When you are looking for a contractor for your commercial building construction, you know you want to look for construction contractors with experience. However, you also want to consider commercial building contractors with the appropriate licensure, and the experts at Commercial Building, Inc. are here to explain why.
LICENSE AND INSURANCE
North Carolina requires a general contractor’s license for jobs costing $30,000.00 or more. In order to get insurance for a contractor’s license, the person must have the proper licensure, or the insurance company won’t accept their application. If you hire an unlicensed contractor, it means they do not have insurance. If something should happen to them or an associate on the job, they have no insurance to cover the injuries or time off work — which could cause legal problems down the road.
The financial responsibility of legal bills, medical bills, and other expenses will fall on your shoulders. Basically, it would be like they were your employees and your responsibility. Insurance companies usually do not cover damage from an unlicensed contractor.
5 GENERAL CONTRACTOR CLASSIFICATIONS IN NC
North Carolina has five different types of general contractor licenses.
Building Contractor – The building contractor license covers all building construction and demolition. This includes commercial, industrial, institutional, and all residential building construction.
Residential Contractor – North Carolina’s residential contractor license covers all construction and demolition involved in the construction of residential units built according to the state’s Building Code Council building codes.
Highway Contractor – covers all highway construction activity — including grading, paving of all types, installation of exterior artificial athletic surfaces, relocation of utility lines, parking decks, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. It also allows you to construct guard rails, fencing, and signage.
Public Utilities Contractor – covers work on public water and wastewater system projects.
Specialty Contractor – Technically, the specialty contractor license is a form of a general contractor’s license. The State of North Carolina does include it under the general contractor licensing subsection. Keep reading for more details.
NORTH CAROLINA CONTRACTOR LICENSING TIERS
Beyond the different types of general contractor licenses, there are also three licensing tiers in North Carolina.
Limited license – Contractors holding limited licenses can act as general contractors for any single project with a value of up to $500,000, excluding the cost of the land and ancillary costs to improve the land.
These contractors must have current assets that exceed the total current liabilities by at least $17,000 or have a total net worth of at least $80,000. They can also provide proof of a $175,000 surety bond instead.
Intermediate license – Contractors holding intermediate licenses can act as general contractors for any single project with a value of up to $1,000,000. Again, this excludes the cost of the land and ancillary costs to improve the land.
Intermediate-level licensees need to have current assets that exceed the total current liabilities by at least $75,000. If that’s not possible, they can provide proof of a $500,000 surety bond instead.
Unlimited license – There are no restrictions on the value of single projects for contractors with unlimited licenses. However, they must have current assets that exceed the total current liabilities by at least $150,000. They can also secure a $1,000,000 surety bond instead.
UNDERSTAND YOUR LIMITS
It seems appealing to hire an unlicensed contractor when they offer a rate that’s much cheaper than a licensed contractor. While it might intrigue you to save some cash on the project, you could experience problems in the future. If there’s no guarantee they would come back and repair the problem, you could find yourself spending much more than you would on a licensed contractor since you’ll have to pay for the repairs and the fee for the unlicensed contractor.
While it’s possible to experience no problems when you hire an unlicensed contractor, it doesn’t always happen that way. Unfortunately, if there’s any damage done, you might have a hard time getting your money back or suing.
While you may have a greater cost initially, it’s always smarter to hire licensed commercial contractors. You have much more risk when you hire an unlicensed person, especially when it comes to your financial obligations. Not to mention, you could harm your property value in the end.
For all of your commercial building needs, contact CBI. We are here to answer any questions and to assist you in your build or renovation from start to finish.
A COMMERCIAL GENERAL CONTRACTOR YOU CAN TRUST
Commercial building companies like Commercial Building, Inc. are key players when it comes to commercial building and understand the difference between mediocre and exceptional service. At CBI, we go above and beyond with our clients, and our reputation is strong because of it. See for yourself in our portfolio on our website. No matter what stage you are in with the construction process of your building, feel free to ask us questions about what makes our post-construction process different from the rest of those in North Carolina.
Based in North Carolina, CBI has been helping business leaders transform their vision into reality. From blueprints to cutting a ribbon at a grand opening, our diligent construction contractor services double-check every logistical component. Our experienced team guarantees that your project does not run into delays or cost unnecessary cost overages.
At CBI, we can assist you with all aspects of construction. Our team can help you with every step of your building project. Contact us today to see how we can assist you with obtaining your building permits or anything else you may need.
We offer services in Fayetteville, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Lumberton, Sanford, Fuquay-Varina, Apex, and many other cities in North Carolina. For more information, give us a call at 910-818-6811 or you can email us at cbi@commercialbuildingnc.com.