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havasu · 10-25-2011, 03:02 AM

Once I got into Dal, the employees were very nice, especially when they found out what I needed them for. They gave me many more chipped pieces than I paid for.

**TNT** · 10-26-2011, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognito

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Any job over $300 in California by law requires a State Contractors License. There's an application fee of $150. You have to pass a test on both your trade knowledge and basic Contract Law then document at least 4 years working at a journeyman level in the trade in which you are applying for. You also have to carry a bond on your license that will cover jobs that you walk away from that the customer can demonstrate you fouled up and refused to make good.

My license is currently on inactive status which cost $200 every 4 years. Normally to remain on active status you pay $300 every two years. To re-activate my license all I have to do is pay the normal fee, pro-rated for the rest of my expiration date.

P.S. I installed more than 5000 square feet of flooring on Friday. Any state that gives you a license should be charged as an accomplice and liable for when you eventually step in over your head. I'm not trying to discourage you. But the point of a license is to protect typical families and businesses from people with little or no experience passing themselves off as experts.

5,000 sf of what in a day? How many guys? My head is spinning!!

Tia

**TNT** · 10-26-2011, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernesto

In AZ and Ca there is a dollar limit as to how much flooring you can install without a license. Here it is $1,000.00 including labor and materials, no chopping the jobs in half to meet the criteria. You can get fined the first time, second time you can get jail time.

Interestly enough, when doing work for the city, county and state, they will often allow me to split a job into parts to be below the $15K limit for all the additional paperwork involved. Very nice of them!

Tia

**Incognito** · 10-27-2011, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNT

5,000 sf of what in a day? How many guys? My head is spinning!!

Tia

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Yeah, it's a big crew but only two guys installing, one journeyman and a helper----VCT

Everyone else on prep----T & M

------and it wasn't quite 5000' (and maybe it wasn't Friday) I was making a rhetorical point. The guy seemed to think that was a lot of floor. It's plenty for an amateur or do-it-yourself home owner but I was trying to make the point that to carry license one should have many YEARS in the trade and not just a handful of small projects under one's belt.

**Ernesto** · 10-27-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNT

Interestly enough, when doing work for the city, county and state, they will often allow me to split a job into parts to be below the $15K limit for all the additional paperwork involved. Very nice of them!

Tia

That they should for a legitimate business. Not your handyman who has no license.

**TNT** · 10-29-2011, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernesto

That they should for a legitimate business. Not your handyman who has no license.

Yes, but again, our contractors are not required to have a license in this state, even with a legitimate business. Not saying that it's right, but it's fact. I have subs with 20, 30 years, no required license. It would be nice to see that required, to get rid of the little buttwipes whose tiles fall off the walls, but it just isn't there.

The main reason work gets split for me on government jobs is to avoid my having to prove prevailing wage, which is always exceeded, but then causes me huge amounts of paperwork. I appreciate that from them.

Tia

**TNT** · 10-29-2011, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognito

******************
Yeah, it's a big crew but only two guys installing, one journeyman and a helper----VCT

Everyone else on prep----T & M

------and it wasn't quite 5000' (and maybe it wasn't Friday) I was making a rhetorical point. The guy seemed to think that was a lot of floor. It's plenty for an amateur or do-it-yourself home owner but I was trying to make the point that to carry license one should have many YEARS in the trade and not just a handful of small projects under one's belt.

I don't think anyone can get a license without the ability to prove that they deserve one. Anyway, I still have a really hard time believing two guys laid 5,000 sf in a day, even with it primed for them.

Tia

**Ernesto** · 10-29-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNT

I don't think anyone can get a license without the ability to prove that they deserve one. Anyway, I still have a really hard time believing two guys laid 5,000 sf in a day, even with it primed for them.

Tia

Musta been peel n stick.

**Incognito** · 10-30-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNT

I don't think anyone can get a license without the ability to prove that they deserve one. Anyway, I still have a really hard time believing two guys laid 5,000 sf in a day, even with it primed for them.

Tia

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i've spread and laid more than that by myself in 8 hours.

it's all about the conditions-----how the jobsite is laid out and organized.

it doesn't set up like that very often

it doesn't hurt to be young, strong, smart and have spent your entire adult working life on your knees-------specializing in specifically this kind of work.

it's not ALL that I do. But at that time in my life it's what I was doing almost every day for many, many years in a very competitive environment.

i know a handful of guys who are quite a bit faster than I am or ever was.

i'm not quite sure how they do it. it must be some kind of witchcraft or electronic trickery because the numbers they put up baffle me too.

**TNT** · 11-02-2011, 03:15 AM

Incognito,

Now don't get mad, but I've seen fast with no transfer. There's fast, and then there's quality fast. Not saying it can't be done, but the only time I've ever seen that fast with appropriate transfer is with around 30 plus years in the business and a very experienced tag team. Even so, they told me 5,000 sf in a day is ridiculous! Thanks for giving me a good excuse to call my old buds, though! Tim and Larry, brothers. Fastest, bestest. One cuts, hands off to the other to lay. They said that much in a day is not only insane, it's impossible. Can you send us a video? I don't want to dispute you, so proof would be great!

Wondering ... you said at first that you didn't do that yourself, it was just rhetorical, then you said you did. Please explain! I love a learning curve!

Tia