
Handyman, Contractor, Tradesmen… How to Choose the Right Options for Your Project
A handyman is good for many small projects around the home but they are usually not licensed contractors. But many small projects do not require a license.
A Contractor is licensed by the State of Florida to perform larger projects that involved structural repairs or require multiple sub-contractors, or Trademen, to complete. Most kitchen or bath remodels require a licensed contractor.
Tradesmen are specialists in specific trades like trim carpentry, framing, drywall or tile. Some Trades also must be licensed. Plumbers, Electricans and HVAC contractors for example all must be Licensed by the State of Florida.
There is no licensing for other trades like tile setters, drywall contractors, painters and handyman services.
Finding the Right Contractor is About Trust
The bigger or more expensive the project, the more trust you want to have. Most handyman services are “one man shows” without an office, website or even company t-shirts. They can dissappear, change thier phone and you could never find them again.
Of course there are very reliable handyman services out there but there are also quite a few unreliable ones as well. References can help but they are not fool proof either. Ideally you verify and build trust in several ways before hiring someone.
Licensing Can Help
One good things about licensing is it can build trust. State licensed contractors and trademen are registered with the State, they can’t “dissappaer”. Not only can you always find their info in the State registry but there are consequenses if a homeonwer reports them.
Still, there are some unreliable Licensed Contractors out there as well so you need to build more trust than just confirming they have a license number.
Not every contractor is right for every project
There are pros and cons to every type of contractor, handyman and tradesman, so which type is right for you depends on the size and scope of the project as well as what you are comfortable with. Of course cost is a factor as well. Licensed contractors often cost more than Handyman services.
Read on to learn about the different types of contractors, what they’re good at, and what to watch out for.
McManus Kitchen and Bath is a full service remodeling company with an in-house design team and showroom right here in Tallahassee, FL.
We work exclusively with homeowners to help them remodel using a design-build approach that saves time, avoids confusion and creates better results. You can schedule a discover call here: https://mcmanuskitchenandbath.com/contact/
What’s the Difference Between a Contractor and A Licensed Contractor ?
The language used in construction can be confusing. Everyone is called a contractor… tile contractor, drywall contractor, electrical contractor, general contractor etc… Then you have handyman services who perform the work of several trade contractors.
I like to think of it like there are big ‘C’ contractors and litte ‘C’ contractors.
Licensed Contractors are big ‘C’. They are licensed and registered with the State of Florida. In order to keep that license they have to maintain minimum levels of insurace, bank balances and take qualified continuing education courses every two years to renew thier license.
Little ‘c’ contractors are not licensed and not required to have a license… painters, handymen, tile instalers etc…
Beware of little ‘c’ contractors who try to represent themselves as licensed.
A Word About Bonds
Often you will see “licensed and bonded” on a contractors business card. This is also an indication they are either confused or intentially trying to deceive you.
You can not bond a contractor. You can only bond a project. If you want your project to be bonded you just ask and your contractor will contact an insurance agent to purchase a bond for the project. There are several types fo bonds to chose from but they are rarely used in residential work, they mostly used on commercial and civil projects.
And a Word About Insurance
All contractors, both licensed and unlicensed, should provide proof of insurance. There are 3 types of insurance you should check for and a fourth that you want for larger projects.
General Liability Insurance protects you and the contractor in case of accidental damage to your home or bodily injury that occurs as part of the project.
Commercial Auto covers any damage a vehicle may do to your property. It also protects the contractor in case of accident. Regular auto insurance does not cover work related accidents.
Workers Compenstaion. Any contractor with any employees should have workers compensation insurance on those employees. One man operations can be exempt from workers comp but it’s still a good idea for them to carry it.
Have the insurance company email you proof of insurace so you know it is valid. Do not accept a pdf copy from the contractor. They can get a pdf copy and then cancel the policy the next day.
When Do You Need a Licensed Contractor And Not A Handyman?
In general use a handyman service for smaller projects costing less than $2500 where no structural work is being done. Also, handyman companies should not do plumbing, electric or HVAC work except for very minor repairs.
For projects larger than $2500 or for any structural, electrical, plumbing or HVAC work you should contact a licensed Contractor or licensed trade Contractor.
We actually wrote a great guide for evaluating contractors. You can read it here: https://mcmanuskitchenandbath.com/evaluating-a-remodeling-contractor/