Washington Roofing Contractor Package

Being bonded means that a bonding company has secured money that is available to the consumer in the event they file a claim against the company. The secured money is in the control of the state, a bond, and not under the control of the company.

Every state handles contractor licensing differently, and in Washington, general contractors don't need to apply for a license. Instead, general contractors are required to register. If, however, you'll be working on the specialty skills listed below, you'll need to pass an exam.

Estimates, generally, must be professionally reasonable. A 10-20% overage might be considered reasonable, especially if the contractor discovered issues along the way that he couldn't have been aware of initially (for example, mold or flooding).

You shouldn't pay more than 10 percent of the estimated contract price upfront, according to the Contractors State License Board.

A: It's not uncommon for contractors to ask for a down payment up front to secure your spot on their schedule or purchase some of the job materials in advance. Asking for more than half of the project cost up front, though, is a big red flag.I recommend tying payments to progress made during the job.

Construction Contractors Must Be Registered. Washington State requires all construction contractors to register with L&I.Once registered, contractors can bid, advertise, and perform construction work. This can include constructing, remodeling, repairing and demolishing buildings, roads and other real property.

To get a contractor license, you'll need a $12,000 surety bond for a general contractor, or a $6,000 surety bond for a specialty contractor. You can get a bond from an insurance agent. The Department of Labor & Industries requires you to submit an original of this bond; make sure to make copies for your records.

If the contractor requests a large sum of money before work has begun, Mozen says you should ask specifically what types of work or materials those payments are covering.Contractors sometimes have other motives, other than purchasing materials, when they ask for large amounts of money in advance, Fowler says.

Avoid companies that require an upfront deposit of more than 10 percent. Try to include language in the contract that holds back a percentage of the total price, called a retainage, until you're sure the work was done well. A 10 percent retainage is common for residential remodeling work.