Anyone know if Florida will lift there license restrictions for out of state contractors or subs? If not Is anyone in a position in Fla. to bring in subs. Would be glad to send a crew down to help rebuild now That Dennis is through. I grew up in Pcola and would like to help. Have many friends that were left homeless from Ivan and now this????? I can also have material going that way if someone needs it, cost plus shipping. NO gouging here just want to help.
MIke K
Replies
Several like you and others who have big hearts and compassion wound up being fined and jailed for being so because you're an out of stater. I know some people who were jailed and they weren't down there to help anybody but a friend and that's it. Still they got in trouble for it. Not trying to rain on your parade, maybe they will lift their restrictions, but I doubt it.
I heard ya on that one!!! That's why I was askin. I'm not going to run down and get my butt in a sling, but I would like to help if I could.
mk
I wish they would but it will never happen, unlic contractors can be arrested as well as cited, it is a felony. I live in Florida and think that it is stupid. Florida does not have a recip lic agreement with any other state. All of this and the repairs have not been finished from last year.
Do you know what is involved in the licensing procedure ?
carpenter in transition
Let me see if I can calmly put it down. A res GC requires that you take a day long test that is given almost monthly in different parts of the state. You have to be a resident, or if you are representing a corp you have to have one of the corp officers register with the state as an out-of-state corp. You have to show proof of wc insurance and liability (this could be a shock, the comp rate for a GC that employees more than one worker is 28% for the first or lead carprnter). If you want a county trim or window/door lic you must be a Florida res and you can only contract with GC for the first 6 months. I have not heard of anyone studying on their own and passing the Res GC test. There are classes offered in most major cities that gaurentee passing, the classes ar usually a week long, the cost is about $600-750. The bottom line is that the state of Florida does not want GC from out of state coming in and working. I think that it is stupid. But, if you get thru the lic process then you get to try to get a permit!! The state of Florida has their won set of standards and all products must be passed to be installed in the state: shingels, roof underlayment, siding, doors, windows, garage doors etc. And that is not enough, the contractor must specify the material that is going to be used, the state approval number, and have an installation sheet on the job site so that the inspector can review it. I have a res GC lic in Michigan, a Window/door lic in WV, Va, OH, and Ga. My wife likes to live in Florida. It is easier to move to New Zealand and set up shop than it is in Florida. Oh, did you ever hear of mandatory drug testing, most GC in Florida can't afford to do it because they would not have enough workers the next day.
thank you for enlightening me.
i always preferred the cold climates anyway...........
carpenter in transition
this might sound mean but as a floridian. we do not want out of town contractors down here.we want people with permanant address, ads in phone books, real phone numbers, local people. we want to be able to call you six months from now for warranty work. we do not want yall to grab our money and run. we have too many of them now. Now if you want to come down and start a legal business ok. thats what the rules are for. we have too many gyspy crews now. So do it by the book or dont come.
Stikman,
I understand, having lived in Warrington/Star Lake by NAS Pensacola for 16years, I would like to have the opportunity to at least help my old friends and family. It's not always about the mighty $$$. I am all to familiar with the stick and run when we have major spring storms here in TX. Seen a lot of shady roofers from out of state. So I really do understand the plight of this. It's a damned if you do and damned if you don't. So no, I don't take what you say as being mean or spiteful. I hope all those folks in the Fla. Panhandle get things straightened out soon, as I know many were not done from Ivan.
Mike K
this might sound mean but as a floridian. we do not want out of town contractors down here
Well, Stik, it IS mean. I'm sure there is much validity to what yu're saying, that you all in FL get overrun with a bunch of take-the-money-and-run con artists, but to let that be your guiding principle in whether or not to allow out of state contractors is quite a bit foolish of you. Yeah, I know, that sounds mean, and it's meant to be, not specifically at you, but those like you who seem to forget that we are the USA, one people, many states, and we've proven again and again that in times of tragedy we can rally ourselves in a united front and help out our friend and neighbors in need. To say "you're not welcome" is to spit at the essence of what makes us a distinct nation.
You know as well as I do that with all the devastation hurricanes cause there ain't enough available contractors in each of the devastated areas, much less around such areas, to do the amount of work that needs done as rapidly as needs done. Heck, man, as I understand it some people around the Pensacola area were STILL doing repairs from Ivan. I wonder how much of that is because GOOD contractors who have a heart and who do care are refused into the state to lend their hand of assistance? What is wrong with everyone in FL? It seems the pedophiles and freaks and whatever else lives down there, heck you all even allow your weak and disabled to be brutally murdered thru starvation and dehydration, and you won't even allow people in who want to help. I don't get it. Sorry, but your post just set me off. It's so short sighted. Can't you consider the idea that maybe out of state contractors can somehow register and validate themselves as legit with the State so that they can then do work in the state? I mean, man, instead of being short sighted why don't you consider that it'd be better to find a way, a system of some sort, to ALLOW out of state contractors. Instead of saying stay the h#ll away why not say "we have many problems with bogus contractors, if you all can help us find a way to ensure legit contractors are verified as legit then we can let contractors in to help. "
I don't doubt you all have had problems. But man, when you see a problem, devise a solution, doin't stick your head in the sand and say "stay way." There are countless contractors out there what want to volunteer time and services to help people who have been devastated. WE do it far better than the gov't ever could I'll tell you that much. We can help you get back on your feet again more quickly, economically, emotionally, whatever.
