When you’re planning out your dream masonry installation, you may not be concentrating on who’s going to do the work. Instead, your primary focus might be on the materials, the layout and how you’re going to use your new patio, steps, walkway or whatever else you’re designing.
However, if you don’t focus enough on properly vetting prospective masonry contractors, you could be creating major problems for yourself before the project even gets started.
Unlicensed and uncertified masonry contractors may promise you the world — at a price that seems to good to be true — but there are many reasons why you should never hire one.
Here’s why.
Risks of Hiring an Uncertified Contractor
Hiring an unlicensed contractor can lead to major problems such as financial losses, property damage and/or serious injury. Contractors who are unlicensed often don’t have the necessary training, skills or experience to complete projects in an effective and safe manner.
If an unlicensed contractor causes damages or accidents, property owners may be held liable. That’s because many unlicensed contractors don’t hold the necessary insurance coverage for the jobs they do, which could leave you vulnerable to financial losses if something were to go wrong.
Not only that, but unlicensed contractors may not be able to provide guarantees or warranties on their work, which might leave you with insufficient funds to make repairs.
All of this tends to occur because these contractors are often unqualified, and they’re not familiar with local ordinances, regulations and building codes.
That’s why it’s so important to properly vet masonry contractors before you hire them to ensure they have the necessary experience and qualifications to do the job. You should check for all applicable licenses, insurance coverage and certifications first, as these can help mitigate legal risks and ensure that they’re compliant with all applicable regulations.
Legal Risks and Consequences
As a property owner, you have certain responsibilities when it comes to hiring contractors. Many local regulations say that homeowners take on certain legal risks if they hire unlicensed contractors to do jobs.
Managing risk is essential for all property owners if they want to avoid financial losses and legal disputes. That’s why it’s so important for you to understand what your legal risks are and how you can stay compliant with local regulations to mitigate your risks.
If you or a contractor you hire isn’t compliant with local regulations, it can result in serious consequences including penalties and fines. You could be held liable for damages or accidents that are caused due to your contractor not being compliant.
In the most serious of situations, non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions including property seizures and lawsuits.
Having a plan that helps you identify and mitigate potential legal risks is the best idea when hiring a contractor. Part of this should include ensuring that all contracts are clear, concise and fully compliant with local regulations.
Regulation inspections and monitoring of projects should be done so that potential issues can be identified before they become major problems.
Contract Risk and Enforcement Actions
The consequences for hiring an unlicensed contractor can vary greatly from one state to the next.
In Michigan, all residential maintenance and building contractors must be licensed if they are working on a project valued at $600 or more, including labor and materials.
Homeowners can face fines if they hire an unlicensed contractor if they knew that the contractor didn’t have the proper licenses before the work began. If the contractor’s work is shoddy or they don’t complete it, you won’t have many means of legally having them liable to fix or pay for any additional work that’s necessary.
Even if you have a contract with an unlicensed contractor, you may not be able to hold them legally liable in court if they don’t have proper licenses.
In addition, your homeowners insurance premiums could go up if you hired an unlicensed contractor who caused damage to your property that required an insurance claim.
Code Violations and Compliance
States and local governing authorities set various standards and regulations for building. These are often referred to as building codes, and violations occur any time that a property doesn’t comply with whatever the laws are.
Common examples of code violations are not being in compliance with local environmental, zoning or building codes.
When you apply for a permit to complete certain work, the local building authority may need to conduct an in-person inspection at your property. Other times, building inspectors may spot working going on at your property and check whether a permit application is on file.
It’s even possible that a neighbor or other member of the community may report certain work to local building authorities if they feel there is no permit for the work, or if they think the work isn’t in compliance with local codes.
In these cases, the local authority will issue a code violation notice, which informs the property owner of the violation. If you receive this, you should review it carefully and take all proper steps immediately so that you can correct the violation.
If you don’t comply with the notice, you could face further enforcement actions, including fines, penalties and even property seizure.
Importance of Certification and Licensing
While you may pay more for work from a licensed contractor, there’s no doubt that the investment is worth it.
Licensed contractors possess the knowledge and experience to do the job right every time. They have invested money and time to obtain the applicable licenses and permits that are needed, which not only protects them but protects you as well.
Contractors who have the proper licenses also likely have liability insurance that will protect you and your home, as well as their workers who are on site, in case anything goes wrong. This means you won’t have any liability at all for the work that they do.
Not only that, but licensed contractors are more likely to understand the proper steps to take to ensure safety at the job site, which minimizes the likelihood of damage or injury occurring in the first place.
Should something go wrong, you also will have more legal recourse to seek compensation or to have the project fixed if you hire a licensed contractor. That’s because a contractor’s reputation — and their ability to keep their license — is on the line if they don’t properly address issues you have.
Never Hire an Unlicensed Contractor
No matter what masonry project you want to take on, it’s never a good idea to hire an unlicensed contractor. They may promise you the world and offer you an amazing price, but it really is too good to be true.
At All Brick, we are a fully licensed and insured company that has been mastering the art of masonry for more than 10 years. We can take on any project, ensuring that it is done right, safely and up to all local codes and regulations.To learn more, or to receive a free quote on your next project, please contact us today.
