When home painting in Danville contractors are licensed and bonded, what does it mean to a customer?

To uninitiated clients seeking professional painting services for the first time, a licensed and bonded home painting contractor will be advantageous to them in several ways.

Both licenses and bonds protect businesses from financial losses and help them win new clients and retain long-time customers. For the customers, hiring a licensed and bonded contractor to perform a particular work for them means better quality service and protection from unforeseen circumstances, among other things.

Licensing

Each state has its own licensing laws, classifications, and application requirements. There are some states where contractors aren’t required to obtain a license at all. But here in California, a license is a strict requirement for every service-based company to run a business (depending on the type or nature of business). If a business doesn’t have a valid license, it won’t be able to operate and provide services for a fee.

Why is a license important for businesses and general contractors (including painting contractors)?

Having a valid license indicates that an individual or entity has the proper and necessary training. It also means that individual or entity has met all the requirements needed to complete the job it is attempting to get hired to perform. Also, a licensed contractor is more reputable, professional, trustworthy and credible to the customer’s view.

When a contractor is licensed, he or she shall be also held accountable in case the project is not completed according to the contract, or when complaints are filed against him by his client. Thus, the likelihood of an unfinished or improperly done work is greatly minimized for fear of revocation of his or her license.

Contractor’s licenses in California are regulated by Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to ensure that individuals receiving certification have satisfied certain requirements.

For individuals who want to apply for a contractor’s license in California, here are the following basic qualifications:

• You must be at least 18 years old.

• You must have at least four years of related education or experience.

• There are no fees for obtaining a license, but you must hold a $15,000 bond before getting a license.

• If you cannot meet all the above requirements for a contractor’s license, you may qualify for a license under a license holder who acts as your qualifying party.

CSLB classifies contractors into three divisions or classes:

• Class A – Contractors whose principal contracting business requires specialized engineering or technical knowledge and skill.

• Class B – General building contractors whose principal contracting business is wholly or partially involved with building structures.

• Class C – Specialty contractors who work in a specific trade or work primary contractors or subcontractors for a specific line of work such as carpentry, plumbing, landscaping, and painting, among others. This is the class to look for if you plan to become a residential or commercial painting contractor.

Bond

A bond is also a very important thing to look for in a painting contractor because it offers protection to his or her customer.

In case the painting contractor fails to complete a job, does sloppy work, fails to pay for permits, or fails to meet other financial obligations, the customer can file a claim against the contractor. The bond, which the contractor has purchased, will cover the claim.

For a contractor to become bonded, he or she typically buys a premium from a surety company. If you are looking for a contractor, make sure to ask him or her for a bond certification and number, which can help you confirm whether or not that contractor is bonded. You can also contact the surety company if you find something dubious in the contractor’s quality of work or performance.

Being bonded provides a layer of trust between home painting in Danville contractors and their customers. The contractors’ bond gives assurance to the customer to the quality of their work, and at the same time providing them a way to remain financially intact if something goes wrong in the project.