Ok, I'm done. Sorry, but I see a problem and think it's an opportunity to fix it to make it better, not let it be the status quo. If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time. -ME
Stikman,
what it SOUNDS like
is that you don't want us to come down and help out with a volume of work you folks CLEARLY can't handle
Yet------- your Gov.---has no problem asking us to send our TAX DOLLARS to finace an ongoing boondoggle( Federal disaster relief)
No problemo---if you don't want our help----don't ask for our money either.
stephen
it not that we dont want the honest contractor to work in fla but the crooked fly by night out of pickup contractor we do not want. every trade has a dark side of the crew and every disater they show up by the thousand just to screw the people that need them. fla law are design to protect the public. if you can follow the law to the letter we welcome you with open arms. its the crooked contractor we have no need for. you know. The GMR contractor . grab the money and run. If you honest come on, if not quick whining.
Yes stikman,
I see your point.
floridas laws protect the homwners so well----that they can't get their projects completed before the next hurricane hits. LOL
BTW----I have zero interest in roofing in Florida---less than zero actually.
If I am prospering HERE---why on earth would I want to put up with the hassles THERE?
Stephen
Is anyone in a position in Fla. to bring in subs
Not sure if Fla (other than the Keys, which were still closed at noon today) will need so much. In fact, it almost looks like the Ohio valley might be at greater risk for flooding than the pensacola coast.
Your idea retains merit, none the less. I just know that FEMA & the like move at glacial speeds--as evidenced by the debris left from Ivan still about.
Jail time for out of state contractors???
If my son's roof lost shingles and a couple of sheets of plywood ....are you saying I couldn't come down there and repair it on a weekend?
Could my son repair it himself?You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
If my son's roof lost shingles and a couple of sheets of plywood ....are you saying I couldn't come down there and repair it on a weekend?
Back last year when one of the hurricanes ripped thru a man was doing just that. He got in a lot of trouble, went to jail for it. He was helping a friend repair his roof. He's probably more qualified than I to answer your question. Was it only because of the hurricane damage that this law was enforced and likely not enforced during other reasons? I dunno, I just know the guy paid for helping a friend fix his home due to a hurricane. If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time. -ME
Hi Cap,
I agree they didn't get hit as hard as could have been. Still I would like to go and help if I could. Or send my nephews or something. I have some friends that still haven't finished with the Ivan repairs in Pcola. and also some family in Melbourne, Palm Bay area that are in the same need from the earlier hurricanes last year. Just me and my big heart I guess. LOL!!Take care,
Mike K
that are in the same need from the earlier hurricanes last year
Yeah, I just got through visiting with folks who still don't have ceiling repairs finished in Orlando. They took 20 east due to all of the problems 10 was having just on Friday.
I offereed to help, but their insurance only covers FLA-licensed work (darn, and I wanted to go to DW in the evenings <g> . . . )Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
When the state neutered journeyman licensing, and eliminated the requirement for a set percentage of licensed journeymen to be on site, they placed the contractor as the central figure in control. The contractor is responsible, to what limited extent anyone is held responsible, for getting the permits and complying with the codes and labor laws.
The up side is that you can come down here to help but your going to have to work under a contractor with a Florida contractors license. If you have a relationship with a contractor licensed in Florida the situation is easy. He agrees to list you under his license, gets the permits and arranges jobs under his name, and your all set. Not uncommon to see two man shops running three or four crews when the rush is on.
Coming down here and only then finding a contractor to work under is more a questionable situation. Working without a Florida license gets even more shaky. Of course both of these methods have been done.
FYI. I have been in FLA (original birthplace) for appx the last six months, trying to assist the residents. Decorum dictates that I not mention the 'company' paying my bills but, in a nutshell I have seen great work, decent work, and work I would not allow your pooch's name to be associated with.
As a result of my current employment, I have been exposed to a few FLA licensed generals that are not much better than Joe Contractor. They have the license (read booksmarts), insurance(sometimes) and contacts. Outside of the previous statement they have little, if any, true field experience!! They contract the jobs, take their %, and move on. Very little, if any, effort is placed on final inspections etc.
I have called BS on more than several sites I have inspected and will continue to do so for the taxpayers benefit.
Having said the above, I believe that the State of Florida might be better served to address each contractors qualifications through the various state licensing boards. For simple felt & 3 Tab relacement, it should be a no brainer?? Structural repairs (ie truss repair/replacement) should only be done by SoF licensed contractors, etc. The requirements for these trades are, based upon my review of the codes, fairly stringent. My latest review of 2001 FL building codes indicate the whole state is a fairly high wind zone, above 110mph. As a civil engineer, I can appreciate the additional construction requirements and truss straping involved with this design windspeed.
In closing, the individual owner also shares some of the responsibility when it comes to contractor selection. No one I know can protect an individual from themselves.
Best Regards