Do I need to call the office to schedule an appointment for my project?
You will not need to call the office to schedule your project appointment once you send in your contract. Once we receive your signed contract and 50% deposit we will add you to our “open projects” list. Our standard wait time is 5-6 weeks. We will call you the day before you are on our schedule to let you know we will be there. We apologize that we are not able to notify you sooner, but it is hard to schedule in advance because Mother Nature often changes her mind! We also schedule several projects each day, so it is difficult to determine exactly what time the crew will be arriving at your house, but we can let you know if we anticipate morning or afternoon. We understand that summers are a busy time for everyone and we do our best with you and your schedule, so if you have specific dates you would like to avoid we can certainly do that for you. We suggest you write them on your signed contract that you send in to us and we will do our very best to accomodate. If a setback occurs and we do not make it to your project as scheduled we will call you to let you know and re-schedule.
If another meeting is needed with the project manager to finalize project details this will take place either the night before your project date or early morning day of. We can determine which works best for your schedule.
will power steering marks hurt my new driveway?
Vehicles equipped with power steering can leave marks on your asphalt. This is very common. Try to avoid turning the wheel on your vehicle when in a stopped position. Turning while stopped can scar the new asphalt surface. Also, try not to park in the exact same spot every day. As asphalt hardens and ages, it becomes less likely to depress or scar. It's inherent flexibility allows rough areas to heal themselves over time.
Do I need to be home when the work is performed?
You do not need to be home for us to do the work. Of course, there can be no vehicles in the driveway or in our way of work. We recommend that you do not schedule a day off of work to be home as there are some cases when our schedule is not as we expected due to unforeseen circumstances (excessive rain, unexpected equipment problems, project complications arise, etc). However we do like for you to provide us with a cell phone number to reach you in case anything arises that we may need to ask of you.
Will my project be completed in one day?
The time to complete your project is mostly determined by scope of work. If you are having a resurface, this will be completed in one day. If you are having excavation work, we do not install binder on the same day. There could be a 1-2 week interval between excavation and paving. We do this to allow the stone time to settle. You CAN drive on the stone during this wait time. If you are having excavation and new sidewalk installation, we do our best to excavate and pour sidewalks on the same day. There may be a longer delay (2-3 weeks) before paving as we have to be sure the sidewalks are completely cured as we will need to drive our trucks over them to install the binder. If the sidewalk is not cured there is a greater chance that our trucks will crack the concrete when they are driven on it.
Do I need to call to have my utility lines marked before digging?
We will call UFPO (Dig Safely NY) prior to digging on your property. The utilities in your area will come and mark out in paint or flags on your property. They will not mark out any drains, invisible dog fences, wells, septic systems or personally installed utilities on your private property. You will need to notify us of these before digging commences. We do our best to dig carefully and watch for unmarked utilities but if you do not notify of these lines on your private property and a line is struck we are not responsible, so please be sure that you make us aware of anything that may be buried where we will be excavating.
Will you come back after my driveway is installed and topsoil to the new edge?
We do not do any landscaping that is required after installation of your driveway. In some instances the grade of the driveway may be higher or lower than the grade of the lawn, especially after an excavation and installation of a new driveway and topsoil may be required to fill in along the edging. This is the homeowner’s responsibility.
Do I need to obtain any permits for my project?
Yes, all permits are the responsibility of the homeowner. We advise that you call your city, town, or village codes department with your project details to determine if you need a permit or not. You are required to provide a copy of all permits to Upstate Paving prior to any work commencing. Upstate Paving can NOT remove any city, town, or village sidewalk without written consent from that city, town or village.
How long do I need to wait before I can drive on my driveway?
Excavation only = Immediately
Binder = 2 days
Resurface or Top Coat = 3 days
There are a few things that you need to consider once you do start driving on your driveway. It can easily be scarred by starting out or pulling in too quickly, or by turning your wheels while the car is not in motion. Parking in the same spot, or excessive weight from car jacks, campers, boats, etc can also leave depression marks in your pavement. Also, gas, oil, anti-freeze, power steering fluid, etc can leave spots or holes in your driveway. Upstate Paving does not warranty against any of these issues and though some of these instances can be repaired, there will be a charge to do so.
I just had my driveway excavated and binder installed. When should I have my topcoat layer installed?
We recommend that you wait until next season to install your topcoat. This will allow your binder layer to settle for a year, and we have found that in this time period your driveway may settle differently in one area or another. We are able to correct this when we install the topcoat layer by shimming (putting more material down) in the lower areas. By following these steps we are able to achieve a more level finished product.
Do I have to pay sales tax on my project?
If you are adding on to your driveway or only paving a portion of your driveway this is taxable. If you are patching your driveway or making a repair this is also taxable. If you are adding more stone to your existing stone driveway this is also taxable. If you are paving your ENTIRE driveway this is considered a capital improvement and you are not required to pay sales tax. You will receive a capital improvement form that will already be filled out for you with your final invoice. You will be required to sign the form and return it to our office so that we can keep it in your file. You do not need to keep a copy, but we can certainly provide you one if you would like. We do ask that you please be sure to return it promptly!
How do I make my final payment? Do I need to give a check to the work crew when they are done?
The 50% remaining balance due for your project is due upon completion. You do not need to provide a check to the crew; you will receive an invoice in the mail 1-3 days after completion. We ask that you please send payment (and signed capital improvement form if applicable) promptly. If we do not receive payment within 30 days a 1.5% monthly finance charge will be added to your balance due. If a problem arises regarding payment or you have a discrepancy on your invoice we ask that you immediately call the office to discuss. If we do not receive final payment within 3 months, at the end of the third month a mechanic’s lien will automatically go against the property.