I’ve spent 11 years sitting on both sides of the fence. I started out as a site supervisor for a surfacing subcontractor—the guy actually operating the roller and checking the temperature of the asphalt mix—and for the last several years, I’ve been leading facilities and estates procurement. I’ve seen the industry from the mud up, and if there is one phrase that makes my blood pressure spike, it’s this: "Don’t worry, we always do it this way."
When a contractor tells you they "always do it this way," they aren’t offering you experience. They are offering you an excuse for cutting corners, avoiding modern compliance, and shielding themselves from the burden of proof. In my experience, "we always do it this way" is usually code for "we don't want to follow the current specs because it requires more prep work than we budgeted for."
As a procurement lead, my job isn't to be liked by the contractors; it's to ensure the site is safe, the investment is protected, and that when an inspector walks onto that car park or pedestrian route, we don't end up in a courtroom. Here is how you handle the "we always do it this way" contractor.
The "What Fails First?" Test
Before I ever sign off on a material—whether it’s tarmacadam, high-performance asphalt, or a decorative resin bound system—I ask one question: What fails first?
If you don't know the failure mode, you aren't specifying correctly. Most contractors want to lay the surface and run. But the failure of a car park rarely happens on the surface; it happens in the https://smoothdecorator.com/the-true-cost-of-skipping-prep-work-why-your-car-park-is-doomed-to-early-failure/ prep work. If they are shaving costs on sub-base compaction or edge restraints, they are setting you up for a freeze-thaw nightmare. Especially in the UK, where the Met Office data consistently shows our weather patterns are becoming increasingly volatile, moisture ingress into an poorly prepared sub-base will destroy your expensive surfacing within three to five years.
The Comparison of Surfacing Options
When you are weighing up materials, don't just look at the price per square metre. Look at the maintenance liability and the specific application.
Material Primary Benefit Primary Failure Mode Maintenance Sensitivity Tarmacadam Cost-effective, rapid install Edge crumbling & oxidation High (Sealing req.) Asphalt High durability, load-bearing Delamination & water ingress Medium Resin Bound Aesthetics, SUDS compliance UV degradation & "ravelling" High (Must be exact) Concrete Longevity, heavy-duty Cracking & joint failure Low (but costly repair)Demand Specificity: The Death of "BS Standard"
My biggest pet peeve? A tender submission that lists "works to be carried out to BS standard." Which one? There are thousands. If a contractor can't name the specific BS EN standard, they haven't read the spec. You need to be explicit in your tender documentation, or you will get the cheapest, fastest job possible.
When I write a pack, I demand that the contractor references these specific standards in their method statement:
- BS EN 1436: Essential for road markings. If your car park markings disappear after six months because they used the wrong glass bead application, that’s on you for not specifying the performance class. BS 7976: This is the gold standard for slip resistance testing. If you are building a pedestrian walkway, you need a PTV (Pendulum Test Value) rating. Never accept "it's a standard finish." TSRGD (Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions): If you’re installing signage or road layout features, don't leave it to the contractor's "interpretation." Use the TSRGD to mandate exactly what is required. Part M (Building Regulations): For access routes, this isn't optional. It dictates gradients, tactile paving requirements, and ramp widths.
If a contractor scoffs at these, they aren't the right partner for your estate. Use platforms like Kompass to find suppliers who understand the importance of industrial procurement and high-level compliance. Don’t settle for the local "man with a roller" who thinks he knows better than the building regulations.
The Pre-Tender Documentation Trap
Another thing that grinds my gears: contractors who wait until the handover meeting to produce the compliance documentation. By then, the trenches are filled, the surface is down, and you have no way of knowing if they used the correct compaction rates or depth of sub-base.
If you don't ask for the documentation at the tender stage, you are essentially flying blind. You need to require:
Material technical data sheets (confirming they meet the spec). A detailed quality assurance plan (including photo evidence of sub-base prep). Specific testing certificates for the asphalt mix to be used.I often point my project managers toward Ready Set Supplied when they need to ensure the materials being specified are readily available and meet the necessary technical requirements. Relying on "we'll pick up whatever the merchant has" is a fast track to project failure.
Why "Approximate" is a Dirty Word
I once had a contractor try to submit a drawing with "approximate dimensions" for a ramp. I rejected it on the spot. If the dimension is approximate, your compliance with Part M is approximate. If your compliance is approximate, the legal liability for a slip-and-fall accident on that ramp sits firmly on your shoulders, not the contractor's.
When I see "approximate" on a drawing, I know exactly what’s happening: they want the wiggle room to move the drain or shrink the ramp width to save on materials. Do not give them that room. Insist on precise measurements. If they can't measure the site accurately, they shouldn't be bidding on the project.
My Personal Inspector’s Checklist
Because I’ve been on the site side, I keep a personal checklist of what the health and safety inspectors and local authority building control officers *actually* look at when they walk a site. If you want to stop the "we always do it this way" talk, present this list to your contractor before they start:
- Edge Restraint Integrity: Are the kerbs bedded on concrete or just laid on the base? If they move, the tarmacadam will fail. Surface Gradient: Check it with a digital level. If it exceeds 1:12 on a ramp without the correct landings, it fails Part M. Compaction Logs: Do not take their word for it. Ask to see the roller settings and the number of passes. Jointing: Look at the seams between old and new asphalt. If they haven't used a hot bitumen sealant, those joints will be the first cracks to appear after the next winter.
The Bottom Line: Take Control
The next time a contractor tells you, "we always do it this way," pause and look them in the eye. Ask them, "Show me the BS EN standard that https://dlf-ne.org/the-true-cost-of-skipping-prep-work-why-your-car-park-is-doomed-to-early-failure/ supports doing it that way."
When they can't, you have the leverage to demand a higher standard of work. Procurement isn't just about finding the lowest price; it’s about risk mitigation. A cheap, non-compliant surface today is a thousand-pound repair bill tomorrow. Protect your budget, protect your facility, and for heaven's sake, stop accepting "approximate" work.
If they refuse to meet your standards, walk away. There is always someone else who will follow the spec—you just have to look for them, document the requirements clearly, and refuse to compromise on the engineering fundamentals.