Understanding Our Warranty: What's Covered and For How Long

What Our Warranty Covers and Why It Matters

A paving warranty is only as good as the company standing behind it. A one-page document with vague language from a contractor who might not be in business next year does not protect you. A clear, specific warranty from an established local company does.

This page explains exactly what our warranty covers, what it does not, how to make a claim, and how we handle situations that fall outside standard coverage. No fine print, no legal jargon, just straightforward answers.

Our Warranty Structure

We separate our warranty into two categories because the responsibilities are different: workmanship (what we control) and materials (what the asphalt plant controls).

Workmanship Warranty: 2 Years

Our workmanship warranty covers defects in how we installed your pavement. This includes:

Base preparation issues

• Settlement or sinking caused by inadequate compaction
• Drainage problems resulting from incorrect grading
• Base failure due to insufficient material depth

Asphalt installation issues

• Roller marks or uneven surface texture from improper compaction
• Cold joints or seams that separate due to poor paving technique
• Delamination (layers separating) caused by missing or inadequate tack coat
• Edge failure from insufficient edge compaction

Grading and drainage issues

• Water pooling on the paved surface due to incorrect slope
• Water flowing toward structures instead of away from them
• Birdbaths (low spots that hold water) caused by grading errors

The 2-year period begins on the date we complete the final walkthrough with you. This date is documented in our project completion file along with photographs of the finished work.

Material Warranty

Asphalt materials are produced by the asphalt plant, not by us. If a material defect occurs, such as the asphalt mix failing prematurely due to incorrect aggregate gradation or asphalt content, the material supplier's warranty applies.

We handle this process for you. If we determine that a failure is material-related rather than workmanship-related, we contact the asphalt plant, coordinate testing if needed, and manage the claim on your behalf. You do not need to deal with the plant directly.

Material defects are rare but identifiable. They typically show up as surface raveling (aggregate coming loose from the binder) across the entire surface, not just in isolated spots.

Maintenance Service Warranties

| Service | Warranty Period | Coverage | |---|---|---| | Sealcoating | 1 year | Peeling, flaking, premature wear | | Crack filling (hot pour) | 1 year | Filler pulling out or failing to adhere | | Patching | 1 year | Patch failure under normal traffic | | Overlay | 2 years | Same as full paving workmanship warranty |

What the Warranty Does Not Cover

Being transparent about exclusions is just as important as explaining coverage. Here is what falls outside our warranty:

Normal Wear and Characteristics

Thermal cracking - Asphalt expands and contracts with temperature changes. Over time, this creates hairline cracks on the surface. This is a normal material behavior, not a defect. Every asphalt surface in Oregon develops thermal cracks eventually.

Color fading - New asphalt is deep black. Over 2 to 5 years, UV exposure causes the surface to oxidize and turn gray. This is normal aging. Sealcoating restores the dark color and protects against further oxidation.

Minor surface texture variation - Slight differences in surface texture are inherent in hot mix asphalt. The aggregate distribution is not perfectly uniform, which can create subtle visual differences. These do not affect performance.

Owner-Caused Damage

Chemical damage - Fuel, oil, antifreeze, and solvents dissolve the asphalt binder. Small spills cleaned up promptly are fine. Repeated or prolonged chemical exposure that softens or deteriorates the asphalt is not covered.

Mechanical damage - Cuts from snowplow blades, gouges from dragging heavy objects, damage from jack stands or sharp-pointed loads are not warranty issues. These are use-related damage.

Overloading - If your residential driveway was designed for passenger vehicles and you park a loaded dump truck on it, resulting damage is not covered. We design each project for the traffic loads you tell us to expect. Using the surface beyond those specifications is not a workmanship failure.

Unauthorized Modifications

If someone other than our company cuts into, modifies, or overlays our work, the warranty on the affected area is voided. This includes:

• Utility contractors cutting the pavement for underground work
• Other contractors overlaying or patching without our involvement
• Homeowner DIY modifications to the surface or edges

If you need to cut into the pavement for any reason, contact us first. We can advise on the best approach and maintain warranty coverage by handling or supervising the work.

Acts of Nature

Damage from events beyond normal weather is not covered:

• Tree root heaving
• Landslide or earth movement
• Flood or standing water from abnormal events
• Earthquake damage

Normal Oregon weather, including heavy rain, freeze-thaw cycles, and summer heat, is accounted for in our material specifications and installation methods. Our work is designed to handle typical Willamette Valley conditions.

Neglected Maintenance

We do not warranty against damage that results from failure to perform basic maintenance over time. If you neglect crack sealing for years and water infiltrates the base, the resulting damage is a maintenance failure, not a workmanship failure.

We provide written maintenance guidelines with every project specifically so you know what to do and when. Following those guidelines protects both your investment and your warranty.

How to Make a Warranty Claim

If you notice an issue that you believe is covered under warranty, here is the process:

Step 1: Contact Us

Call us at 541-409-9848 or submit a request through our contact page. Provide:

• Your name and project address
• A description of the issue
• When you first noticed it
• Photos if possible (a phone camera is fine)

Step 2: Inspection

We schedule an on-site inspection within 5 to 10 business days of your contact. One of our project managers visits the site to evaluate the issue. We look at the affected area, consider the age of the installation, review the original project specifications, and determine whether the issue falls under warranty coverage.

Step 3: Determination

After the inspection, we provide our assessment:

• Covered - We explain what happened, why it is a warranty issue, and schedule the repair at no cost to you
• Not covered - We explain why the issue falls outside warranty and provide a quote for the repair if you want us to fix it
• Needs further evaluation - In rare cases, we may need to take a core sample or consult with the material supplier before making a determination

Step 4: Repair

Warranty repairs are scheduled based on the nature of the issue and weather conditions. Emergency repairs (significant drainage problems, safety hazards) are prioritized. Cosmetic issues are scheduled during the next appropriate weather window.

We document the repair with before-and-after photos and update your project file. The repaired area carries the remainder of the original warranty period.

How Our Warranty Compares

Not all paving warranties are created equal. Here is what to look for when comparing warranty terms between contractors:

Questions to Ask Any Contractor

1. Is the warranty in writing and included in the contract?
2. What specifically is covered and what is excluded?
3. How long has the company been in business?
4. What is the process for making a claim?
5. Does the warranty transfer if I sell the property?

Warranty Transferability

Our warranty transfers to new property owners if the property is sold within the warranty period. The new owner receives the remaining warranty coverage. We ask that you notify us of the ownership change so we can update our records.

This transferability adds value to your property. A buyer knowing that the driveway carries an active warranty from a local contractor provides additional confidence in their purchase.

Why We Stand Behind Our Work

Our warranty is not a marketing document. It is a commitment we make because we control the quality of our installation process. When we prepare a proper base, place asphalt at the right temperature, and compact it to specification, the result lasts for decades. We know this because we see our work from 10 and 15 years ago still performing well throughout the I-5 corridor.

A warranty also motivates us to do the job right the first time. Every warranty repair costs us time and money. The best way to avoid warranty claims is to build every project to the same high standard, which is exactly what we do.

Learn more about our team and our approach on our about page, or explore the full range of services we offer.