Hiring a foundation repair company means you have to make sure the company you want to hire is licensed and insured. Hiring a contractor without a license or insurance can put you at risk.
You’re already putting thousands of dollars into your foundation repair, which already affects your peace of mind. You don’t need to worry about any more than that.
While there is the temptation to hire a cheaper and unlicensed contractor, that is also a larger risk you’re gambling. When it comes to gambling, the house always wins. And if anything goes wrong with an unlicensed and uninsured contractor, it will cost you more than your foundation repair cost. You can go bankrupt if something goes wrong during your project.
Dalinghaus Construction wants to make sure you aren’t taking an unnecessary risk with an unlicensed and uninsured foundation repair contractor.
Dalinghaus Construction has been in the foundation repair business since 2015, having been licensed and insured for foundation repair projects at every step. We’ve inspected over 10,000 homes in Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada, repairing and verifying our licensing credibility for over 2,000 homes. We understand why you should always hire a foundation repair company that is licensed and insured.
What is licensing? Why is it important?
Being licensed means a contractor is certified to do a certain line of work on your property. They have official authorization to do a line of work.
Any contractor working on your home will need to be licensed to work on specific things. A roofing contractor will need to be licensed to do roofing. A concrete contractor will need to be licensed in pouring concrete. Though you don’t want a concrete person to do your roofing.
The importance of a license is for credibility and certification that a company is knowledgeable at the task they are doing. It also means everyone working under that company will be trained to do the work they’re licensed to do.
What it means to not be licensed
The city where a contractor is working will do its due diligence to make sure a contractor is licensed. If a contractor needs to be licensed to do a project. If they’re not licensed, they will not “pull the permit,” or be able to do the project.
Legally, a contractor would not be allowed to do projects without a license. Though this varies from state to state.
Not every state requires you to have a state contractor’s license – though there may be local licensing requirements in some areas.
Why should a contractor be insured?
You want to make sure you’re protected if something should happen while a production team is on the job. If something goes awry, there’s recourse.
If a worker on-site on your property gets hurt and they don’t receive workman’s comp, that worker could come after you legally.
Is it weird, especially when you might not be directly at fault for the incident? Maybe a little. Regardless, a company having insurance protects YOU.
How to check to see if a company is licensed and insured for foundation repair
You can go on a state government contracting license board website. Since Dalinghaus Construction works in Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada, we will provide the website for those states, as well as our business license numbers for each state.
From each state government website, you can search for a company using its business name or license number – which is usually provided on a contractor’s website. Sometimes you might have to contact them directly for that information
There will also be an expiration date.
Dalinghaus Construction licensing information:
- California Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board
- CA Lic. #983851
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Arizona ROC #330307
- Nevada State Contractors Board
- Nevada Lic. #0089738
For foundation repair in California, you want to look for licenses with a C-61 – Limited Speciality Classification and a D-30 – Pile Driving and Pressure Foundation Jacking. This will vary depending on which state.
What can happen if a company isn’t licensed or insured
When a company is less liable for a project they do, there’s less recourse that can be taken. They might be cheaper compared to licensed and insured contractors but can cost you a lot more in the end.
A licensed and insured contractor has responsibility for the quality of work, safety, legal compliance, and just about everything else on the project site. Even if they were to hire subcontractors, they’re responsible for any liability.
If you hire an unlicensed and uninsured contractor, you become the general contractor.
If you hire a company that breaks a sewer line, you’re the one responsible. If the worker is hurt on the job and unable to work for an extended period, you’re responsible for the medical bills and lost wages.
Oh, and standard homeowners insurance or landlord liability won’t cover these issues since policies usually exempt damage caused by illegal or unlicensed contractors.
Worst case scenario, it could also cost you everything you own and you could be sued into bankruptcy. It can cost you everything you own.
Read more: What Questions You Should Ask a Foundation Repair Company?
Make sure the contractor you hire is licensed and insured for foundation repair
We’re not trying to scare you with this information. We want to emphasize to you that there is importance in finding a licensed and insured company. That way you can avoid anything affecting your long-term livelihood.
You want to make sure you’re doing your due diligence to make sure the company you want to hire is licensed, insured, and they’re still active.
When it comes to your quality of life, you don’t want to take a gamble. The house will always win in the end. Don’t put your needs at risk. It can cost you everything if you’re not careful.
You now know why a foundation repair company needs to be licensed and insured. Be sure to find quotes from multiple foundation repair companies after you check
You learned what it means for a contractor to be licensed, insured, and how it can affect your livelihood. Be sure you’re looking at multiple contractors after you check to see if each of the foundation repair companies you’re looking at is licensed and insured.
And have these contractors evaluate your foundation and offer project proposals. That way you can have multiple opinions, have a good idea of how each company operates, different costs, and see if you have a good “vibe.”
You can start with Dalinghaus Construction – after you check to see we’re licensed and insured – to schedule a FREE evaluation to see if your foundation has settled and it may affect your walls.
Read the article Should You Get Multiple Foundation Repair Bids? (How You Benefit) to see how receiving multiple bids works in your favor.
For any questions, call Dalinghaus Construction at (877)360-9277, or click the button below to schedule your free foundation evaluation today!
One Response
Thank you for reminding us to check for license and insurance when selecting a commercial foundation repair company. This is because, as you said, they would be in charge of the site’s workmanship standards, safety, and legal compliance. Making sure that they are qualified appears essential because it will guarantee that everything will be done correctly and safely. I’ll surely let my relatives and friends know about this so they can remember it. I appreciate you sharing!