Home Remodeling Contractor Information
This article on Home Remodeling Contractor Information was updated on February 27, 2022. The new 2022 California Contractors License Law published some very interesting information. The 2022 edition is 1,280 pages. Before long, the CSLB will need to make it a two volume set! There is also some other new and interesting information.
The first time I published this information was under the title “Home Remodeling Contractor Information” during 2015 – it’s one of the most visited pages on the DAD’s Construction BLOG. I thought it would be interesting to look at what’s happened over the last 6 years. So, let’s compare 2015 to 2021 (the last year information was available).
Home Remodeling Contractor Information
- The population of California is 39,237,836 vs 37,253,956 in 2015; an increase of 1,983,880 or about 5%.
- For 2021 there were nearly 285,000 licensed Contractors across 45 license classifications vs about 290,000 across 43 license classifications for 2015. This represents a loss of 5,000 contractors. Of these, only 103,223 are active General Contractors (Class B). The requirements for becoming a General Contractor require substantially more experience, training, and schooling than any of the other 45 trade license classifications that constitute the construction industry except for General Engineers.
- There were 103,223 active General Contractors. It’s estimated that less than half (51,612) specialize in residential home remodeling. That’s 1 Contractor for every 760 people. There are not that many. Why? It takes decades of knowledge, experience, and training to become a professional, competent, skilled residential home remodeler. Find a great one like DAD’s Construction and don’t let go!
Let’s look closer at this. Currently, there is a shortage of more than 1 million construction workers. There was a shortage 300,000 construction workers in 2015. The construction industry needs to add more than 600,000 new jobs every year to perform all the work that is piling up. The problem is only getting worse. By 2025 the shortange of construction workers swells to over 2 million! That’s a 1 million increase in the construction worker shortage. Who is going to perform your bathroom or kitchen remodel?
Why is there a shortage of construction workers?
The problem? Young people are simply not entering the trades. When asked why, they tell me “it’s to hard, dirty, and/or everyone pushed me to go to college.” If they can’t use a cell phone to do the job, they’re simply not interested! I tried using a cell phone to hammer a nail – it didn’t go well.
Every day, I have customers tell me that nobody returns their calls and contractors fail to show up for appointments. Well, I can tell you why that is. There is far too much work and not enough workers to do it. I also hear that once a contractor starts a job, they vanish for weeks before they return . . . only to vanish for another few weeks!
Contractor Complaints
According to the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), unlicensed contractors generate 97% of the more than 20,000 consumer complaints they get each year.
Each year, the CSLB conducts sting operations to catch unlicensed individuals throughout the State. These operations have netted people who had drugs and drug paraphernalia in their possession, convicted attempted murders, registered sex offenders, residing illegally, etc. “Some scary people who you wouldn’t want in your home or possibly around your kids,” said CSLB. These bad guys would not have passed the required criminal background check to get a license.
Unlicensed individuals can only advertise for construction work they are legally able to perform without a license and the work cannot exceed $500 in value (includes all labor and materials). A job can’t be broken down into multiple $500 increments to avoid prosecution.
How does the CSLB deal with unlicensed contractors?
The CSLB, “When participating in the activities of the Joint Enforcement Strike Force on the Underground Economy pursuant to Section 329 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, the enforcement division shall have free access to all places of labor.” What this means is that if it’s determined that you have unlicensed individuals working in your home, CSLB enforcement and police/sheriff officers can legally enter your home without a warrant. Imagine this while you’re at work! Your home is raided and there is nothing you can say or do about it. Better make sure everyone is properly licensed that’s working on your home!
How can I enjoy a worry free home remodeling experience?
Find a great Contractor like DAD’s Construction who returns your phone calls, shows up to appointments on time (DAD’s is usually early), provides great ideas and always provides you with a free consultation. DAD’s Construction is fully licensed, insured, and bonded. When DAD’s starts a job, we will not leave you stranded to go work somewhere else for weeks on end.
Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Bathroom, Kitchen, and Home Interior
Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction. We are experts in bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling. We remodel and manage projects in an efficient manner. DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders. Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements. Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract. We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you. If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.
