does my cabinet installer need to be insured and licensed?

Question

we found a local guy who who has a business to install our kitchen cabinets, I know with most repairs or work you need workman's comp or liability insurance and some type of license but I am not sure what is required- anybody know? I am in Central Florida- THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!

Answer 1

Before you sign contract, ask for references (both recent and from two or three years ago); his license number (you should be able to verify that through your state's department of licensing and consumer services) and proof of his insurance for liability for any damages that he causes. Workers comp is his liability, as he owns a business. You may want to check with your homeowner's insurance to see if you need "construction rider" for the duration of the remodel job.



The cabinet installer may not need a license at all, or at the minimum a contractor's license. As a contractor, then, he is obligated to hire the subs (electrician, plumber) and to check the licenses of the plumber, electrician.

Answer 2

My husband is a licensed contractor in Tennessee. Which means the State certifies that he is a qualified contractor, which includes paying yearly fees and passing certain tests to have this license. Many States have varying requirements to obtained a Contractors License.



We also carry General Liability Insurance, which means that any unplanned accident that happens in your home while under construction, will be covered by the contractor you have hired, and not end up becoming the responsibility of the homeowner or any Insurance they personally have.



Worker's Compensation Insurance is where they stick it to us contractors.(The more dangerous the work, the higher the cost.) This Insurance is important if an Employee is hurt. This is something that homeowners never want to be involved in handling, especially if someone is hurt badly on your premises.



In my opinion, when people hire someone who is not licensed they are not only taking personal financial risks if things don't go as planned, But they are also helping these fly by night contractors get away with beating the system. The same system that Licensed Contractors abide by and pay out high costs for, just to be a legal Contractor.



I suggest hiring someone who can show you their Contractors License and can have Certificates of Insurance sent to you by their Insurance Companies. It will give you a greater peace of mind about the whole project.

Hope you love it when it's complete....Good Luck!

Answer 3

I don't think a contractors license is required, but he may need a business license from the city or county. I have a handyman that is not a licensed contractor. I wouldn't think you would need one for cabinets installation, but it's always a good idea to hire someone with a license for your protection. Somebody like my handyman can install cabinets and it'll cost a lot less than a licensed contractor. Just ask the guy if he has a license, then call to see it's status. I'd worry if he was doing plumbing, electrical, or structural changes. My handyman replaced our fence for less than half the price of the general contractor I asked for a price and the handyman did more for me and did a great job! Plus, he was a cool guy. He was this big burly, harley motorcycle looking type dude and he was afraid my Bengal cat was going to attack him. He's just a little 12 pound housecat! But he does look a bit wild, as the breed should, with spots and all.

Answer 4

simple, if your cabinets fall off of the walls in 3 months, will you be able to pin Joe Blow down and show that he did the job in court.? go with a licensed contractor, if you fint a small company 1 employees or so, sometimes they will give them to you at a time and material type of deal. We do that for people all the time, in CA, we charge 55 hour for a carpenter.

Answer 5

Hold back a portion of the payment till you have them inspected,but tell them you wish to do this to avoid a scuffle.

If they are making them out of MDF make sure they oil prime them or the MDF is not with a warrenty,and that means all sides of the product weather they can be seen or not.

Just my 2 cents

Answer 6

Yes, all of that is needed on his part. Check with Home Depot's contractor department for advise.



Call Better Business Bureau for information on him.