Asphalt Paving FAQs

You have the right to request changes to the project without invalidating the Agreement. Upon your request, we'll provide pricing details for the changes and update the Project Deadline. We'll formalize any agreed-upon modifications via a Change Order, amending the Agreement accordingly. No changes will proceed without your written approval.

While we possess the capability to execute all services using our own resources, we reserve the right to subcontract certain tasks if necessary. This decision won't alter our Agreement with you or compromise the quality of service provided, ensuring your project's success.

Clear the work area of obstructions like vehicles and household items. Park vehicles a minimum of 30 feet away. Provide access to water, a hose, and electricity.

We highly recommend your presence throughout the project duration, as immediate decisions may be required. If we cannot reach you in the event of an issue, we may reschedule the project.

Ensuring compliance with local regulations is paramount. Connect with your municipality to confirm permit requirements. For added convenience, permit assistance services are available. However, please be advised that proceeding without confirmation poses risks. Liability for permit-related matters rests with the individual. Our quotes typically exclude permit fees unless otherwise specified.

To ensure a clean, high-quality finish, it’s important that the entire work area is clear and accessible. If trees, shrubs, or other vegetation are overhanging within 10 feet of the surface, our equipment, such as rollers or pavers, may come into contact with them. This can cause branches or debris to fall onto the freshly paved surface, affecting the final result. We strongly recommend trimming back any overhanging vegetation before the project begins to avoid delays, damage to plants, or impact on the quality of your new pavement.

1. Damages to softscapes, hardscapes, markers, fixtures, personal property, or other objects located within, connected to, resting on, protruding into, or immediately adjacent to the work area.
2. Vibrations from heavy machinery during our asphalt paving process may cause interlock shifting.
3. Paving machinery emits exhaust air and heat, and the asphalt itself may affect plastic surfaces like carports and siding, potentially causing changes
4. Aesthetic or surface irregularities, including but not limited to visible joint lines, scuffing, and normal variations inherent in asphalt paving are not covered. These characteristics are expected within industry standards, are considered cosmetic, and do not affect performance.

For residential projects, proper drainage ensures water slopes away from the home's foundation. This prevents water stagnation near the foundation. In cases where the municipal road is higher than the driveway's end, it may slope towards the sides, directing water onto adjacent areas like grass or the municipal ditch. This approach ensures effective water management without compromising the property's integrity.

It's a common challenge in certain regions where municipal road repaving leads to elevated road levels, potentially resulting in drainage issues for properties. There are various solutions to address this, including installing weeping tile, a French drain, or adjusting the driveway slope towards the side or back of the house rather than towards the road.

It's common for the ground to settle or shift over time, leading to elevation differences that can impact drainage. We ensure that your driveway aligns with the required Building Code standards, matching the elevation of your garage floor and the adjacent road or curb.

Yes, it's entirely normal. Contrary to common perception, asphalt is most vulnerable right after it's paved. It typically takes about two years for asphalt to reach its maximum durability and strength. Therefore, it's common to notice tire marks on the surface during this initial period. This occurrence isn't considered a defect and doesn't require correction.

Stone popping can occur due to several factors: (1) Some asphalt mixes may contain a higher

concentration of stones than others; (2) Certain areas, particularly those inaccessible to paving machinery, maybe hand-installed using an asphalt rake, resulting in a more prominent appearance of stones. While this may affect the surface's visual uniformity, it doesn't typically compromise the durability of your asphalt. Therefore, these variations are considered cosmetic and not indicative of a defect.

The dip happens when the first foot or two of asphalt adjacent to your garage floor starts to settle. This area of your driveway is prone to dipping due to the use of large compactors during the original construction of your home, which are not well-suited to compact small surface areas. We employ specialized machinery that can fit into smaller areas right by the foundation and garage floor to achieve thorough compaction during the base construction process, minimizing further settling

If Black Tar Corp. determines that your base is not adequate, our team will provide professional recommendations. However, it's not mandatory to replace the base.

If your asphalt project exceeds a thickness of 2 inches, an additional fee of $1 per square foot for each extra inch will apply, covering labor, materials, and operational costs, aligning with industry norms. For areas requiring manual labor due to space constraints (width under 9 ft or height under 10 ft), termed "handwork areas," the charge for each additional inch increases to $3 per square foot to accommodate the specialized effort needed for these tighter spaces.

