily come with some sort of guarantee. A professional sealcoater knows that if they do their job correctly and thoroughly, the chances of something failing are slim. It is a calculated risk that he can take and stay profitable.
- How long have you been in business?
- This one would seem to be obvious to ask, but it isn’t. Granted, every new business needs a shot at proving themselves, but this is something you will need to live with for 5-6 years. Do you really want someone inexperienced on this? They should be able to tell you how long and quickly list some local jobs they have done. If not, this may not be the company for you. If they have been around for a while, there should be plenty of info about them online as well.
- What is the sealer mix ratio you will be using?
- Umm, what? Even if you have no idea what there answer means, the fact that you ask it says that you did some homework (& you should). Different environments, different uses and variety of other factors will determine what ratio of mix should be used. Any reputable, experienced sealcoater will know this….and will not be thrown off by the question.
Hopefully these uncommon questions will help you determine the best sealcoating contractor for you. Please feel free to call us with these or any other questions you might have about jdkpavement.com
Sincerely,
Dave Bilodeau
President
www.jdkpavement.com
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