10 Questions to Ask a Connecticut Paving Contractor Before You Sign

Every paving contractor doing residential work in Connecticut must hold a current Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration with the state. Ask for the number — it should be in the format HIC.0517988 or similar — and verify it on the Connecticut DCP website. A contractor that hesitates or cannot produce one is not legitimate.

Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) covering general liability and workers comp. Real contractors send it immediately. A COI listing you as the property owner protects you if a worker gets injured on your site or if equipment damages your property.

Most premature driveway failures trace back to a thin base. A residential driveway in Connecticut typically needs 4-6 inches of compacted processed stone base, more on poor soils. Get the number in the quote in writing. A quote that doesn't specify base depth is hiding it.

Residential driveways typically use 2.5-3 inches of compacted asphalt over the base, often in two courses (binder + surface). Commercial lots use more. Ask for the inch figure in the quote — and whether that's compacted thickness or pre-compaction thickness (compacted is what matters).

Most failed driveways have a drainage problem the original installer did not solve. Ask the contractor what they will do about drainage on your specific site — pitch, transitions, any catch basins or trench drains. A contractor who walks the site during or after a rain has earned trust.

Ask for addresses of completed projects within a few miles of you. A contractor with real local presence can give you several. Drive by and look — the work tells you more than any reference call.

This matters less than people think — but a contractor in business for decades has survived multiple economic cycles, kept customers happy long-term, and has equipment and crews that have worked together. A brand-new contractor with great references may also be fine. A long-standing one without references is a problem.

Ask for warranty terms in writing. Reasonable workmanship warranty for residential is typically 1-2 years; commercial varies. A contractor who refuses to put any warranty in writing is a red flag. A contractor who promises a 10-year warranty on residential asphalt is probably overselling.

Sometimes the existing base or soil under a driveway is worse than the contractor could see from the surface. Ask in advance what happens if extra excavation or base work is needed. A change-order policy in writing — with hourly or unit-price terms — protects you from open-ended surprises later.

Some paving contractors estimate then hand the project to a subcontractor or a different crew. Ask who will be on your driveway. The estimator should be able to tell you who runs the crew and whether they have done similar work locally.