Every year, property owners in Detroit, Michigan watch a crew pave a brand-new driveway only to see it cracking and crumbling by the time the next harsh winter thaws out. Fortune Asphalt Detroit has seen it happen all over Wayne County more times than we would care to count. Asphalt Paving in Detroit is not just about dumping some hot mix onto the ground and rolling it flat. Here in Detroit, our heavy clay soil and brutal freeze-thaw cycles will punish any shortcut an asphalt contractor tries to pull.
Skipping the Sub-Base Prep
The single most important mistake you can avoid is ignoring what lies beneath the asphalt. If an asphalt paving crew tells you they can just pave right over your old, busted driveway without digging down and fixing the aggregate base, you should find another contractor. Our local soil expands and contracts wildly with moisture and frost. Without a proper crushed stone foundation that is properly compacted, your new pavement will not stand a chance against heavy vehicles or seasonal shifts.
Falling for Lowball Bids
Property owners have all received quotes that vary wildly for the exact same square footage. If one estimate comes in much lower than the rest, you are not getting a bargain because you are getting low-quality materials. Skimpy asphalt thickness is a favorite trick of fly-by-night operators. Fortune Asphalt Detroit makes sure you know exactly what depth of material is going down during your Asphalt Paving project. You need proper thickness to handle vehicles day in and day out without rutting.
- Always demand a written contract specifying aggregate depth for your Asphalt Paving.
- Check for local licensing and verifiable proof of insurance before hiring an asphalt contractor in Detroit.
- Run from anyone knocking on your door claiming they have leftover asphalt from another job down the street.
Neglecting Proper Drainage
Water is the ultimate enemy of asphalt. If your driveway slopes toward your garage or leaves pooling water right in the middle after a heavy Michigan rainstorm, the sub-base is going to saturate and fail. A reliable asphalt contractor takes elevations seriously and ensures water sheds safely away from your home's foundation and off the parking surface entirely.
Taking your time to vet who you hire saves you thousands of dollars in premature tear-outs and repairs. Do your homework upfront, ask hard questions about base prep, and make sure you are partnering with a crew from Fortune Asphalt Detroit that knows how to build things to last in the Detroit climate.