by Gwen O’Neill

© Sandor Kacso | Dreamstime.co

January, 2011 — How many people do you know who have had bad experiences when hiring contractors to perform work in their homes? People who advertise on Craigslist and other places as contractors may not always be licensed contractors.

These ads are sometimes tempting because of low prices, but you could end up paying far more by choosing an unqualified or unlicensed contractor. You could be risking your family’s safety as well. It’s important to do your research before choosing any contractor, especially an electrical contractor.

In a recent conversation I had with Steve Bowerman of Bowerman Electric, he answered questions and gave some tips on finding a qualified company to do electrical work.

Q: What are the important questions a consumer should ask an electrical contractor before making the decision about which firm to work with?

A: The price of the job is the first thing you need to establish. You also need to know when they can do the job and when can they finish.

Q: Do people usually ask about your licensing and insurance?

A: Sometimes we have to have liability insurance and be bonded. We also have to have an up-to-date license with the city you’re working in. The contractor’s license number is required whenever you do any advertising. It’s something you should always look for. Not all contractors have up-to-date licenses and you can’t proceed with the job or get an inspection without it.

Q: What about building permits? Do you have to deal with them just like general contractors? Are there some projects that don’t need them or is it a good practice to always have permits?

A: You need a permit for everything except painting. Even if you are just changing out plugs, the city requires it. It has to do with city or county regulations— where you live is what determines it. Every county I’ve ever been in requires a permit. The only electrical work you don’t need a permit for is low voltage cable like Internet, TV, phones. That work is not hazardous — not a threat to the safety of your home.

Q: How do contractors guarantee their work? Is there a standard policy that most firms use?

© Lisa F. Young | Dreamstime.com

A: I have a one-year guarantee on materials. My workmanship guarantee is 30 years — that is for my work personally or that of my employees. The reason for a short guarantee on materials is that for a home near the ocean, salt air affects products. Fixtures get corroded. Most contractors give a one-year guarantee on materials.

Q: If you have crews that you send out on assignments, how do you handle supervision of your crews?

A: I meet up with them in the morning and go over the job either on the site or at the shop. They have the experience and know what needs to be done. On some jobs, I work with them. I’m really lucky — I have workmen who are really top-notch. They think of everything. Sometimes I overlook things that they will bring to my attention.

At times they have called me on a job telling me the guy that worked on the job before us left the job unfinished. Once you’re on a job, you inherit the last guy’s work and the condition the home is in. Then sometimes you have to renegotiate the job cost. You have to tell the customer, “You have a bigger problem here.” Just like a carpenter who suddenly finds dry rot or termites.

Q: Are there any jobs you can recommend that people can safely do in their own homes?

A: I really stress to people that electrical work can be dangerous and you could lose everything. If you work on a pipe under your sink, you could spring a leak and that could be a big problem — but if you don’t know what you’re doing with electricity, you could burn your whole house down.

I’ve never heard a plumber say, “Oh, you can fix that faucet.” If I try to fix my faucet and screw it up, it will cost me twice as much. I’ll have to buy the faucet again and I’ll have to pay for the labor to put it in. … That is the reason people should do what they know. I can’t recommend anything electrically that they should do on their own.

Steve Bowerman of Bowerman Electric has been in business since January 1973. Bowerman works on the Coastside and the peninsula; he has lived on the coast for 44 years. Bowerman can be reached at 650-726-4544 or stbowerman@comcast.net.