Paving is one of the easiest home services to get scammed on, because the quality is buried underground where you cannot inspect it and the failures show up years later. The right questions up front separate a real contractor from a fly-by-night crew before you sign anything. Here is exactly what to ask — from a company that welcomes every one of these, Iron Ridge Pavement.
1. Are you licensed and insured — can I see proof?
This is the first filter. A legitimate contractor carries liability insurance and workers' comp and will show you the certificates without hesitation. If a crew is uninsured and a worker is hurt or your property is damaged, you can be on the hook. Vague answers or "we don't need that" is where the conversation should end.
2. What base and thickness are you quoting?
The most important technical question, because the base is where corners get cut. Ask for the excavation depth, the base material and thickness, and the compacted asphalt thickness — in writing. A pro will give you specifics (for example, a compacted aggregate base under 2–3 inches of asphalt). Someone who can't or won't answer is telling you what they'll skip. Understand why in our guide on grading and the base.
If they can't tell you what's going under the asphalt, don't let them put asphalt over it.
3. How will you handle drainage and slope?
In Florida this question matters as much as the asphalt itself. A real contractor talks about grading the surface to a 1–2% slope and where the water will go. If drainage never comes up, they are not thinking about the number-one thing that kills Florida driveways.
4. Can I get it in a written, itemized estimate?
Everything — scope, dimensions, base and asphalt specs, drainage, edge work, timeline, and price — belongs in writing. A verbal handshake with a traveling crew is how people end up with a thin skim coat and no recourse. A detailed written estimate protects both sides.
5. Do you have local references and reviews?
Ask for recent local jobs you can look at or homeowners you can call. An established local company with a real reputation (we're proud of our 5.0 rating) has nothing to hide. A crew that "happens to be in your area with leftover material" and has no local footprint is the classic driveway-scam setup.
6. What warranty do you offer?
A contractor who stands behind the work will back it with a workmanship warranty and be around to honor it. Ask what's covered and for how long. No warranty — or a company you'll never find again — means you own every problem the day they drive off.
7. What's the timeline and curing plan?
A straight answer covers how long the job takes and how long you stay off the new surface (3–5 days for vehicles, more for heavy loads). Vague timelines or pressure to pay in full up front in cash are red flags.
The red flags to walk away from
- Door-knocking with "leftover asphalt from a nearby job" at a too-good price.
- Cash-only, full payment demanded up front.
- No written estimate, no license, no insurance proof.
- Unmarked trucks and no verifiable local address or reviews.
- High-pressure "today only" deadlines.
The bottom line
A quality paving company answers all of these easily and in writing, because doing the job right is their business model — not moving on before the failures show. Ask the questions, get it on paper, and you filter out the scammers before they touch your property. When you're ready, we're happy to answer every one of these for your paving or driveway project.
Need a Free Estimate?
Iron Ridge Pavement gives upfront, no-obligation pricing on paving, sealcoating, striping and repairs across Florida.
Iron Ridge Pavement is licensed, insured, local, and 5.0-rated across Orlando and Central Florida. Ask us anything on this list. Get a free estimate.
