🔍 Why This Blog Matters
If you're searching for asphalt paving or sealcoating contractors in Central New Jersey, this blog is built to answer what Google calls "high-intent buyer queries" — meaning you're ready to hire someone. But beware: the wrong contractor can cost you thousands.
Whether you're a homeowner in Monmouth County or a property manager overseeing retail plazas or industrial sites, here's what you need to know to avoid scams, bait-and-switch pricing, and subpar work.
And just so you’re aware, FixAsphalt.com has been in commercial paving and parking lot maintenance since 2001. We quote asphalt, concrete, pavement repair, and pavement asphalt seal coating projects daily, so all of this info is from real project issues we have discovered with residential and commercial property owners in Central New Jersey who have had the misfortune of hiring a fly-by-night asphalt paving or asphalt seal coating contractor.
NOTE: This article has been read, edited, and approved for publishing by Steven Brahney, who has 30+ years of asphalt experience maintaining and reconstructing asphalt parking lots for commercial properties in every state on the East Coast.
Let’s get started!
❌ The Most Common Asphalt Contractor Scams in New Jersey
1. 🌛 "We Have Leftover Material From Another Job..."
They say: "We just finished a big job down the street and have extra asphalt/sealer we'll give you a deal on."
Reality: Hot mix asphalt is a perishable product that doesn't travel well and doesn’t last long once loaded into a dump truck at the asphalt plant. Hot mix asphalt needs to be installed relatively quickly, or it will cool in the dump truck and result in an unacceptable job. Pavement sealer does NOT go bad after mixing (it is a non-perishable product). As long as pavement sealer does not freeze, it can be stored in a contractor's applicator tank for months. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. They're likely using watered-down sealer or asphalt that will be too cold to properly compact on your driveway or parking lot.
2. 🔋 The One-Call, No-Contract Crew
These crews show up in unmarked trucks, give you a price on the spot, and push for immediate payment with no contract or scope of work.
Red flag: No license, no insurance, no paper trail.
3. 🏃 Rushed, One-Coat Sealcoating
What should be a two-coat process becomes a quick spray-and-go job. You get:
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No surface prep
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Over-sprayed edges
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Sealer that fails in months
4. 🚫 Cash-Only Pricing With No Receipts
No paper trail = no warranty = no recourse. Once they're gone, so is your money.
5. ❌ Cutting Corners in Commercial Work
Especially on commercial lots, bad contractors will:
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Skip crack sealing
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Use diluted sealer
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Omit cleaning or tack coats
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Fail to fix drainage/catch basins
6. 🚫 "ILLEGAL" Oil-Based Sealcoating
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Oil-based Gilsonite pavement sealers are ILLEGAL for sale and application in New Jersey. Contractors buy them from Pennsylvania and Delaware, where they are legal for sale and application, and transport them back across state lines to apply in New Jersey.
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When a seal coating contractor attempts to convince you that "Oil Based" pavement sealers are not illegal, and it's a rumor that water-based sealer contractors tell people, here is the proof to back up the claim:
🏠 Step-by-Step: How Residential Asphalt Scams Work in NJ
🚪 Door-to-Door Sales Scams
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A crew knocks on your door claiming they’re “in the area.”
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They say they have leftover materials and can give you a “deal today only.”
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They do a quick, low-quality job with watered-down sealant or cold patch.
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They pressure you to pay cash before the work is done.
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They disappear — no paperwork, no warranty, no way to follow up.
📱 Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist “Deals”
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You post a request or respond to an ad for asphalt work.
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Someone responds quickly with a “too good to be true” price.
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They have no reviews, no license, no business profile.
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They do rushed work, cut corners, and vanish once paid.
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When issues arise, there’s no way to reach them — the ad is gone.
📇 Flyer in Your Mailbox or On Your Door
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A printed flyer offers a low-price special: “Driveway Sealcoating Starting at $99!”
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You call, they arrive same-day and start working before quoting or discussing scope.
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You get sloppy work — overspray on curbs, missed edges, zero prep.
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No receipts, no contract, and a disappearing act once paid.
Pro tip: These scammers often target neighborhoods with older driveways or retired homeowners. If it’s fast, cheap, and untraceable — it’s likely a scam.
🔎 How to Vet a Paving or Sealcoating Contractor in NJ
So You Don't Wind Up With A Paving Job That Looks Like This
✅ 1. Check Their Licensing & Insurance
Ask for:
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NJ contractor license number for residential contractors & bonding. As of April 1, 2025, any contractor performing driveway work is required to be bonded. (You can look up their company name: Click Here)
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Proof of general liability AND workers' comp emailed to you directly from the insurance agent - not the contractor. Many contractors use bogus insurance certificates that they can print from their computer using a PDF editor
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A copy of their business registration. Make sure they are legally registered to do business in NJ and have the authority to collect and remit sales tax: (You can look up their company name: Click Here)
✅ 2. Look for Real Job Photos in NJ
Do they have:
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Before/after photos?
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Projects near you?
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References from homeowners and commercial managers?
✅ 3. Read Google / Yelp / Facebook Reviews (Look for Patterns Of Bad Reviews That Revolve Around Deposits, Broken Scheduling Promises, Poor Workmanship, Poor Communication, Failure To Return To Correct Punch-List Items, etc.)
Check for:
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Review count (not just 5-star ratings)
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Photos with reviews
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Mentions of fast follow-up, quality crews, and honoring warranty.
- A common scam is a contractor with many 5-star reviews, but the person leaving the 5-star review has only reviewed that paving company. Contractors can buy online reviews for a few hundred dollars, and they can purchase a few dozen reviews.
✅ 4. Ask for a Written Proposal
A real company provides:
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Detailed scope of work
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Estimated timeline
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Material specs (thickness, number of coats, crack filler used)
✅ 5. Ask: Who Performs the Work?
Is it:
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Their own crew (self-performing)?
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Or random subcontractors they don’t oversee?
🌾 Residential vs. Commercial Property Owners: What to Know
🏡 For Residential Homeowners:
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Always ask about driveway pitch and drainage
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Avoid anyone who doesn't offer transparent proposals and answers to your questions
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A driveway sealcoat should be applied by brush (not sprayed)
🏢 For Property Managers & Business Owners:
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Ask about PACER scale evaluations for long-term planning
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Insist on commercial references to make sure the contractor is actually qualified to perform the work
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Require ADA compliance striping and catch basin inspection
👀 FAQ: Hiring Asphalt Contractors in Central NJ
Q: How do I know if a contractor is licensed in NJ?
A: Use the NJ Consumer Affairs License Lookup tool or ask for their license and business registration.
Q: Is it OK to pay cash to save money?
A: Never for asphalt work. You’ll have no warranty, no contract, and no way to get your money back if they disappear.
Q: What should a sealcoating quote include?
A: Square footage, number of coats, type of crack filler, cleaning process, line striping details (if any).
Q: Should commercial sealcoating be done in one coat or two?
A: Two. First coat with squeegee is best, second with spray. Anything less is just cosmetic.
📞 Get a Safe, Verified Quote With FixAsphalt.com
We’re a fully licensed, insured, and self-performing contractor serving homeowners and commercial clients across Central New Jersey.
✅ No issues, no gimmicks, no scams.
✅ Instant online estimates or in-person site visits.
✅ Transparent scopes, clear pricing, real results.
🔢 www.fixasphalt.com or call (877) 349-2774
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