Understanding Your Asphalt Warranty: 4 Warranty Provisions And What They Mean For You
Most paving companies offer some sort of warranty that will cover their work for a specified amount of time. If something goes wrong or if a defect is found, the company will repair the asphalt at no cost to you. If you've recently had paving work done, you might be wondering what your warranty actually means for you. Most warranties cover several aspects of the paving process as well as the performance of your pavement over a specified period of time. Following is a short guide that will explain the provisions that you may find in your warranty.
Materials Warranty
A materials warranty covers any defect found within the materials used for your project. For example, if there is too much oil in the mix, it may take longer than the usual 90 days for your pavement to dry and harden. If your materials stay soft for too long, you may notice fissures in the pavement or signs of distress on the surface of your pavement.
Workmanship Warranty
A workmanship warranty covers any mistakes that the contractors may make while laying your asphalt. Problems that may occur usually involve the thickness of the base and/or asphalt layer. A worker may also inadvertently put a groove in the surface of the concrete or leave an area uneven. Your warranty will likely cover all of these things.
Performance Warranty
Performance warranties are usually broken down into two main types: a short-term warranty and a long-term warranty. These warranties cover any issues with the performance of your pavement over time. If your pavement starts breaking down before it should or if you have to perform certain maintenance much sooner or more often than usual, you may be able to fall back on this provision. The items covered in your short-term performance warranty may differ from those covered in your long-term performance warranty, so it's vital that you understand what's covered and what's not covered.
Performance Contract
A performance contract basically says that the contractor who originally put down your pavement will continue to maintain it so that it continues to meet quality standards. You should know that this provision may cost you more money as it is usually treated as an optional warranty.
New pavement projects are usually protected by a warranty. If you have a warranty, it's vital that you read it thoroughly and understand it completely. You should also know what types of maintenance you have to perform to keep your warranty valid. Contact a commercial asphalt service for more information.