Ohio has no statewide general contractor licence, so a homeowner checks a water damage company by what it holds and what its work requires. Ask for its licence and insurance details in writing, check them with the Ohio Department of Commerce and ask for the scope before work starts.
Key takeaways
- Ohio has no statewide general contractor licence
- Cities and counties license general contractors locally
- Some trades are licensed through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board on commercial work
- No Ohio state mold-remediation licence was found in an official source
- Ask for the scope, the drying target and the insurance in writing
What licensing looks like in Ohio
Licensing is set by trade and by place, not by one statewide general contractor licence.
Ohio does not have a statewide general contractor licence. Cities and counties license general contractors locally, and a secondary guide says Cincinnati and Cleveland have their own registration systems. Some trades are licensed through the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, under the Department of Commerce's Division of Industrial Compliance, for certain commercial projects. That board excludes residential buildings, according to the same guide.
So the answer to 'is this company licensed?' depends on the work. A water company may need local registration for general work and a licensed trade for a plumbing or electrical repair. Ask the company which apply to its work, and check them yourself.
Mold remediation and its licences
No Ohio state mold-remediation licence was found in an official source.
This site did not find an Ohio state mold-remediation licence in an official source. A company that describes itself as certified for mold should say which certification it holds, who issued it and what it covers. Do not accept a general claim of certification without the details.
The honest question to ask is what the company does to control the mold, how it contains the area and how it checks the result. Those answers matter more than a logo.
What to ask for in writing
Ask for the licence details, the insurance, the scope and the drying target before work starts.
Put the important questions in writing. A written answer is easier to check later than a phone call. Ask for the company's licence and registration numbers, and the proof of insurance it carries. Ask for the scope, the removal list and the drying target.
Ask also what happens if the readings do not reach the target, and who pays for the extra visits. A clear answer to that question is a sign of a company that plans its work.
- The licence and registration numbers for the work
- Proof of the insurance the company carries
- The written scope and the removal list
- The drying target and how it will be checked
- Who does any trade work and what that trade is given
Checking a licence with the state
Check trade and contractor licences with the Ohio Department of Commerce before work is agreed.
The Ohio Department of Commerce is where a licence that is issued at state level can be checked. Verify each licence the company gives you, and note the date you checked it. Where a licence is issued by a city or county, check with that office.
Do not rely on a copy of a licence sent by a company without checking it. A copy can be out of date, or it can belong to a different person.
Red flags in a water damage company
Watch for pressure to sign, a price with no scope and an unclear licence.
Some signs are worth taking seriously. A company that asks you to sign before a scope is written, or that gives a price on the phone without seeing the house, is asking you to trust a guess. A company that will not name its licences, or that cannot show its insurance, is asking for the same trust.
A company that refuses to put its scope in writing, or that asks you to deal only with a third party, should be treated with caution. Take your time and ask for the points in writing.
| Check | What good looks like | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Licences | Named, with numbers you can verify | A vague claim of being licensed |
| Insurance | Proof sent in writing | Refusal to show proof |
| Scope | Written on site and given to you | A price with no scope |
| Drying | A target and a check date | A promise of a fixed number of days |
| Trade work | A written list of what is handed over | Open-ended agreement |
Working with the company on site
Keep the scope and the readings, and check the drying on each visit.
Once the work starts, keep the scope and check the readings on each visit. Ask the crew to show you the readings and explain any change. If the company hands work to a trade, get the trade's name and the list of work it is given.
A good company is glad of a homeowner who reads the scope. The file you keep is the same file it keeps, and a shared file prevents later disputes.
What the company must show on site
The company on site must show its licences, its insurance and the scope before drying starts.
The company that attends your house is the company that must hold the licences and carry the insurance. This line may pass the call to that company, and the company's details are given on request.
On site, ask the crew to show its credentials and to confirm the company name on the scope. That confirms the company you are working with is the company named in your file.
Questions about the crew that attends
Ask who will be in the house, how many people, and who will be the contact on each visit.
The person who attends the house is the person you deal with, so ask who it will be. Ask how many people will work at the house, whether a single supervisor will be on site for each visit, and who will be the contact if you have a question between visits.
A company that cannot answer these questions clearly may be arranging work through others without telling you. Ask for the answers in writing.
- Who will attend the house on the first visit
- How many people will work at the house
- Who will supervise each visit
- Who is the contact between visits
- Whether any work is handed to another company
Insurance the company should show
The company should show proof of its insurance, and the policy should cover the work it does.
Ask the company for proof of its liability insurance and, where it applies, its workers' compensation coverage. A certificate of insurance shows the policy and its dates. Check that the policy covers the type of work the company does, and check the dates on the certificate before work starts.
The proof is kept in the file. If a problem comes up later, the certificate and the policy are needed to show who is responsible for what.
- A certificate of liability insurance with dates
- Proof of workers' compensation where it applies
- A check that the policy covers the work done
- The certificate kept in the claim file
- A new certificate if the policy changes
Contract terms to read before signing
Read the scope, the drying target, the cancellation terms and the payment terms before signing anything.
A contract can be longer than the scope it refers to. Read the scope, the drying target, the cancellation terms and the payment terms before you sign. Watch for a clause that gives the company the right to act on your insurance payment without your agreement, and for any clause that waives your right to a second opinion.
If a term is unclear, ask for it to be explained in writing. A reasonable company will explain its terms, and it will change a term that is unfair.
- Read the scope and the drying target
- Read the cancellation and payment terms
- Watch for any right to take your insurance payment
- Watch for any waiver of a second opinion
- Ask for unclear terms to be explained in writing
Frequently asked questions
Is there one statewide licence for water damage?
No. Ohio has no statewide general contractor licence, and licensing depends on the trade and the place.
Who licenses general contractors in Loveland?
Cities and counties license general contractors locally, so check with the local office for the place where the house stands.
What is the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board?
A board under the Department of Commerce's Division of Industrial Compliance that licenses some trades on commercial projects. It excludes residential buildings, according to a secondary guide.
Do I need a mold licence to hire a company?
No Ohio state mold-remediation licence was found in an official source. Ask the company which certifications it holds and what each covers.
Where do I check a licence?
Check state-issued licences with the Ohio Department of Commerce, and local ones with the city or county office.
Is a company allowed to give a price on the phone?
A price given on the phone is a guess. Ask for the scope on site and the price basis in writing.
Who is the company that does the work?
The independent local company that attends the house. Its name is given to you on the phone or when it calls to arrange the visit.
Sources
This guide is general information for Hamilton County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.