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Very often, the question comes up. Your water heater or furnace breaks down, your toilet is clogged and you just need to call someone to fix it. It's not a big deal but you need to make a service call. And you want to save some money. Should you hire an unlicensed contractor? A friend of a friend knows somebody cheap. Well, here are the two scenarios at hand to consider: 1) Hiring an unlicensed contractor: Anyone has the right under the law to advertise for work and or be employed by any company, or individual. As a homeowner, you have the right under the law to hire and employ any person deemed qualified -that person does not have to be a licensed contractor. You also can and have the right under the law to buy workers' compensation insurance from the State of California if you have the legitimate concern that the individual you are planning to hire may get hurt while working on your home. Now, the work is done You are satisfied. All is well. Or, The work is done but a while later (let's say a few hours, days, months), you still have the same issue or have more problems -your heater still does not work well, your toilet overflows... You called the guy you hired but he is not answering your calls, or he is telling you that your heater needs to be replaced, your sewer line needs to be replaced... What recourse do you have? NONE 2) Hiring a licensed contractor: A licensed contractor working in the State of California is regulated and licensed by the California State Licensed Board (http://www.cslb.ca.gov/). He or she is to carry liability insurance, which is to protect you in case of any damage caused by the licensed and insured contractor you've hired. And don't count on your homeowner’s policy to cover you unless you have additional coverage for in-home employees. The California State License Board also requires any licensed Contractor to be bonded, which is a guarantee that the licensed contractor you've hired will perform the work you've hired him or her to do to code. Workers' compensation insurance: If the licensed contractor you've hired has no employee, then workers' compensation insurance is not needed or required. On the other hand, if the contractor has employees working at your property and one of them gets injured while working and the contractor did not carry workers' compensation insurance, then what? Your homeowner’s insurance policy might help cover the cost to pay that worker’s claim, after you meet your deductible, but that claim could result in an increase in your rates and make it more difficult for you to get insured in the future. An unlicensed contractor is neither bonded or insured which is placing you, the homeowner, at risk in case of trouble. It's your project, your call. I hope this blog will help when you have trying to make a hiring decision for your next project or the emergency that just popped up today. Maryline Linares, Co-owner - On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com) A local and experienced licensed plumbing and heating contractor in San Francisco. We provide free estimate 7 days a week. When you hire an experienced licensed contractor, chances are the work is done right, according to State and local building codes. The work will also be insured since a licensed contractor is bonded and insured. In addition, if any of the work is not performed in a professional manner, you always have the recourse to contact the California State License Board (www.cslb.ca.gov) and file a complaint as a last resort. You may also go online to the California State License Board and verify the status of the license of the Contractor you've hired or you are about to hire. The longer a contractor has been in business, the longer the experience. Always take the time to verify that the contractor you've hired is licensed and has a license in good standing. This is a laundry room remodel project performed by On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com), an experienced licensed plumbing per the homeowner's specifications and San Francisco local plumbing codes. When you don't hire a licensed contractor because you want to get the work done and believe that anyone's a plumber and can get the work done, this is what may happen (see photograph here below.) This photograph was taken on a project On Shore Construction and Mechanical was hired to do. We were contracted to install a green, energy efficient boiler and radiant heating system. We came across these corroded copper pipes improperly soldered a few ago in the garage ceiling resulting in leaks and having to be replaced. Unfortunately, adding to the homeowner's original cost by having to pay twice for the same work. Please don't let this happen to your project! by Maryline Linares, On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com or 415-259-1133) ...read more
By On Shore Construction and Mechanical February 10, 2015
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