Filing a Construction Complaint

CSLB’s complaint process and procedures are designed to protect the public in matters pertaining to construction and to assist in the resolution of construction related complaints. CSLB handles any violations of the Contractors License Law, whether the contractor is licensed or unlicensed, for up to four years from the date of the act. To review the legal jurisdiction defined by law, see Complaint Jurisdiction in the QuickLinks menu on the left.

How the Complaint Process Works

This section is an overview about how CSLB addresses complaints and the procedures that are followed.

File a Complaint

This section provides a step-by-step process to file a complaint online or by mail.

After You File Your Complaint

This section covers what happens once your complaint is filed.

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The Risks of Being an Owner/Builder

If you are considering doing a construction job as an “owner/ builder” there are a number of important issues to be aware of. Legal obligations and risks may outweigh the financial benefits. This section will guide you through some of the facts that owner/builders face.

You may find it helpful to reference the QuickLinks menu on the left for further information.

What is an owner/builder?

This section defines what an owner builder is and the laws surrounding the practice.

The responsibilities of an owner/builder.

This section outlines the job responsibilities of a property owner when they decide to handle their own construction projects as an owner/builder.

The downside of being an owner/builder.

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How do I find the right licensed contractor?

Reminder symbolREMEMBER Most licensed contractors are competent, honest, hardworking and financially responsible. However, most of the problems the CSLB sees could be prevented if homeowners knew their home improvement rights and took responsibility for their project. A responsible and informed consumer can work more effectively with reputable contractors, and can avoid being victimized by unscrupulous or unlicensed operators.

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Check a Contractor License or Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) Registration

Look up a contractor license or Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) registration to verify information, including complaint disclosure. Before hiring a contractor or signing a contract, CSLB recommends you read the Hiring a Contractor page.

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Basic Facts About Contracting in California

  • Anyone performing construction work in California that totals $500 dollars or more in labor and materials must be licensed by CSLB.
  • The construction industry is one the largest industries in California. www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov
  • Licensed contractors must demonstrate at least 4 years of experience/education in the trade for which they are licensed, be fingerprinted, have an FBI background check, and be bonded.
  • CSLB’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) conducts stings and sweeps somewhere in California each week.
  • Unlicensed contractors are part of the $60-140 billion dollar underground economy that does not pay taxes, insurance, or follow safety laws. www.dir.ca.gov/EEEC/EEEC.html
  • First time offenders are often issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) for misdemeanor charges of contracting without a license or illegal advertising. The NTA carries a maximum of six months in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine.
  • Additional convictions raise the fines to 20 percent of the contract price for the work performed, (or $4500), along with a 90-day jail sentence.
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C36 – Plumbing Contractor

A plumbing contractor provides a means for a supply of safe water, ample in volume and of suitable temperature for the purpose intended and the proper disposal of fluid waste from the premises in all structures and fixed works. This classification includes but is not limited to:

(a) Complete removal of waste from the premises or the construction and connection of on-site waste disposal systems;

(b) Piping, storage tanks and venting for a safe and adequate supply of gases and liquids for any purpose, including vacuum, compressed air and gases for medical, dental, commercial and industrial uses;

(c) All gas appliances, flues and gas connections for all systems including suspended space heating units. This does not include forced warm air units;

(d) Water and gas piping from the property owner’s side of the utility meter to the structure or fixed works;

(e) Installation of any type of equipment to heat water, or fluids, to a temperature suitable for the purposes listed in this section, including the installation of solar equipment for this purpose; and

(f) The maintenance and replacement of all items described above and all health and safety devices such as, but not limited to, gas earthquake valves, gas control valves, back flow preventors, water conditioning equipment and regulating valves.

Authority cited: Sections 7008 and 7059, Reference: Sections 7058 and 7059 (Business and Professions Code)

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Hiring a plumber to fix your plumbing

There are many points to consider when hiring a plumber to work in your office or home. Here are some common sense pieces of advice regarding how to find good, qualified plumbers in your neighborhood. These are some issues to keep under consideration when choosing a craftsman you have not worked with before.

Don’t instantly select a brand name without first checking other smaller firms. Simply because someone works for a company with a well known name does not automatically mean that he/she is better qualified than the sole trader down the street who have more years of expertise and has more of a personal relationship with less corporations, instead of trying to attract the masses.

Never rely only on the yellow pages to discover a craftsman. Enormous, fancy advertisements are released by companies with giant promoting budgets. That is the only certain information an advert can provide you with about that express company. The first folks you should always look to for suggestions are your friends and family. The hints they supply are personalized to you. The people who know you and your wishes best will be the most qualified to tell you who you must hire.

Check the Net to find the perfect plumber for the specific type of job you want to be done. As with the yellow pages, do not rely solely on corporate promotional efforts. Check online review pages to see how actual clients rated the people they employed. As you peruse the Web for recommendations, keep in mind the reality that there are 2 groups of folks who leave Internet reviews. Individuals who are either very satisfied or intensely unhappy with the help they received are more likely to give online testimonials. Oh…and a 3rd type! Some companies will put up false positive reviews, so it may be more pertinent to give more weight to the critical reviews to see if those discussing issues you would find it tough to get past if they occurred to you.

This tip involves your communication with your potential plumber. When you call him, you should expect a pro reply or voice mail message. Pipefitters who are bad behaved or quick tempered on the phone must be avoided.

Always ask for a rough figure during your 1st consultation. Not everyone will be offering a cost list on their website. If a pro refuses to offer you a personal guess, deny him the chance to work with you. Don’t allow him to carry out any extra work that wasn’t on the guesstimate without checking with you first.

The appearance of the plumber and his vehicle should also give you a clue about the pride the plumber takes his work. If his wagon is run down and work over, and perhaps his very own appearance isn’t what you would expect, then it implies this person may not respect your home and tidy up properly after himself. So again, beware.

An employee you invite into your hous eshould have a company identification. Any person can lay claim to represent a company , so if you’re uncertain ask him/her to wait outside while you call the company to check on the idenfication. If an individual doesn’t look official, be sceptical of her.

The last and most vital end of all is that anyone entering your home should respect you. It isn’t wrong to expect to be addressed by your proper title if you furnished it on the telephone. Anyone coming to work on your pipes should be able to look you in the eyes and smile and address you courteously and professionally.

These are just some things you may want to think about when hiring plumbers in Fort Myers or whatever town you live in. Those concepts are more important when the expert you are looking for is someone you have never met in the flesh. It is crucial to the security of your folks that you only hire experienced and well informed workers.

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Westchester laundry drain, water line and gas line installation

Our custumer just moved into this wonderful neighborhood in Westchester. The plumbing in the laundry room stuck out of the wall. We reinstalled the pipe inside the wall for more space and a better look. Now the washing machine and dryer sits flush against the wall.

Gas line installation for the dryer

After

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Broken water pipe in Carson, CA

Today a 2″ p.v.c. irrigation sprinkler pipeline broke at the fitting connection across the street from the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

We cut out a section of pipe and installed a telescope coupling.

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Beverly Hills remodel

Toilet and lavatory installation

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