When a roofing contractor is licensed in the State of California it means that they have fulfilled the requirements set forth by the California State License Board (CSLB) and have been issued a C-39 class license to practice as a roofing contractor.   A license can be revoked or suspended, at any time, by the CSLB for:  non-payment of fees; a claim against an insurance bond; a felony or misdemeanor conviction involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or theft; failure to provide proof of an insurance bond; failure to provide proof of a workers compensation insurance policy; violations of the Contractors State License Law; crimes that indicate a disregard for the health, safety, or welfare of the public; or, for taking advantage of the public during emergencies like earthquakes, floods, or fires.

ROOF DOCTORS has always been in goodstanding with the CSLB and has never had their license revoked or suspended at any time for any reason.  Different license numbers have been issued by the CSLB to ROOF DOCTORS over our 25-year history because of legal changes made to our business structure that were required due to the growth of our company, and because of a business reorganization that was required due to  the sudden death of one of our members.  The CSLB will always issue a new license number when the business structure has been changed, even though its owner or owners are still the same, and even though the owners or the company have had no history of any wrong doing.   ROOF DOCTORS is duly licensed with the CSLB (#896271).

Every contractor in California is required to file a Contractor's Bond with the CSLB in order to have a valid license to practice in the State of California.  The Contractor's Bond is filed for the benefit of consumers who may be damaged as a result of defective construction or other license law violations, and for the benefit of employees who have not been paid wages that are due to them.  

If you have hired a licensed contractor and you feel that their work was not done properly or that it was not completed, then file a claim with the CSLB.  If the contractor does not correct the problem, the CSLB will suspend and revoke the contractor's license.   The Contractor's Bond will pay to correct or finish the work on behalf of the contractor, and the bonding company will then seek reimbursement from the contractor for what they paid.  The CSLB will not re-activate a suspended contractor's license until the bonding company has given notice to the CSLB that any amount paid by the bonding company has been satisfied by the contractor. The contractor must then provide proof of a new Contractor's Bond before his license can be reinstated.   You would be surprised  at how many contractors are still being hired for their services in the state of California even though their license status has been suspended or revoked because of a claim against their Contractor's Bond.   ROOF DOCTORS has a current and valid Contractor's Bond and has never had a claim made against its Contractor's Bond, for any reason, since we have been in business since 1987.

The CSLB requires a contractor to have a current and valid policy of workers compensation insurance before a contractors' license is valid.  The CSLB will suspend or revoke a contractor's license without proof of workers compensation insurance. Workers compensation is an insurance that provides replacement for lost wages and medical benefits for employees who are injured in the course of employment.   ROOF DOCTORS has a current and valid worker's compensation insurance policy and has never had this policy revoked or suspended at any time for any reason.   ROOF DOCTORS has never had an employee file a workers compensation insurance claim since we have been in business since 1987.

The CSLB does NOT require a contractor to have a general liability insurance policy in the state of California.  The CSLB leaves the decision to the contractor as to whether they wish to obtain a policy for general liability insurance. The CSLB lets the consumer decide whether or not to use the contractor who may or may not have a policy of general liability insurance. Roofing companies who tear off and install new roofs should have general liability insurance because the risk of liability increases by the volume of debris that is torn off of a roof and by the volume of materials that are taken up onto the roof.   Many contractors do NOT have a current policy of general liability insurance because the premiums can be cost prohibitive and make it expensive to obtain. Many companies are self-insured - meaning that they will settle their own general liability claim.  A roofing contractor's general liability policy protects the homeowner from any claim or damage against the homeowner caused by the roofing contractor while they are working on the homeowner's roof.  In the absence of a general liability policy or the inability of the roofing contractor to satisfy a general liablity claim, then often times the homeowner insurance policy must step in to defend any general liability claim.   ROOF DOCTORS has a current and valid general liability insurance policy and has never paid a general liabillity claim of any kind since we have been in business since 1987.

Any individual or company who performs contracting services in the state of California in excess of $500 or more, including labor and materials, is required to be duly licensed by the CSLB or they may face fines, imprisonment or both.  The CSLB has established statewide investigative fraud teams that focus on unlicensed contractors and the underground economy. To curtail illegal contracting activities, these units conduct stings and sweeps which are publicized to ensure maximum consumer education.  Contracting without a license is usually a misdemeanor, carrying a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and/or a $500 fine, and a potential administrative fine of $200 to $15,000. Subsequent violations increase criminal penalties; if there is a prior conviction for contracting without a license, a fine of 20 percent of the contract price of the work performed, or a $4,500 fine shall be imposed. Also, the unlicensed contractor shall be confined to jail for no less than 90 days.  In fiscal year 2009-10, CSLB helped recover nearly $42 million in ordered restitution for consumers.

Many handymen or unlicensed individuals claim to be roof repair specialists and get around the state license requirement by either charging less than the $500 threshold or by billing in increments of less then $500 even though the total repair bill may exceed $500.  Beware of any individual or company, who performs roof repairs on your home that is not a duly licensed roofing contractor, regardless of the amount that you pay to them.   We have been asked many times to certify and warranty roof work already performed by these individuals.  In most cases, their work has not been done properly and their work has to be corrected and repaired over again.  This usually results in costs to the homeowner, in addition to what they have already paid the handyman.  Future problems arise when the roof subsequently leaks during a rain storm, and a roofing contractor must be called out, because the handyman has no idea how to fix the roof that is now leaking.  If you ever suspect that any handyman or individual is performing a roof repair that requires a valid and current contractor's license then decline their services and / or contact the CSLB for enforcement action.   ROOF DOCTORS is able to charge any amount in excess of $500 as a roofing contractor in the state of California since it holds a valid and current C-39 class Roofing Contractor's License (#896271).

It is against the law, in the state of California, for a contractor to ask for an up-front fee of more than $1,000 or 10 % of the contract, whichever amount is LESSER.   For example, if a roofing contractor is installing a new roof, and the new roof were to cost $12,000 to install,  it is against the law for a contractor to ask for more than $1,000 up-front from the homeowner.   If the new roof were to cost $8,000, it is against the law for the contractor to ask for more than $800 up-front from the homeowner.  ROOF DOCTORS never requires an up-front fee of any kind prior to commencing their work.  Unless out of convenience to the homeowner, ROOF DOCTORS does not accept payment until a job has been completed and the person paying for our services has been totally satisfied with our work.