Just because a contractor has a license, does not make him an angel. But, it does give you some protection. Most important of all, if your contractor is not licensed, the law may interpret this to mean that you have just become an employer. In one case, a roofer that fell off the roof at a project site sued the homeowner for $990,000. THE UNLICENSED ROOFER WON!!

If you are ripped off by any licensed contractor that later goes out of business, you can apply for payment from the Contractors Recovery Fund. This allows you to obtain some of your money back.

So, be sure that your contractor is licensed.

If you have any questions about licensing, your roof, or the proposals that you receive, contact the Roofing Contractors Association of Hawaii at 537-1224.