What is a driveway paving contract?
Most driveway failures start underneath: a thin sub-base, soft ground nobody dug out, or water with nowhere to go. A driveway paving contract makes that hidden work visible on paper, so the owner can see what they are paying for and the contractor has agreed a process for surprises found once the old surface is up.
This template covers new driveways, full replacements, overlays and extensions in asphalt, concrete, block pavers or other surfaces. It records the area and dimensions, the surface material and thickness, the base preparation (pre-filled with a typical build-up), drainage and edging. It sets a show-and-approve process for soft ground with an optional rate per square metre, utility locating, permits for things like a widened kerb, what the owner moves out of the way, and weather limits on laying. It also covers the no-driving period after completion, normal marks on fresh surfaces, the price and deposit, waste disposal, and a workmanship warranty against sinking, rutting, loose blocks and standing water.
- Best for
- Paving contractors, groundworks firms and landscapers
- Signed by
- The paving contractor and the property owner
- Surfaces
- Asphalt, concrete, block paving, resin or gravel
- Length
- About 2 pages, initialled on every page
When to use a driveway paving contract
- Tearing out a cracked concrete drive and laying asphalt
- A new block-paved driveway with a channel drain at the garage
- Resurfacing a worn asphalt driveway with a new top layer
- Extending a driveway to fit a second car
- Laying a driveway on a new build plot
What you fill in
20 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: paving contractor, property owner.
1 The parties
- Contractor (your business)*
- Your phone or email*
- Owner*
- Owner phone or email*
2 The driveway
- Property address*
- Type of work* removing the existing driveway and laying a new one · laying a new driveway where there is none · resurfacing the existing driveway with a new top layer · extending the existing driveway
- Area and dimensions*
- Surface material and thickness*
- Base preparation*
- Drainage
- Edging and extras (optional)
3 Price and schedule
- Currency*
- Contract price*
- Deposit (optional)
- Price for digging out soft ground (optional)
- Estimated start date*
- No driving on it for (days after completion)*
- Permits (e.g. a new or widened dropped kerb)* not required for this work · obtained by the Contractor, included in the price · obtained by the Owner
- Workmanship warranty (months)*
- Governing law*
4 Who signs
- Paving contractor signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The paving business doing the work.
- Property owner signature and date, initials on every page · The owner of the property, or someone authorised by the owner.
What the driveway paving contract covers
- The work
- Ground conditions
- Permits, access, schedule and curing
- Price and payment
- Finish and clean-up
- Warranty
- Cancellation and general
Using the driveway paving contract, step by step
1 Describe the job
Choose the type of work, then enter the area and dimensions and the surface material and thickness.
2 Set out what's underneath
Edit the pre-filled base preparation, describe the drainage and falls, and add edging or extras such as raising covers.
3 Price the unknowns
Enter the contract price, an optional deposit, and a rate for digging out soft ground if you use one. Choose who handles any permit.
4 Schedule and send
Set the start date, the no-driving period after completion and the warranty in months, then send to the owner.
Tips before you send it
- Show the owner soft spots before you dig them out. The template requires it, and photos make the extra charge easy to accept.
- Some places limit new hard surfaces that drain onto the road or into sewers. Check the rules, especially for front gardens.
- Give the owner the curing period in writing on the day you finish, as well as in the contract. Most early damage happens in the first week.
- Be wary of doorstep 'leftover asphalt' offers. A clear written contract with an address and contact details sets genuine contractors apart.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Driveway paving contract: frequently asked questions
What if the ground under the old driveway is soft?
The contractor shows the owner and explains the options before going further. If you set a rate, extra excavation and sub-base are charged at it once the owner approves the area. Otherwise the extra work is priced and approved first.
How long before we can drive on it?
For the number of days you set, and longer in hot weather or if the contractor advises. Asphalt is often a few days and concrete often a week or more, but it depends on the material and the weather.
Are tyre marks a defect?
No. Marks from turning wheels on the spot, stands and jacks are normal on new surfaces in the first weeks. The warranty covers sinking, rutting, loose blocks, standing water from wrong falls and cracking from poor base work.
Can the owner sign electronically?
Yes. E-signatures are generally valid for home improvement contracts in the US, UK, EU and Canada, though some places add notice rules for contracts signed at home. FileIt keeps an audit trail with the signed PDF.
Is the template free?
Yes. It's free with FileIt eSignature, and the owner doesn't need an account to sign.