“Bids aren't always apples-to-apples,” says Carolyn Pimentel, co-owner of Pimentel Paving, Inc. “For example, one contractor may be bidding an asphalt overlay, while another contractor may want to remove it all and completely repave.”
A second factor to consider is whether the bids are based on actual measurements or estimates of the size of the area to be paved. “A lot of contractors don’t even bring a measuring wheel with them when they scope a job,” says Mrs. Pimentel. “They just take a look and estimate.” Ask what the contractor’s policy is when their estimate or measurement falls short. Do they finish the job at the proposed price, or do they charge an additional fee for their error?
When it comes to determining a contractor’s experience, remember that California issues contractors’ license numbers sequentially. That means someone with a lower number has held their license longer than someone with a higher number. “A company with a license number that begins with five has been in business longer than one with a seven or eight,” says Mrs. Pimentel.