Slight variations in surface levels, often caused by close drainage tolerances and hand application of small asphalt sections, may result in minor water pooling. Additionally, minor base shifting can contribute to this issue. According to the Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association, elevation differences of up to 5mm (0.2 inches) are considered within tolerance and industry standards. Fortunately, any water pooling in these areas typically evaporates without causing damage or surface corrosion, making it acceptable. Moreover, newly paved asphalt contains high oil content, which gradually oxidizes, potentially reducing water pooling over time. Therefore, Black Tar Corp. is not required to take action for repairs or maintenance regarding water pooling equal to or less than 5mm (0.2 inches) in depth on the asphalt surface.

A defect is an issue that affects the functionality, durability, or structural integrity of the asphalt, such as excessive cracking due to improper material use. A cosmetic imperfection refers to minor aesthetic issues that do not impact performance, such as visible joint lines, minor scuffing, or roller marks.
Per OPSS 310 and our Terms & Conditions, cosmetic imperfections are not covered under warranty, as they are standard industry characteristics.

Please note that for your protection, our system does not automatically store credit card information — you must manually opt in if you’d like your card saved on file.

If a customer has a signed agreement, we may charge the credit card on file for the remaining balance once the project is completed and the invoice becomes due. This process follows the Ontario Consumer Protection Act and Construction Act, which allow payments to be processed according to the terms both parties agreed to in writing.

We only proceed in this way when:

• The work has been completed
• The payment due date outlined in the contract has passed, and
• The customer has not provided a Notice of Non-Payment under the Construction Act.

Our goal is always to make payment simple and transparent for our clients. If you ever have questions about your invoice or payment method, please reach out to our office before the scheduled charge date — we’re always happy to review and discuss.

Black Tar Construction follows OPSS 310-9.02.04, which allows up to 5mm of standing water on newly paved asphalt. Our process ensures proper drainage and compliance with industry standards:

1) After Paving: We inspect the surface for compliance by conducting a water slope test.
2) If Pooling is Reported: Our Quality Control Specialist will meet you on-site for a water test.
   - If pooling exceeds 5mm, we’ll fix it free of charge.
   - If it’s 5mm or less, it falls within city bylaws and is not considered a defect.
3) Still concerned? You can arrange a third-party inspection, and we’ll meet them on-site

A Water Service Post or Water Shut-Off Valve regulates water flow from the municipal water main to your property and is essential for emergencies or repairs. If the water service post is not at the desired grade level, we will endeavor to level it with the newly paved surface. However, if adjustment is not feasible, it becomes your responsibility to coordinate with the Municipality to locate and adjust the Water Service Post before asphalt installation. Proceeding with asphalt installation before the Municipality adjusts the Water Service Post may result in the Municipality cutting the new asphalt to make adjustments. Additionally, we offer water service post and water shut-off valve replacements and height adjustments for an additional fee.

While we aim for precision in our quotation measurements, discrepancies may arise due to various factors. If there are differences between the final project surface and the quoted measurements, the quote will be revised accordingly. Additionally, as part of our quality control process, a visit may be conducted to ensure accuracy and address any discrepancies.

With an overlay, we pave directly over the existing asphalt/concrete surface. Consequently, our paving machine adheres to the grading of the existing surface. Therefore, achieving precise positive drainage cannot be guaranteed. It's an industry standard that overlays come with no warranties due to this variability. However, our process involves applying an adhesive (Tac Coat) to ensure strong bonding between the old and new pavement, creating a durable unified surface.

We do provide a warranty on the base of the asphalt under specific conditions. It's important to note that shifting in the base is common, especially in Ottawa, where many neighborhoods have a high concentration of clay or Leda sand in the base, or they have a high water table. These conditions can cause saturation in the base, making it spongy, which in turn can lead to dips and heaving.

We only cover the base if we replace it ourselves by performing a full excavation. This must be a full excavation of the entire driveway and not a partial excavation. When we do a full excavation, we provide a 5-year warranty on the base, covering any issues related to cracks, potholes, and vegetation growth.

Black Tar Construction provides fixed quotes and makes every effort to honor the agreed price from the time of acceptance through project completion. However, in rare circumstances beyond our control, adjustments may be required.

In the event of force majeure or extraordinary market conditions — including but not limited to war, supply chain disruptions, government regulations, or sudden increases in petroleum-based materials (such as asphalt or fuel) — Black Tar Construction reserves the right to adjust pricing to reflect verified increases in material or operational costs. Price adjustments may also occur in accordance with significant changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) affecting construction materials and services.

Any such adjustment would be limited strictly to the portion of the project impacted by the cost increase, and documentation may be provided upon request.

We want our customers to feel confident moving forward with their projects. Since our incorporation in 2013, Black Tar Construction has never had to implement this clause on a customer project. This provision exists solely to protect both parties in the unlikely event of extreme global or economic circumstances.