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While most home owners' are trying
to save a buck or two, what they don't know is that the work done by these unlicensed people, generally is shoddy and not to the local codes. Not all unlicensed workers, (I've seen some that did really great work and to code!) are criminals, etc. But to cover all bases hire only licensed contractors. Lot of times it is cheaper! -
Like there aren't criminals that are licensed contractors. Sorry guys, licensed or not doesn't have a thing to do with whether or not the person you hire to do work on, or around your home is a criminal...Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.Comment
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Seems like every time I watch Holms on Homes, the work being done is by licensed contractors who screw it up anyway. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have a licensed contractor do the work, but you never really know.Comment
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In addition, some states don't license contractors. Pennsylvania recently started licensing most contractors, amid many complaints that it was unfair and meaningless.
I just had some foundation piering done by a well recommended contractor, and they botched the job and won't fix it. I think I will end up being very happy we now have a contractor licensing law. Many of the requirements seem nitpicky and irrelevant, but the bottom line is because the contractor didn't comply with the law, he can't collect payment for the botched work.--------------------------------------------------
Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by nightComment
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Well, yeah, but just the fact that he's unlicensed makes him a criminal doesn't it?
I seriously feel for some people who are just trying to make a buck, but unfortunately there are a lot of thieves and dirtbags out there. It's a case of the good being thrown out with the bad, but as a homeowner you have to protect yourself. Even assuming that the guy is the best in the business there's nothing worse than watching someone lose their home because an unlicensed contractor fell off the roof.You don't need a parachute to skydive, you only need a parachute to skydive twice.Comment
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While reading the article, part of me felt that this is a propaganda because everybody is hurting for jobs or contracts. Don't get me wrong, I am all for catching people who mean to do harm to people but just because somebody had a prior record does not mean he should not have a chance to work to live and provide for his family. I'd rather have them do handyman work instead of robbing a bank or a store so he can feed his family.
I am all for hiring licensed contractors but a recent bad experience by a friend made me weary even with the licensed ones. I only hire based on experience and recommendation from previous customers and seeing the contractors past jobs.Chris
"The first key to wisdom is constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth." -Pierre Abelard 11th Century philosopher.Comment
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The right to work. I'm all for someone to earn a living. Is there a difference between an unlicensed contractor and myself...for example, showing up for a bid or an estimate? It's unlikely that I will be a low bidder. I use myself as an example because I've experienced this over and over.
The unlicensed bidder (for the most part) does not lay out the money for licenses, insurance, certificates of competency, or possibly does not maintain a place of business. A major portion of my dollar goes to keeping me legitimate. The homeowner (I shall call him/her the "host"), for the most part is more interested in the price. Part of this can be blamed on the host for providing the incentive for unlicensed workers to flourish. Maybe there should be fines for hosts that do hire these guys.
All I can do along with my bid is qualify myself as to quality of work, honorable dedication to the job, show pictures, and provide references.. Does the quality of the work matter. Well, on a different level, lets say host had a toothache, and someone called himself a "discount dentist", and said he had a laundry room set up in his house with a dental chair, and would be happy to do a root canal. How many people in their right mind would jump on that deal.
Is the seriousness of the procedure the same. Well, maybe not, but considering that improper electrical work can cause fires, or even more simply, will a patio deck cave in, or a cabinet fall of the wall?
Does the host have any recourse? If the contractor can be found it's unlikely. On the other end, an unlicensed contractor usually has little legal recourse in collecting his money in cases of dispute. I'm not saying that the host can't have the same problems with a licensed contractor.
As for the ability to pull permits, or just pulling permits (some can be pulled by the host), is it a source of money? Of course it is. But, the money permits certain things to happen. The project gets qualified by a licensed worker for the project. It opens the permitted project to inspectors to see if the work follows code. It follows the project to some type of end, and is either approved or not. It provides a data base for the location for what work was done with a permit. It stays as an active source of data for the address for any future reference.
I've experienced residential situations where the homeowner had no idea of what work was done because it was done on the "sly" at some previous date. Permitted work remains a part of public record. For that reason alone whatever the costs are for that kind of protection makes sense to me.
As for the criminal aspect, I think it's a moot issue. Just because a person is licensed does not insure he doesn't have a criminal record, or got caught or convicted for that matter.
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Around here - and I imagine in most of the country - licensed contractors hire mexicans to do most of the actual work.Rand
"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like your thumb."Comment
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Let's just say they hire untrained or poorly trained people to do the work which they 'oversee'.
The level of overseeing is a huge variable, from glancing at the job when it's done to being present and watching everything the worker is doing.
I've had more than one licensed guy show up with workers in the morning, tell them what to do (sometimes in sign language, that's really frightening!), then go away for a few hours. Not very reassuring.
I watch these guys like a hawk, which I shouldn't have to do if I'm paying for a licensed contractor.
In fact, last month the gas company hired contractors to dig up our streets to replace 100 year old gas mains. I have a 18" thick blue stone foundation, which they had to put a hole in to run new gas pipes in a different direction.
First, the guy drilled a hole in the foundation above the driveway line! His boss came down, looked at it, and told him it had to be 18" lower.
Now he drills a second hole, but the stone on the outside of the foundation in that 18" space drops out. I was watching him inside by now, so I didn't know this at the time.
After the job is done and they've gone away, I discover a 55 lb rock in the driveway!
I called them, they said 'oh, don't worry, we replaced that void with cement.
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I said 'Fine, as soon as I hire an independent structural engineer on your dime that says in writing that cement is a good replacement for a 55 lb solid rock, I'll be happy.
They called their own engineer who told them to dig up the driveway and replace the rock.Meanwhile they look at you as if you're being unreasonable!You don't need a parachute to skydive, you only need a parachute to skydive twice.Comment
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For work like this, we get licensed contractors and use folks we know. When we replaced the windows in our old home, the work was done by a sub for the window distributor (Marvin, I think). The crew was all Hispanic with a 20 year old kid in charge. They did a great job. The window distributor's reputation depended on it.Comment
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What is a license? Around here it is just a tax or fee charged by the county. Even the gypseys that spray down driveways can get a license! The code enforcement and building inspectors do not check for quality of work, and are just another tax or fee that jack up the cost to the homeowner.
capncarlComment
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