Q & A - Contractor Bond, What is it?

Does my roofer need a bond to work on my roof?

John from California asked, "Does my roofer need a bond to work on my roof?"

In California, a roofing contractor is required to have a bond to get a license. A quick search of the California State License Board website using the contractor's name or license number will show who the bonding agent is that your contractor uses. Of course, he needs to be licensed to find this information on the CSLB website.

What is a contractor bond good for? Basically a bond is financial assurance that if a contractor fails to complete the roofing job as expected, and you paid for it, the bonding company may after a review, help with funds to finish the job. An example is if a contractor walks off the job if the work was done incorrectly or maybe your contractor died in the middle of the job. The bond will fund the completion of the roofing project. I some cases where the supplier or subcontractors were not paid, it may even take care of that. Some subcontractors like to see proof of a bond also before agreeing to work on a job. A bond protects both parties if something goes wrong.

Be sure to check and see if your contractors bond is active. Using a licensed contractor that is insured and bonded is the best move you can make.

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