Is it Illegal for a Handyman to Replace the Windows in Your San Diego Home?

If you own a home in San Diego, you’ve likely hired a handyman to fix or install something at one time or another. Even if you’re handy yourself, sometimes it’s just more convenient to bring someone else in to do the job. Handymen are great for a lot of around-the-house tasks—installing a new ceiling fan, changing out the hardware on your front door, replacing a toilet, etc. Their rates are typically more affordable than those of licensed contractors, and they are often able to get to your project fairly quickly. We are big fans of handymen for a lot of reasons!

All that being said, handymen aren’t the best men for all jobs—one of them being replacement window installation. Not only that, but it is actually illegal for a handyman to take on most replacement window installations in California.

According to California law, handymen are only allowed to complete projects that cost less than $500. This includes the cost of labor and materials. So, unless you are only having one, or maybe two, relatively small new windows installed in your home, the cost is going be above that threshold, making it illegal for a handyman to take on the job.

This isn’t to say a handyman won’t try to get around this law. Some of them will tell you that if you purchase the windows yourself, or if you break the project into stages, they can complete the job within the bounds of the law. But unfortunately, this isn’t the case. The law is very clear. Any home improvement project that costs more than $500 in California needs to be completed by a licensed contractor.

This law is actually for the consumer’s protection. Licensed contractors in California are required to carry at least a $25,000 bond. This bond is basically an insurance policy for homeowners. If a contractor damages your home or provides you with defective work, you can make a claim against their bond and be compensated.

In addition, licensed contractors have gone through a process to prove their knowledge in their area(s) of expertise. For example, here at BM Windows, we hold a C17-Glazing license from the Contractors State License Board (License #891637). To obtain this license, we had to provide documentation of experience in window and door installation and pass a test regarding our knowledge on the subject, among other requirements.

A license from the CSLB is not easy to come by. Therefore, most active contractors we know go to great lengths to keep their license in good standing. This includes keeping customers satisfied. In other words, contractors have a very big incentive to do their job right. The CSLB has the power to take disciplinary action against a contractor—including suspending their license—and no contractor wants that to happen.

With a handyman, there is no bond to make a claim against and no licensing board to which you can file a complaint. Your only recourse is to sue, which, as you probably know, is an arduous process, and even if you win a judgement, you might never be able to collect on it.

To conclude, working with a licensed contractor for replacement window installation in San Diego is not only a good idea—it’s actually the only legal way to get the job done.

If you’d like to learn more about replacement windows or get a quote from our company, contact us to schedule an in-home appointment.