8 Questions to Ask a Paving Contractor Before Hiring — Melbourne Guide

Hiring the wrong paving contractor is one of the most expensive home improvement mistakes you can make. Unlike bad painting or gardening work, a poorly installed driveway or patio requires full excavation and reinstallation to fix properly. Here are the 8 questions I'd ask any contractor before signing anything — based on 10+ years in the industry.

1. "Will you be on site personally every day?"

Many companies quote the job then send a crew you've never met. The person who assessed your project is never seen again. Ask directly — will the owner or lead tradesperson be on site daily? At Antonio PrimeScape Construction, I personally attend every job from start to finish. That's the only way to guarantee consistent quality.

2. "How deep will you excavate and what base material will you use?"

This is the most important technical question. A vehicle-rated driveway needs minimum 150mm of compacted road base. A patio needs 100mm. If a contractor says "we just lay on sand" or gives you a vague answer, walk away. The base is everything in paving.

3. "Can you provide a certificate of currency for public liability insurance?"

Not just "yes I'm insured" — ask for the actual certificate. Check it shows current dates and a minimum of $10M cover ($20M is better). Uninsured contractors leave you personally liable if anything goes wrong on your property.

4. "Can I see photos of similar projects you've completed in my suburb?"

Not stock photos from a catalogue — actual photos from jobs in your area. A contractor who regularly works in Melbourne's eastern suburbs will have dozens of real photos available. Ask for the suburb and approximate project date.

5. "How do you handle drainage on this project?"

Every paved surface needs a drainage solution. A good contractor will explain the fall direction, the outlet point, and any additional drainage they recommend. A poor contractor won't have thought about it yet.

6. "What's included in the quote and what are the exclusions?"

A professional quote should itemise: materials, labour, excavation, base, bedding, edging, joint fill, and cleanup. Ask specifically about concrete removal (if applicable), skip hire, and whether the quoted price can change. Get it in writing.

7. "What's your warranty on workmanship?"

A contractor who stands behind their work will offer a clear warranty period. At Antonio PrimeScape Construction, we warrant our workmanship — if something moves or settles in the first year due to our installation, we come back and fix it.

8. "Can you show me your Google reviews?"

Go directly to Google Maps and search the business. Don't trust screenshots. Look at: the total number of reviews, the recency of reviews, and how the contractor responds to any negative feedback. A business with 50+ reviews averaging 4.8–5.0 over several years is consistently delivering.