If you are undertaking a road surfacing project, whether you are a domestic customer or a large commercial client, it is vital you choose the best contractor for the job. However, with an extensive, and at times almost overwhelming, selection of road surfacing contractors in London and the surrounding area, choosing the right one for you can be a difficult and confusing task. With a vast number of ‘cowboy’ builders out there it is crucial you select a professional, reliable company who are guaranteed to conduct their work to the most superior standards – promptly, efficiently and at a cost-effective price.

So whether you are undertaking Local Authority owned road repairs or you wish to conduct pothole repairs in your private driveway, here are our 5 top tips for choosing the right road surfacing contractor for you…

1.    Make a Plan

The most important factor to initially consider is what you actually need from your contractor. A good road surfacing contractor will see the job through from the beginning to the end. However, in order to find one that does this you must first decide upon your individual requirements and specifications. Essential questions to ask yourself are: do you need help with the design, planning and engineering? Is it a particularly large project which will require a substantial amount of equipment, materials and employees? Do you need any specialist services, such as lining works? Once you have formed a precise and detailed plan you can then begin to search for a contractor who can accurately meet every aspect of it.

2.    Get Recommendations

One of the easiest ways to find a reliable road surfacing company is to ask other people for their personal recommendations. It is likely someone you know will have had similar work done and you can ask how effective their contractor was. Ask family, friends, neighbours and colleagues if they have ever had any road repairs or surfacing done. Or, if it is a commercial or Local Authority project, ask relevant trade associations if they know of professional contractors who have experience in the kind of the project you are undertaking.

3.    Check the Contractors Out

It is crucial to comprehensively assess each contractor you consider. One of the simplest ways to do this is to ask if there is similar completed work they have carried out which you can view. This can give you a better idea of their standard of workmanship and the kind of result you can expect. It is also a good idea to check out their testimonials and customer reviews and you can often find these on independent websites like CheckATrade. Bear in mind if they were completely satisfied with the result, if it was on time, within schedule and completed in line with quotes and estimates. A contractor with a pre-existing good reputation to preserve is more likely to conduct everything they do to the highest possible standard and be around if you have any problems later.

4.    Choose Established Contractors

With so many rogue traders throughout London it is vital you choose established contractors. One of the key ways to do this is by selecting a company with premises you can visit who offer details of the addresses and contact information of the contractors. Phone numbers can be easily changed, leaving with you no other alternative way of contacting them so it is important to obtain further information. You can also ask how long they have been established and how much experience their individual employees have, including any necessary training.

5.    Obtain a Quotation

Receiving a written quotation is one of the most important parts of organising contactor work, as it is a clear documentation of the agreed work which will be conducted, the materials which will be used and the price this will all be done at. Your quotation should include a complete breakdown of all the work to be undertaken and you must be clear from the start about exactly what you want and make sure the quote accurately reflects this. Also remember not to assume that the cheapest company is the best. Good contractors who refuse to cut corners will seldom be able to compete on price with those that do.

So before you undertake any road surfacing or road repairs project, make sure you have chosen a professional company you can be sure are completely reliable – such as the experts down at UK Surfacings. They guarantee to offer the highest possible standard of workmanship at affordable prices and provide a comprehensive service for both commercial and domestic applications. Simply contact the friendly and highly experienced team at UK Surfacings today for more information.