Finding a trade professional around the South Bay can sometimes be difficult. Hiring someone to work on your home exterior is an important decision, especially with our local climate swings from damp Valley winters to dry summer heat that tests exterior plaster.
Coastal Stucco & Plastering sees the aftermath of bad hires often. To save you time, money, and problems, we will walk through how to find a legitimate contractor who knows what they are doing.
Questions You Need to Ask Every Contractor
Do not just nod along when a contractor comes out to look at your walls. Put them on the spot with a few direct questions:
- Are you pulling permits for this job, or do you expect me to handle it?
- Do you use subcontractors or your own dedicated crew?
- What specific drainage and flashing details will you use around my windows?
- Can you give me three local addresses of homes you worked on nearby?
If they hesitate on the permit question or try to talk you out of pulling one for major stucco work around Campbell, show them the door. Unpermitted work will cause problems the second you try to sell your house.
Decoding the Quote
A professional estimate should not be a single lump sum. It needs to spell out the scope of work line by line.
Look for details specifying the number of coats, the exact wire lath and paper barrier being installed, the type of finish coat, and how they plan to handle cleanup and disposal. If a quote is suspiciously lower than other quotes, they are cutting corners somewhere, usually by skipping the weather-resistive barrier or using sub-par mixes that will crack within a year.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Some contractor habits show trouble before work even starts. Watch out for these warning signs:
- Demanding more than 10% or $1,000 down before touching a tool.
- Driving an unmarked truck with out-of-area phone numbers or no local presence.
- Refusing to hand over proof of active workers' comp and general liability insurance.
- High-pressure sales tactics where the price is only good if you sign immediately.
How to Verify They're Legit
Do not just take a contractor's word for it. Head straight to the California Contractors State License Board website and plug in their license number. Check that it is active, see how long they have held it, and verify that their classification matches exterior plastering, which is usually a C-35 license. While you are at it, call your insurance carrier or ask the contractor to have their insurance agent email a certificate directly to you. Taking ten minutes to verify these details upfront will protect you from liability if someone gets hurt on your property.