A homeowner in Oviedo gets three quotes for the same driveway and the highest is nearly double the lowest. A property manager in Altamonte Springs sees the same spread on a parking lot. It is one of the most common frustrations in hiring a paving contractor, and it is rarely explained by one contractor being greedy and another being generous. The gap is almost always in what each quote actually includes.
Base depth and preparation
This is the biggest single variable. One quote may include stripping the existing surface, excavating soft spots, placing and compacting a specified depth of aggregate base, and grading for drainage. Another may include none of that and simply lay asphalt over whatever is there. The second quote is much cheaper and the driveway will fail much sooner. If a quote does not state the base depth and what the preparation involves, ask. Our post on what belongs in a paving estimate lists what to look for.
Asphalt thickness and mix
- Compacted thickness. A quote for a thinner lift uses less material and costs less. It also carries less load and wears sooner. Thickness should be stated as compacted, not loose.
- Number of lifts. A heavier driveway or a commercial lot may need two lifts. A single-lift quote for a job that needs two is cheaper and weaker.
- Mix type. Different mixes suit different uses. A quote that does not name the mix leaves that open.
What is being left out
Some of the widest gaps come from scope rather than specification. Does the quote include hauling away the old material? Removing and resetting anything in the way? A tack coat on an overlay? Milling at the edges to meet curbs and drains? Rebuilding the apron? Sealcoating, and if so, when? A quote that leaves these out looks cheaper until the extras arrive on the invoice, or until the work is done without them.
A quote is a description of a driveway. Two quotes that differ by half are describing two different driveways.
Equipment, crew and timing
Proper compaction needs the right rollers, enough of them, and a crew that keeps pace with the paver. That costs more than a small crew with a single roller. It also produces a denser, longer-lasting surface. Our post on compaction explains why this shows up in the result years later. Contractors who work with the right equipment price accordingly.
Licensing, insurance and accountability
A contractor carrying proper insurance and operating as a licensed business has costs that an unlicensed crew does not. That is reflected in the quote. It is also what protects you if something goes wrong on your property, and what makes a warranty worth something. The lowest quote in a spread often comes from an outfit that will not be reachable a year later.
How to compare fairly
Line the quotes up against the same list: base depth, compacted asphalt thickness, mix, preparation, drainage, edges, apron, haul-off, tack coat, and what happens if the ground turns out to be worse than expected. Where a quote is silent, ask the question and get the answer in writing. Then compare. The gap usually narrows, and where it does not, you know what you are giving up. Our post on questions to ask before hiring a paving company gives the full checklist.
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