Planning a few renovations to your home?  Some new wallpaper, a small rec. room, perhaps a complete facelift?  If you are, you've joined many other home owners who have decided to renovate.  Whether it's a major project or simple repairs, good sense will guarantee that you get top value for your dollar.  A few simple precautions can help eliminate the common problems unsuspecting homeowners can run into.

Paving:

Paving a driveway involves more than just spreading asphalt beside your yard.  Whether you're having a new driveway laid or the old one repaved, you should know exactly what is involved.    Residential-driveway paving problems are among the most common causes of consumer complaints.  If you don't have a clear idea what is required from base to sealer an unethical paving contractor may be able to talk you into unnecessary, expensive work or inferior materials.

If your home is new, don't have your driveway paved for at least two years following construction of the house to give ground time to settle. In most new subdivisions, the house builder arranges to pave the boulevards - the area between the sidewall and the road.  Ask the builder or the municipal planning department who is responsible for the boulevard before signing a driveway paving contract.

The Basics:

You will have to decide whether excavation is needed before paving. If the stone under the driveway isn't deep enough to provide a firm foundation or the new or repaved driveway would be higher than the surrounding ground, excavation is usually required.

Crushed limestone is generally preferred for the base because it compacts well.  For new driveways, at least 100 millimetres (four inches) is required.  For re-grading driveways, enough limestone must be used to ensure proper drainage.. A 460 millimetre or 18 inch fall is needed for every 30 metres or 100 feet of driveway.  In addition, the driveway should slope away from the house or garage.

Coarser grades of asphalt are more durable.  A mix known as HL3A is normally used for home driveways, while a coarser HL3 mix is used for highways and steep driveways because it provides better traction. About 50 millimetres, or two inches, o compacted asphalt should be used on your home driveway.  If the asphalt is thicker, it will remain soft when compacted.

Don't let the contractor use 75 millimetres or three inches on compacted asphalt, unless it is being applied in two layers. Sealer, which makes the driveway more oil and grease resistant, should be applies about 60 to 90 days after paving.  Don't apply it too early because it doesn't mix with the oil in fresh asphalt.

To help prevent weeds and grass from growing through the pavement, weed killer should be sprayed before paving.  If you want this or any other extra service performed by the paver, make sure it's written into the contract.  In addition, you should look for any blank spaces and mark them N/A (not applicable) or Nil.

Protect Yourself:

Check your property boundary before you begin.  If you don't, you may end up paving your neighbour's lot.  In some areas, a municipal permit is required.  

Insist on having the following included in the contract:

• starting and completion dates

• the responsibility the contractor takes for workmanship

• depth of crushed limestone to be added

• number of millimetres or inches of compacted asphalt

• dimensions of the total area to be paved drainage requirements

• warranty

Your Responsibilities:

With proper maintenance, a well-built driveway should last eight to ten years.  When the driveway is new, be extra careful not to mark it.  On a hot day, asphalt can be easily marked by turning the car wheels while the car is stationary, or by ladders, bicycle kick stands and other pointed or heavy objects.  After a period of curing, the risk of marking is reduced.  You may want to line the sides of your driveway with curbstone to improve its appearance and prevent grass from growing through the asphalt.

If Trouble Strikes:

Despite all your precautions, you may still find yourself the victim of unscrupulous business practices.  If this is the case, you have several choices.

Under the Consumer Protection Act, you can cancel a contract for more than $50 if it was signed in your home, provided you have not paid in full.  Simply send a registered letter or hand deliver it to the company within two clear working days of signing date. Only Sundays and statutory holidays are not considered working days.

Cancellation rights do not apply to cash sales when goods are accepted on-the-spot from a door-to-door seller and are fully paid for by cash, cheque or credit card.

Under the Business Practices Act, you may be able to cancel the contract if you believe the seller has made a false or misleading representation.

The Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations may also provide assistance.  If you wish to lodge a complaint against a contractor, contact Consumer Affairs Branch toll-free at 1-800-268-1142.