Why the Lowest Sealcoating Bid Isn’t Always The Best
When it comes time to seal your asphalt paving, whether it’s the first time or part of your routine maintenance plan, it’s always wise to shop around and see what sealcoating companies offer. Many property owners and managers are inclined to go with the lowest sealcoating bid they see. However, doing so isn’t always the best option. In the worst-case scenario, contractors offering suspiciously low bids can leave your pavement worse off. Here’s what you need to know.
How Can Unscrupulous Contractors Exploit Customers By Offering a Low Sealcoating Bid?
In a perfect world, every sealcoating contractor in Greenville would be honest, transparent, and of the highest integrity. However, that’s not reality. Unfortunately, there are shady, inexperienced companies out there looking to take advantage of ill-informed property owners and managers.
While low sealcoating bids look good on paper, you’re likely to get low quality. Here’s the truth: The bids you receive from sealcoating companies in Greenville should be relatively similar. We’ll get into what to expect soon, but reputable contractors will all provide similar quotes, charging competitive pricing while using high-quality sealers.
There are many costs involved in asphalt sealcoating, and any company charging significantly less than the competition will have to absorb the difference in some way. They might do this by:
• Use consumer-grade sealers
• Applying only one coat
• Adding more water to dilute the sealer
• Neglecting to add sand to the mix
• Failing to prepare the sealer according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
Cutting corners will negatively affect longevity and the quality of the finish. In some cases, sealcoating companies in Greenville offering low bids do so without ill intention. Instead, it’s a matter of inexperience. For example, contractors might:
• Fail to consider the amount of labor needed to apply multiple coats
• Use cheap materials and incorrect tools
• Ignore surface preparation requirements
Either way, low bids often translate to inferior results. With something as crucial as asphalt sealcoating, you don’t want to take the chance.
How Many Sealcoating Companies Should I Consult?
There’s no exact number of sealcoating companies in Greenville you should consult. However, most professionals recommend obtaining quotes from at least three. The goal is to speak with enough sealcoating companies so that you feel confident comparing and contrasting what you’ll get with each one.
Having several points of reference makes it much easier to spot inexperienced or shady service providers and to get a better idea of how much your sealcoating project should cost.
What Should Raise Red Flags When Receiving a Sealcoating Bid?
When you receive a bid from a sealcoating contractor in Greenville, it should be comprehensive. Sealcoating is a multi-step process that involves considerable labor. Bids should detail every cost and include all the relevant information you need to choose an asphalt sealcoating company. That includes labor costs, materials, expected timelines, etc.
If you see a bare-bones quote without any additional information, consider it a red flag. You want to see where your money is going. Otherwise, you have no way to hold contractors accountable or truly compare costs. Never accept a bid that’s nothing more than a random number.
What’s the Best Way to Choose an Asphalt Sealcoating Company?
So, how do you find an asphalt sealcoating company you can trust? Cost is an essential factor, and you don’t have to ignore it completely. After all, you need to stick to your budget!
However, pricing should be lower on the list of priorities. Instead, focus on:
• Experience levels
• Quality of materials
• Pricing transparency
• Communication
• Reputation
Ask to see a portfolio of past work and request a list of references from asphalt sealcoating contractors. Call those references to learn more about what it’s like to work with a company from past clients, and don’t hesitate to do online research to understand what others think. Use this information to ensure that an asphalt sealcoating company can meet your needs, respect your property, and deliver impressive results.
At HLC Asphalt & Sealcoating, we take pride in setting the highest standards for the asphalt paving, repair, and maintenance industry. We’re a sealcoating contractor in Greenville that operates with complete transparency and integrity, offering competitive pricing while never cutting corners. Our goal is to raise the bar for customer service and quality, so we work hard to exceed expectations at every turn.
In addition to sealcoating, our services include asphalt paving, repairs, crack filling, parking lot striping, maintenance, ADA compliance, signage installation, and more. Let us show you why we’re the best in Greenville! Call HLC Asphalt & Sealcoating today at (864) 569-1241 to get your complimentary quote. You can also use our online form or email the team at hlclinestriping@gmail.com.