Hiring a Remodeler in Texas: What "Licensed" Does and Does Not Mean

Homeowners often ask a remodeler, "Are you licensed?" In Texas the honest answer needs some explaining, because the state does not issue a general contractor license. This guide covers what the state does license, and what to ask about instead. It is general information, not legal advice.

What Texas licenses, and what it does not

There is no state license or state agency for general contractors in Texas, so anyone can call themselves one. The trades are different. Electricians are licensed through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), air-conditioning and refrigeration contractors are licensed through TDLR, and plumbers are licensed through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

Texas law lets a homeowner do certain electrical work on a home they own and live in without a license. That exemption does not extend to a contractor working on your house.

Questions worth asking any remodeler

Because there is no general contractor license to check, the questions below do more work.

• Who does the electrical and plumbing, and can I see their license numbers? You can look electricians and HVAC contractors up with TDLR, and plumbers with the plumbing board.
• Who pulls the permits, and will the permit numbers be given to me? Cities in North Texas generally require permits for structural, electrical and plumbing work, and the rules differ by city. Plano, for example, publishes a permit form for bathroom and kitchen remodel scope of work. Check with your own city.
• Will I get an itemized written proposal, not a lump-sum number on one page?
• How are payments tied to finished work, and what is the process when something changes?
• What does the warranty cover, for how long, and is it in writing?
• Can I see photos of recent finished work, and talk to a past customer?

Red flags

Be cautious of a large deposit before anything is scheduled, a refusal to put scope and price in writing, pressure to skip permits to save money, or a price that is far below every other proposal. A very low number usually means missing scope that shows up later as change orders.

How we handle it at Aeroform

Every project starts with a free, itemized written estimate and a fixed-price proposal that includes a contingency, so you can see what is covered. Projects carry a one-year workmanship warranty. If you are comparing proposals, send us the others and we will walk through the differences with you.