Month: February 2017

Unlicensed Contracting in Florida is Illegal

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In the state of Florida, it is illegal and a criminal offense to engage in contracting work without a contractor’s license. If a person is caught working without a license, he or she can face misdemeanor or felony charges.

In Florida, there are nine different ways to commit the crime of practicing unlicensed contracting. All a person needs is to do one of these nine things (and get caught with proof) to get a conviction. The nine ways are:

  1. Falsely saying he or he or their organization is licensed, when they are not.
  2. Pretending to be a certificate holder or registrant.
  3. Presenting someone else’s certificate or registrations.
  4. Giving false or forged evidence to the board.
  5. Use a certificate or registration that is suspended or revoked.
  6. Operating a contracting business after 60 days of termination
  7. Performing work that requires a building permit without the build permit being in effect.
  8. Disregarding or violating municipal or county ordinances related to uncertified/unregistered licenses.
  9. Advertising oneself or business as an available registered contractor.

In Florida, a certificate is a certificate of competency that is earned by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, while registration means registrations with the department in accordance with Florida statues.

For the most part, an unlicensed contracting charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, which has penalties of up to one year of probation or jail and a $1,000 fine. If this person has been convicted before or working without a license, they could be charged with a third-degree felony. This felony has penalties of up to five years in prison or probation and a $5,000 fine. There is also court-ordered restitution when the victim claims the work performed was sub-par and caused a loss of some sort.

If a person pleads guilty, they will have a permanent criminal record that can ruin their chance of obtaining a license in the future.

As you can see, obtaining a contractor’s license is important and necessary. If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, we can help. We specialize in getting our clients their licenses fast and easy. Click here to contact us.

What is an Iron Worker?

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Enjoy welding things? It might be time for you to consider a career as an iron worker. An ironworker is always taking on new challenges, works as part of a team, works outdoors, performs physically demanding work, performs mentally challenging work, and much more. Ironworkers install structural iron and steel that forms and supports buildings, bridges, and roads.

As an ironworker, a person will read and follow blueprints, unload and stack iron and steel onto slings, signal crane operators, use shears, use rod-bending machines, use welding equipment, align structural and reinforcing iron, weld equipment, connect iron and steel with bolts, wires, or welds.

In this field, ironworkers are often working at high heights. They often work in safety harnesses to prevent falls. Many ironworkers work in all kinds of weather. In this position, injuries and illnesses are common from people experiencing cuts from metal and equipment. Also each years, several people die due to falls and contact with equipment and objects.

Most ironworkers go through an apprenticeship, but many learn the career on the job. As of 2015, the average salary for an ironworker was $49,970. The job outlook for an ironworker is projected to grow nine percent from 2014 to 2024. Ironworkers made up 80,100 jobs in 2014. With more buildings and population increases occurring, there is a demand for ironworkers. Ironworkers are also often called upon to help restore and maintain bridges and other buildings.

Unless other contractors, ironworkers usually are not self-employed. To become an ironworker, a certification in welding, rigging and crane signaling can increase a person’s usefulness on the job. Depending on the state, you may need a general contractor’s license to legally conduct work.

Thinking about getting your contractor’s license? In the state of Florida, you’ll need to get a Florida contractor’s license to work; otherwise, you will be working illegally. Let us help you get your license no matter what specialty of contracting work you’d like to pursue. We do all the work for you. Start the process with us today by clicking here.

All About a Home Inspector

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Ever thought about being a home inspector? It’s a great career path, and we wanted to share some basic info on the profession here for you. Home inspectors, in Florida, perform a visual inspection, followed by a written professional opinion of the state and condition of the home. It’s the inspector’s job to describe the current condition of the home at the time of the inspection; however, this doesn’t guarantee the condition of the home in the future.

During an inspection, a home inspector looks at the home’s structure, electrical system, HVAC system, roof covering, plumbing system, and site conditions. Whenever a house is on the market, potential buyers will request for a home inspection to be done. In Florida, more homes are being built all the time, which means the need for home inspectors continues to grow.

In order to get a Florida home inspector’s license, a person needs to pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE); this exam is given by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). A person also has to complete a 120-hour pre-licensing course, submit to a criminal background check, have good moral character, have a $300,000 commercial general liability insurance policy, and submit an application with fee.

On average, a home inspector make $53,410 a year in Florida. The minimum education a home inspector needs is a high school degree, but many employers expect people to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of home inspector jobs is predicted to increase by 18 percent, which is 4 percent above the national average.

Looking to get your home inspector’s license? Or, just a contractor’s license in Florida? We can help! For the last 10 years, we have helped thousands of Florida contractors get their licenses. To contact us, click here. We will help make the process easy and stress free for you.

Vanessa Puleo At Led2Serve Talks On How Helping Your Community Makes The Difference

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The team of led2serve, a Florida-based 501(c) (3), continually creates engaging and life-changing Service Journeys for people to join. Their collaborative efforts with community partners result in supporting local projects wherever they go!

While led2serve is a non-religious organization, many of its leaders have a faith foundation and lead a particular Journey called a “Service Mission Journey”. On these trips they take teams into a community location and serve on projects which have a faith founded message throughout. Often times the theme is “servant leadership” or “serving higher”.

Founded in 2009, led2serve was created to equip, inspire, and mobilize individuals to serve others locally, nationally, and through many regions of Costa Rica. Its founder, Vanessa Puleo, was inspired to start the non-profit after her own meaningful trip to Egypt in 2006, “It was on that trip I realized that leaving a legacy was going to mean I significantly changed my life.” stated Puleo. It was not long after that trip she sold her business and applied a “service before self” attitude.

One of the tag lines of the organization is “Serve Hard, Play Hard”, and they take that quite seriously! All journeys have fun and adventurous activities built into their schedule while serving at any of the over 20 partner locations throughout the USA and Costa Rica. Recently, the organization added an Adventures Director, Yolanda Puleo. Yolanda creates options for the ‘down time’ during each journey for team members to explore, adventure, and play. Fun activities may include hiking Rio Celeste in Costa Rica, white water rafting down the stunning rivers of North Carolina, or snorkeling in Key Largo.

During a Service Journey team members will join local projects that have been pre-arranged with led2serve’s community partners. One of their newer partnerships, with the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, is in the beautiful state of Tennessee. This wonderful organization cares for the practical needs of so many. Last year led2serve mobilized a team of high school boys during Thanksgiving break. They helped prepare meals for over 700 people that day. What else did the team do while they were in town? They joined in the “cave crawl”, enjoyed local meals as a team, and of course they enjoyed hiking and laser-tag!

Interested in requesting a Service Journey to be customized for your group, school, family or team? Complete a group request on the Led2Serve Website.

Email: connect@led2serve.org
Phone: (863)354-0137
Website: www.led2serve.org

Handyman vs. Contractor

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Is there a difference between a handyman and a contractor? And can I call them to do the same thing? No, they are not the same. There are some projects a handyman is not licensed to do, such as plumbing or electrical work. If you need specialty work that requires a license, you will need to hire a contractor. When someone works on your home and isn’t license, you could be liable financially.

Although there is a “handyman license,” also known as a maintenance license,  it only allows for a person to do certain odd jobs, but those jobs are very limited. There is no such “one” license that will allow people to fix holes in drywall, repair leaky faucets and pipes, paint walls, replace doors, install lights, patch up roofs, install screens, fix toilets, etc. In order to do all of this work, a person would need many licenses.

If you’re looking to patch a roof, you’d get a roofing license. To fix pipes, you would need a plumbing license. To install lights, a person needs an electrical license. There is a license for all trades whether it’s given by the county or state.

A “handyman license” differs from county to county in what it allows people to do. If you’re looking to obtain a handyman license in Collier County, Florida, this is what the license allows you to do.

  • You can assemble exercise equipment, toys, furniture, gas grills
  • Change light bulbs
  • Clean and change ceiling fan blades
  • Clean garages and gutters
  • Hang pictures
  • Mow lawns
  • Wash windows
  • Move furniture
  • Pressure clean driveways and walkways
  • Replace and repair door handles, caulking, and screens
  • Lawn edging
  • Residential and/or commercial cleaning
  • Install garage organizers

If you’re looking to obtain a handyman license, make sure it covers what you want to be able to do. If you think the work you want do get requires a contractor license, we can help you work toward getting that license. If you have any questions about any type of license, give us a call. We help people get their contractor licenses fast. Click here to contact us.

What is a Gypsum Drywall Contractor?

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If you’re thinking about going into the field of contracting, there are many specialties to choose from. For this post, we wanted to focus on one specific genre of contracting: Gypsum drywall specialty. A gypsum drywall contractor is a specialty contractor. In the state of Florida, a specialty contractor is a person whose work is limited to a particular part of construction.

 

As a gypsum drywall contractor, the scope of work is limited to the installation of metal accessories (studs, runners, hangers, channels, drywall metal suspension accessories, and prefabricated ceiling materials). This contractor also prepares the surface over which drywall is to be applied, which includes applying base and finishing coats. This doesn’t include plastering, block and/or wood partitions.

 

To become a gypsum drywall contractor in Florida, a person must:

 

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Must pass the stat certifications of drywall, business, and finance
  • Four years of a construction related degree and one year proven experience; or one year experience as a foreman and no less than three years of credits from a college; or one year experience as a worker, one year as a foreman and two years credits from a college; or two years’ experiences as a worker, one year as a foreman, and one year of credits from a college; or four years’ experience as a worker or forman, atleast one year must have been a foreman.
  • Have a background check.
  • Take the gypsum drywall exam which is an open-book test with 80 questions.
  • Take the business and finance exam which lasts 6.5 hours and contains 120 questions.

On average, a drywall contractor earns $44,000 per year.

 

Think this sounds like the right career path for you? You can make this dream of being a Florida gypsum drywall contractor a reality with your Florida contractor’s license. Let us help you get it fast and easy. For more information, click here. We are a company who helps contractors get their licenses.

 

 

What is a Gas Line Specialty Contractor?

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Contracting is a huge industry with many specialties to choose from. If you enjoy the field of construction, there is bound to be a specialty that will spark your interest. For this post, we wanted to focus on one specialty: gas line specialty. As a gas line specialty contractor, a person can install, modify, alter, test, repair and maintain natural gas transmission systems, and natural gas distribution systems. This is a specialty contractor position.

Many plumbers are considered natural gas plumbers because they are licensed to work on or install natural gas lines. If a plumber has a master plumbing license, this shows the plumber has a lot of experience and all the right qualifications for the job. With a gas specialty license, contractors can help people build a built-in grill or a natural gas fireplace in their home.

These type of contractors are also known as pipefitters; they install pipes that provide natural gas to heating and cooling systems, as well as stoves. They also install and repair pipes in power plants.

Gas can be a dangerous element to work with so contractors are held accountable to strict safety standards.  These contractors/plumbers work in factories, homes, businesses, and wherever there are pipes or septic systems.

To be this type of contractor, a person need a high school diploma at minimum and an apprenticeship.

On average, a contractor with a gas line specialty can make around $50,000 per year.  The job outlook for these workers is expected to grow 12 percent from 2014 to 2024. With more construction, there will be a bigger need for plumbers and gas line specialists to properly install gas lines.

Unfortunately, these positions have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses due to the tools and pipes they work with. These jobs require a lot of night and weekend work, as well; they are called for emergencies and overtime often.

Looking to get your gas line specialty license? Let us help you. We make it a simple and stress-free process with no application or lengthy forms for you to fill out. Call us today! Click here to start the process.

What is a Demolition Contractor?

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Thinking of a job in contracting? How about a career as a demolition contractor? As a demolition contractor, you can work on and be involved in the demolition of buildings, structures or sites, these could be residential or commercial. A demolition contractor removes parts of a building or structure from a property. In order to hold this position in the state of Florida, you need a specialty contractor’s license. The license is “Certified Building Demolition Specialty Contractor.”

Demolition uses hydraulic equipment (with cranes, wrecking balls, explosives, loaders) to demolish a building or structure. This field is very regulated because demolition contractors often work on structures that have been damaged by fire, weather, or have structure deficiencies. The healthy and safety standards are strong and high in this field.

The average salary for a demolition contractor is $46,474.

After passing Florida’s state certification exam, a person who wants a license as a certified contractor needs to complete the license application form. You must obtain the license within four years of receiving your exam score.

This license was added in the state of Florida so people could be licensed for work on steel tanks 50 feet or less in height, towers 50 feet or less in height, structures 50 feet or less in height.  In short, this license allows a person to demolish any residential or commercial structure under four stories. If the person needs to do work that requires demolishing a building that is more than four stories, you need a certified general contractor license.

Previously to this license being added in the state of Florida, a Division 1 License (CRC, CBC, or CGC) would have to have been acquired for the demolition to occur. In 2012, a bill was passed that amended the definition of contractor in the Florida Statues. The definition changed from demolishing only certain building to demolishing all buildings regardless of height or number of stories.

Get Your Florida Contractor’s License

Looking for a contracting job? Or a job in demolition? We can help you get your contractor’s license. We take pride in getting contractors their licenses fast and easy. To learn more and to get started, click here.