Should You Be Licensed?

Originally Posted by katoman

And when the day is done, I can look myself in the mirror, with pride, and say " you're a craftsman, well done. "

Originally Posted by NickofTime

Thank you for your input. I can definitely say that I'm not one of the 'lowballers' mentioned above. I take great pride in my work and work ethic. Always wanting to learn new things just don't want to get in trouble doing it.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by katoman

And when the day is done, I can look myself in the mirror, with pride, and say " you're a craftsman, well done. "

Originally Posted by supercrew

i think a license should be required of all building trades, including framing carpenters and foundation work. even to the extent of GC having a "working knowledge" type of license in all fields when developing their own properties.

case in point: i just built a house for a GC who did everything with inexprienced laborers. the foundation was out of square by 3" in one 20x40' section and another 2+" in another 15x20' section. he backfilled 2 days after stripping the walls with no ?outside tile drain?...might be a lake of the ozarks thing....but he was pissed cause the basement walls had bows in the middle and water was always around the inside of the footings after a rain.

he then proceeded to snap the plate lines off the outside of the walls and slap the plate to it without EVER measuring side to side or the corners.

he then proceeded to do the 1st floor layout starting with the front from the right, then the center beam he started on the left, starting the back wall from the right.

i get hired to finish framing the house at this point. talk about some head scratchin and abusive language figuring out why this stair hole is 1/2" smaller on one side and looks crooked.
he also put a header in a 4' exterior wall that was 1" too long.

now were setting the second floor. one of "boyz" laborer cries about a brace on that mentioned 4' wall of being in the "way". the GC comes in and knocks it off.

i say: hey i kinda need that, its holding the corner of my building up.

he says: it'll be alrite, besides its in juniors way.

i say: noooooo as he whacks the brace off

now were puttin the roof on....6/12 and its an all hip roof with 6 hips and 4 valleys including the 2 for the gabled front porch roof. the GC ordered the truss system so it ends 10' from each corner leaving the rest to be stick built.

1 1/2 days into the roof i call him to say were running outta lumber....furious!! he shows up on site and demands why it isnt framed on 24" centers. ....i calmly explain that the print didnt dictate either and as far as i knew you couldnt stick build a roof with 2x6x12's on 24's.

now before anyone starts to blast me for "knowingly working for an unethical person", i already know that. but i learned a thing or two on how to hide and compasate for ground up mistakes. a plus in my book.

besides i wont be trimming out this house ....its suppose to have hardwood and ceramic tile floors everywhere..,,,and i dont think my name will ever be connected to it, so i dont care.

would i ever participate with another GC with the same practices???

an astounding NO, even tho he paid me great money to cover his mistakes.

also did a project for the same guy involving a rehab of a basement in a commercial bldg that im not to proud of myself.

we tore out a section of concrete to find the drain, and built a bathroom w/comode, urnal and sink,.....

also added 12+ can lites and 24+ pen lites..36 lites with 20+ switches...on the same circut..

added a gas furnace including the ductwork..
when i was asked to "hook the gas up" i refused and no longer work for him

as an UNLICENSED worker in the field,i did electrical,plumbing and hvac work that i was NOT qualified to do. in a commercial building that 4+ workers sit at computers and do an ad agency thing without so much of a fire system in a basement with ONLY ONE escape route...and....NO WINDOWS.

this weighs heavily on me every mornin when i wake up...should i report or should i just distance myself????.......


im still in a moral fight with my concious to report the work on the basement with the cities code enforcement establishment just to clear my liability and "to do the right thing".

sorry to vent guys but this has been hanging over me for weeks, going on months. i dont want to read/hear a fire killed/injured someone that was started by something i wired.

Originally Posted by Susan Betz

Not really related to the actual thread, just the title of the thread.

Our county, in 2007, stopped all occupational licensing. We *were* licensed, until they did away with the licenses.

Now for those of you who say "HUH?" - I can't make s*** like this up. The county decided not to issue any more occupational licenses.

Try explaining to a client why you're not licensed.

Originally Posted by Metrojoebarbs

How do they get away with that? No State or Federal violations on the County's part, not to mention conflicts of interests.