What Should Be Included in a Paving Proposal?

Before scope details, a proposal should include the basics: contractor name, project address, proposal date and validity period, and payment terms. These items sound obvious, but they matter when comparing several proposals side by side or presenting a scope to a board, owner, or manager.

The proposal should state the exact square footage or area being paved, the location within the property, and any areas specifically excluded from the scope (for example, an existing loading dock apron left untouched). For a parking lot, a marked site diagram helps remove any ambiguity about which drive lanes, stalls, and approaches are included.

For asphalt, the proposal should specify total thickness and whether it's a single lift or a binder course plus a surface course, along with the mix type if relevant to your climate. For concrete, it should specify slab thickness, reinforcement (rebar or wire mesh), and mix strength (typically expressed in PSI).

The proposal should describe subgrade preparation, aggregate base depth, and the compaction standard used to verify the base is ready before paving begins. This section is often the most important for long-term performance and the easiest for a rushed proposal to leave vague.

If drainage corrections, new striping, or ADA-compliant stalls and access aisles are part of the project, they should be itemized separately rather than folded into a single lump-sum line, so you know exactly what's included.

The proposal should state an expected start date and duration, a weather-delay policy, a complete list of exclusions, the payment schedule (including any deposit), and how change orders for unexpected conditions will be priced.

A proposal should state warranty length and exactly what it covers — material defects, workmanship, or both — along with what actions (like early sealcoating or heavy vehicle traffic during cure) would void it.