Alright, let's talk stucco. If you are a homeowner in Saratoga, you know good Stucco work is not just about how the house looks; it is about protecting your biggest investment. Our team has seen many Stucco jobs around Saratoga, some good and some bad, and we want to help you avoid the headaches that come with hiring the wrong crew. This is not rocket science, but there are some important steps you need to take to make sure you are getting a legitimate, skilled contractor for your Stucco project in Saratoga.
Verify Legitimacy: Do Not Skip This Step
First things first: before anyone even sets foot on your property with a trowel for your Saratoga Stucco project, you need to verify they are legitimate. In California, this means checking their license, their insurance, and their bonding.
- License: Every contractor doing work over $500, which includes both materials and labor combined, needs to be licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). For Stucco work, you are generally looking for a C-35 Lathing and Plastering classification. You can easily check a contractor's license status on the CSLB website. Just type in their business name or their license number. This will tell you if the license is active, what classification they hold, and if there are any complaints or disciplinary actions against them. If they cannot or will not give you a license number for their Stucco services, that is your cue to walk away. Coastal Stucco is properly licensed for all Stucco work in Saratoga, CA.
- Insurance: This is very important. A legitimate contractor will carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance. General liability protects you if they accidentally damage your property or if someone gets hurt on your property who is not an employee. Workers' compensation is mandatory in California for all businesses with employees, and it covers their medical bills and lost wages if they get injured on your Stucco job. Ask for current certificates of insurance directly from their insurance carrier, not just a copy from the contractor. Call the carrier to verify the policy is active and covers the scope of work for your Saratoga Stucco project.
- Bonding: California requires all licensed contractors to have a $25,000 contractor's license bond. This offers you limited financial protection if the contractor abandons the Stucco project or performs defective work. You can usually see bond information when you check their CSLB license for Stucco contractors in Saratoga.
Questions to Ask Every Stucco Contractor
Once you have confirmed they are licensed, insured, and bonded for Stucco work in Saratoga, it is time to dig a little deeper. Here are the questions our team would ask if we were in your shoes looking for Stucco services: