Granite Northwest Grading & Paving Company

How to Hire a Paving Contractor in San Jose (Without Getting Ripped Off)

Why Cheap Paving Contractors in San Jose Will Cost You More in the Long Run

Alright, let’s talk asphalt.

You need paving done—whether it’s a new driveway, a parking lot, or fixing up an old road. And like most folks, you probably want to get it done at a fair price without spending a fortune.

But here’s the thing: Going cheap on asphalt paving is one of the quickest ways to end up regretting your decision.

I’ve been in the paving business for decades, and I’ve seen more botched paving jobs than I can count. A driveway that looks fine on day one but turns into a cracked, bumpy mess within a year is usually the work of an underqualified, cut-rate contractor.

So before you hire just anyone, here’s what happens when you let the wrong crew handle your asphalt paving—and how to avoid it

Why Is My Asphalt Surface Bumpy?

You wanted smooth pavement, but instead, your driveway or parking lot feels more like a backroad after a storm. What happened?

A properly paved asphalt surface should be:

Smooth and even – No dips, bumps, or loose rocks.
Solid and durable – No crumbling edges or weak spots.
Built to last – A well-paved driveway should hold up for 20+ years, not start cracking after one summer.

But when cheap or inexperienced contractors cut corners, you’ll end up with an uneven, bumpy, and weak surface.

3 Big Reasons Your Asphalt Paving Came Out Badly

1. The Base Wasn’t Prepped Right

Think of asphalt like a house—if the foundation is bad, nothing else matters.

A proper asphalt base needs:

A solid, compacted foundation (crushed stone or gravel).
Proper grading for water drainage (standing water leads to cracks).
No existing cracks or damage underneath before laying new asphalt.

The mistake? Cheap contractors rush through the prep work (or skip it entirely). They slap fresh asphalt over an unstable base, and guess what? It settles unevenly, causing bumps, dips, and cracks.

The fix? A professional paving crew checks and preps the base properly before even thinking about laying asphalt.

2. The Asphalt Mix Was Wrong

Not all asphalt is the same. There’s a science to getting the right mix, and if your contractor gets it wrong, your pavement is doomed from the start.

A proper asphalt mix should have:

The right balance of crushed rock, sand, and asphalt binder.
Rough-edged rocks that compact tightly (smooth rocks make a weak surface).
Enough asphalt binder to hold everything together.

The mistake? Some contractors cheap out on materials, using the wrong type of aggregate or too little asphalt binder. This leads to:

A weak, crumbly surface (you’ll see loose rocks).
Uneven paving that wears out quickly.
Faster cracks and potholes (because the asphalt doesn’t hold together).

The fix? We only use high-quality asphalt mixes that are built to last through heat, rain, and traffic. No shortcuts.

3. The Asphalt Wasn’t Compacted Properly

Once asphalt is laid, it needs to be compacted right away while it’s still hot. This removes air pockets, strengthens the surface, and smooths everything out.

The mistake? Cheap contractors rush through compaction, use the wrong type of roller, or worse—skip the final rolling step entirely.

Warning signs of bad compaction:

Your asphalt surface feels rough and grainy instead of smooth.
You see loose rocks sitting on top of your driveway.
The surface crumbles when you kick it.
Driving on it feels uneven and bumpy instead of smooth.

The fix? Proper compaction with the right equipment—no shortcuts, no excuses.

Why Hiring the Wrong Contractor Will Cost You More

Look, I get it—nobody wants to overpay for paving. But here’s the cold, hard truth:

Going with the cheapest contractor will cost you more in the long run.

Bad paving jobs don’t just look ugly—they fail faster, need repairs sooner, and end up costing you double when you have to fix the mistakes later.

How to Avoid Hiring a Bad Paving Contractor

Check their experience – If they’ve only been paving for a couple of years, keep looking.
Look at past work – A good contractor should be able to show real photos of actual projects.
Ask about materials – If they don’t know what mix they’re using, that’s a red flag.
Watch out for “too good to be true” prices – Good work costs money. Cheap work costs more in the long run.

The Bottom Line: You Get What You Pay For

At Granite Northwest Grading & Paving, we’ve been paving driveways, roads, and parking lots in San Jose for three generations. We don’t do shortcuts, we don’t do gimmicks—just solid, reliable paving done the right way.

If you want a driveway that:

Looks smooth and even
Drives smooth without bumps or dips
Lasts for decades, not just a couple of years

…then give us a call. We’ll give you an honest estimate and tell you exactly what your asphalt needs—no upsells, no nonsense.

Call (408) 471-3438 today for a free estimate.
Granite Northwest Grading & Paving – San Jose’s Trusted Paving Experts

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