Guide · choosing a paver
How to choose a paving contractor: three checks, seven numbers, four warning signs.
A good paver shows before the work starts: a business you can find in the registry, a quote that gives the thicknesses and slopes, and no pressure to sign. Here is the grid to compare two or three quotes in one evening.
- Free quoteWe come take a look, no obligation.
- Clear priceEvery step spelled out in the quote.
- Hot asphaltLaid with a paver, rolled.
- Quick callbackThe owner, not a salesperson.
On this page
To choose a paving contractor in Québec, do three things in order: check that the business exists and can be reached, compare the quotes on the same seven numbers, and set aside the ones that come with pressure. Price comes last: a cheaper quote that gives neither the stone thickness nor the compacted asphalt thickness compares to nothing.
1. Check the business in ten minutes
| What to check | Where | What you should find |
|---|---|---|
| The business exists | Québec enterprise register (Registraire des entreprises), search by name | A Québec enterprise number (NEQ), an address, an active status |
| The construction licence | Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) licence holder register | For paving, subclass 2.7 “Sitework” |
| The door-to-door seller | Office de la protection du consommateur, “Get information about a merchant” | An itinerant merchant permit if they sell at your door, and the complaint history |
| Insurance | Certificate requested from the contractor | Current civil liability insurance |
| An address and a number | Google listing, website, quote | A business address and a number that answers after the work |
Two useful details. According to CAA-Québec, paving a house driveway is generally treated as exterior landscaping that does not require an RBQ licence; a commercial parking lot or street work does. A 2.7 licence is still a good sign, because it requires a bond and management exams. And a merchant who sells you work at your door must hold a permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur.
2. Compare quotes on seven numbers
A per-square-foot quote says nothing if it doesn’t describe what it builds. Ask each paver the same question, and note the answer in the table.
| The question | A good answer | An answer that should worry you |
|---|---|---|
| What area? | A number of square feet measured on site | “A double driveway” |
| How deep is the excavation? | 30–45 cm in sand, 45 cm and more in clay (CAA-Québec) | “We scrape what’s needed” |
| What stone, how thick? | MG-20 (0–¾ in), compacted thickness, compacted in lifts | “Gravel” |
| What compacted asphalt thickness? | At least 50 mm (2 in) everywhere; we lay 63 mm (2.5 in) | A “laid” thickness, or none |
| Where does the water go? | A slope of at least 2% toward the street, transitions at the garage | No answer |
| What is not included? | Curb cut, permit, concrete, stumps: listed | “Everything’s included,” with no list |
| What warranty? | A term, what is covered, what is excluded | “Don’t worry about it” |
The depth, stone, thickness and slope benchmarks come from the CAA-Québec and Bitume Québec technical sheet. Our asphalt driveway paving page shows how we apply them, and our warranty sets out, case by case, what is covered.
A quote that answers all seven questions, after a free visit
3. Check that the price makes sense
In 2026, a fully rebuilt driveway costs $6 to $10 per square foot before tax, and resurfacing on a sound base $3 to $5.50. Our sources, and the comparison between regions, are on the 2026 price page.
- Well below the range: ask what is missing. Most often it is stone, thickness or excavation, which nobody sees once the asphalt is down.
- Well above it: ask what is added. Deep clay, a concrete slab to remove or hand-only access justify a gap; a margin does not.
- A “resurfacing” offered on a driveway that is sinking: cheaper today, redone sooner. Our article resurfacing or rebuilding explains how to decide.
Four signs that should slow you down
- “We have asphalt left over from the job next door.” Hot mix is laid within hours of leaving the plant. As the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association puts it: there is no such thing as leftover asphalt.
- Full payment before the work, or cash without an invoice. No invoice, no trace and no recourse.
- Pressure to sign today. A price “good until tonight” keeps you from comparing.
- No address, just a cell number. In April, you’ll only know who to call if the business has an address and answers.
Signed at your door? You have 10 days
A contract made with an itinerant merchant, meaning signed somewhere other than their place of business, for example at your home after door-to-door selling, can be cancelled at no cost within 10 days of receiving your copy of the contract, under Québec’s Consumer Protection Act. The Office de la protection du consommateur explains the steps and provides the cancellation form.
Questions to ask us too
The same checks apply to us. Pavabris is based in Montréal; elsewhere in Québec, the local crew is confirmed with each request. During the visit, we probe the base and measure; the quote then states the area, the excavation, the stone and its thickness, the compacted asphalt, the slope, what is not included and the warranty. The owner is on every job. Compare us with anyone you like: that is the point of this grid.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a paving contractor is reliable?
Find their business in the Québec enterprise register, check their RBQ 2.7 licence if they show one, ask for their liability insurance certificate, then compare their quote on seven numbers: area, excavation, stone, compacted asphalt, slope, exclusions and warranty.
Does a paver need an RBQ licence?
For a commercial parking lot or street work, yes: it is subclass 2.7, “Sitework.” For a house driveway, CAA-Québec says a licence is generally not required, because it counts as exterior landscaping; a licence is still a good sign.
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three, asking each paver the same questions. Beyond that, the differences come mostly from what each one includes, which is why comparing the same numbers matters.
Can I cancel a paving contract signed at home?
Yes. A contract made with an itinerant merchant can be cancelled within 10 days of receiving your copy, under the Consumer Protection Act. The Office de la protection du consommateur provides the form.
What deposit is reasonable for paving?
A deposit that covers booking the job and the materials, not the whole price. Be wary of full payment required before the work, or cash payment without an invoice.
Why is asphalt “left over from another job” a warning sign?
Because hot mix has to be laid and compacted while it is hot, within hours of leaving the plant. The offer is mostly a way to get a fast signature, with no visit and no measurement of the base.
Sources
- Régie du bâtiment du Québec, list of licence subclasses (2.7, Sitework) and licence holder register.
- CAA-Québec, « Rénovation : licences et certificats de compétence requis ».
- Office de la protection du consommateur, itinerant merchants (permit, 10-day cancellation) and the “Get information about a merchant” tool; Consumer Protection Act.
- Registraire des entreprises du Québec, business search.
- CAA-Québec and Bitume Québec, technical sheet on the residential asphalt driveway (2011).
- Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association, Asphalt Driveways (“There is no such thing as leftover asphalt”).
Go further.
How much does an asphalt driveway cost in 2026?
Québec asphalt prices: rebuilding $6–10/ft², resurfacing $3–5.50, plus sealcoating and crack repair. Sources and a project budget calculator.
ReadOur warranty, defect by defect.
Our warranty covers workmanship and material defects: compaction, thickness, slopes, transitions. What is excluded, what is normal in the first year, and what to do if a defect appears.
Read
Resurfacing or rebuilding: the five-step test to find out what your driveway needs
Overlay or redo your driveway? The 3 m straightedge test, reading the cracks, probing the edge, the cost per year of each option and the combined fix that often costs least.
ReadBefore the freeze, not next spring.
Describe your project in two minutes. We call you back quickly, come take a look and you get your price, free.