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How do I know if my deck contractor is licensed and insured and is it important?

Many of us know if our doctor is board certified or if our eye doctor is licensed by the professional association of their given field. Would you visit a dentist that is not certified by the American Dental Association? Would you apply the same logic to choosing a deck contractor?

Is there a bar or association that relates to porch or deck contractors working at your home? Is there an association that stands behind their expertise in their given trade? Like trusting our bodies to a doctor, we are trusting our home to a contractor and paying them a hefty sum to boot. Here is what you need to know about the bar and even though not many things come with a guarantee these days we will let you know the industry standards on work completion guarantees.

licensed and insured deck contractor
Archadeck is a licensed and insured contractor

Although contractor licensing varies from state to state, in most states contractors need to be licensed. Some states are quite stringent in policing contractors that are un-licensed and those contractors can pay hefty fines when caught. Unfortunately, some states are more lax in their standards and the homeowner is the one left holding the bag when something goes wrong. Being licensed in itself costs the building contractor a big chunk of change annually, making it hard to compete with the “fly by night” contractor who doesn’t want to play by the rules. If you get a quote from a deck contractor that seems too low, or just too good to be true ask about his licensing and make sure it is current. Many times contractors who aren’t licensed will come in lower than those contractors that are properly licensed. To make sure your contractor is licensed contact your state licensing board.  All states that license contractors and tradesmen keep lists of license holders. Here at Archadeck of the Piedmont Triad, all projects are properly permitted, inspected and built to-or above-current code requirements.

Lifting a hot tub onto a deck
Having an insured contractor is very important for your deck project

Right along with being licensed, it is important that your contractor is also insured. A contractor that is licensed and insured pays required workman’s compensation insurance in the state he/she is licensed through. This translates to protection for you, the homeowner, because if a contractor or employee of the contractor gets hurt or injured while working at your home the workman’s compensation insurance kicks in and takes care of the medical expenses incurred as a result of the injury. However, if the contractor is neither licensed nor insured, the injured individuals could seek relief from the homeowner for medical expenses. This is a slippery slope, but when you are considering hiring a contractor ask to see his insurance information. Liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury that could be caused by that contractor’s work. Homeowners should also make certain the contractor’s insurance policy includes workers’ compensation, which covers injuries the contractor’s employees may suffer while on the job. Any contractor who is not willing to give you this information obviously has something to hide. Any professional, respected contractor is more than happy to provide this information to a prospective client. Each project Archadeck of the Piedmont Triad contracts to do is covered by liability insurance of at least $1 million.

Any reputable builder takes pride in his/her work and always offers some sort of guarantee or warranty on their work. Most custom builders provide a one year home warranty covering any structural issues within that year, some builders will return to their customers years down the road if a problem arises even if the warranty has expired. Archadeck of the Piedmont Triad takes a step above that with a comprehensive Archadeck warranty that covers your structure for five years, workmanship for one, as well as the added protection of a separate, third-party National Guarantee Corporation guarantee ensures completion of the project and backs the aforementioned Archadeck guarantee.

Deck off of brick house
Choose Archadeck for your next deck project – we guarantee our work

Take peace of mind in knowing that there is an outdoor structure expert here in the Piedmont Triad that is backed and secured by a national company that has been in business for decades. It is unlikely that there is another contractor with that stability or reputation in the area that issues a guarantee of completion like ours.

Archadeck teamIf you are considering adding a custom deck to your home, Archadeck of the Piedmont Triad would like to be your building partner. Give us a call for a free consultation at (336) 568-8230, drop us an email or fill out a contact form on this website. We look forward to your call.

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