My Blog
Anti-Fracture Membranes
Here is a inexpensive way to ensure your investments longevity. This product will waterproof, suppresses moisture and minerals that are in today’s concrete slabs and not allow stone floors to have salt rings, moisture spots or deterioration of the top of the stone. It also allows cracks that form in your concrete slab not to transfer into the stone. It acts as a plastic elastic barrier that allows the concrete slab to crack and move on the under side of the Red Guard while the top side remains intact. Thus not allowing the tile or stone to crack. The Red Guard membrane sticks directly to the concrete slab extremely well and allows adhesives to stick to it. This is a good sound investment to protect your project and waterproof it.
The Dangers of Hiring Unlicensed Workers
This photo is my inspiration for this post. An unlicensed worker felt like this was a proper installation for a shower stall! I won’t bore you with details! Instead of getting 25 or 30 more years of enjoyment out of their shower stall, this job would last maybe a year!
The California State Licensing Board was put in place to protect homeowners. Yet, it is surprising how many times homeowners go around their own protection. It is California state law that contractors be licensed, bonded, & insured. And, if they have employees, they are to carry Worker’s Compensation insurance as well. The Contractors License Board is set in place to mediate and to educate. Mediate to resolve an issue if it’s the contractor's fault and educate to prevent failures and future problems.
In most cases, unlicensed workers charge the same or close to the same as licensed contractors ( it’s true). Yet, it leaves you unprotected and you have, technically, no recourse whatsoever. If an unlicensed worker gets hurt on your job, you are liable for their health bill and anything that they decide to sue you for (work lost etc...depending on the severity of the injury).
So, essentially, what the state and the courts have set in order, you, by hiring an unlicensed worker, relinquish all of your rights that the state has set up to protect you. In most cases, unlicensed workers will not call you back and will not pursue making you happy due to the fact that there is no repercussion for doing wrong. So, the unlicensed worker would have to have a good conscience even though they followed no rules to get to where they are. In my experience, (30 years of fixing unlicensed workers jobs), in most cases, you will find that they will not call you back after they have collected the money.
What about this! An unlicensed worker ruins the piping in the walls or a gas line! The homeowner becomes liable for all those repairs and pick up. A licensed contractor is supposed to have general liability insurance to cover such issues.
So you may save a little money, (maybe in some cases) or the home owner pays the same, yet you are 100% liable for anything that goes wrong with no recourse. This may be the reason why prices for an unlicensed worker could be lower than a licensed contractor's. It is costly to pay for all of the insurances, state licensing, and all the city licenses needed to work in our state and cities……to protect you, the homeowner. And, rightfully so! You have worked hard to make your house a home!!! My advise to you is make sure you are hiring someone who is actually a licensed contractor with all of their insurances. It may cost a little more in some cases but it is for your own protection and safety.
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