Credentials
Registration, bonds and insurance, explained
Washington puts every contractor's registration, bond and insurance on the public record. Here is what those protections mean, and how our projects stay inside them.
- WrittenScope and price
- RCW 18.27Registration required
- FreeIn-home estimates
- WarrantyIn writing
The registration
All construction on our projects is performed by a Washington-registered general contractor, registered with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries under RCW 18.27. The registration details appear on your written estimate and contract, before you sign anything, so you can run the public-record check yourself.
Verify any contractor yourself
- Open L&I Verify (secure.lni.wa.gov/verify).
- Search by the registration number, business name or UBI from the estimate.
- Check three things: status reads Active, the bond is in place, and the liability insurance is current.
Our post on how to verify any Washington contractor walks through the same check with screenshots of what good and bad records look like.
The bond and the insurance
| Protection | What it is | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor surety bond (continuous) | The state's backstop a homeowner can claim against if a registered contractor fails to perform | Amount and carrier on the contractor's L&I Verify record |
| General liability insurance | Coverage for property damage that should never happen but is insured against anyway | Policy, carrier and dates on the Verify record; certificate available at the estimate stage |
Both protections only work for you when the contractor is actually registered, which is why the registration details are on your written estimate and why we encourage the one-minute check before any contract is signed.
Why hiring registered matters in Washington
- It is the law. RCW 18.27 requires registration, a bond and insurance before a contractor may advertise or perform work, and L&I can fine violators up to $10,000 per advertising violation.
- Permits. Building departments across Clark County expect a registered contractor on permitted work. Unpermitted work surfaces at resale, in insurance claims and in code enforcement; our permit guide explains who issues what.
- Recourse. The bond, the insurance and L&I's complaint process only protect you when the contractor is actually registered. An unregistered operator takes all of that protection away with the discount.
Licensed trades on every project
Washington licenses electrical and plumbing separately from general contracting. On our projects those portions are performed by appropriately licensed trades under our coordination, permitted correctly for the jurisdiction: the City of Vancouver issues its own electrical permits inside the city, while unincorporated Clark County electrical work permits through WA L&I.
Paperwork hygiene, start to finish
A clean project is contracts and paper as much as lumber: a written scope and price before work starts, change orders in writing, permits closed out with final inspections, and lien releases from suppliers and subcontractors as payments are made. It is unglamorous, and it is exactly the part a homeowner cannot see from the driveway, so we put it in writing where you can.
License and insurance questions
What registration does the work run under?
All construction is performed by a Washington-registered general contractor, and the registration details appear on your written estimate and contract so you can verify them before signing.
How do I verify the registration?
Open L&I Verify, search by business name, registration number or UBI, and check the status, bond and insurance. The whole check takes about a minute, and any contractor should welcome it.
What bond and insurance stand behind the work?
Washington requires every registered contractor to post a continuous surety bond and carry general liability insurance, both on file with L&I and visible on the contractor's public Verify record. A certificate of insurance is available at the estimate stage.
Why does registration matter in Washington?
Under RCW 18.27, contractors must register with L&I, post a bond and carry insurance before advertising or performing work. The bond and insurance exist for the homeowner's protection, and L&I can fine unregistered operators up to $10,000 per advertising violation. Hiring registered keeps you inside that protection; our verification guide shows the check.
Do you use licensed electricians and plumbers?
Yes. Washington licenses electrical and plumbing work separately, and those portions of your remodel are performed by appropriately licensed trades under our coordination, with the right permits: city-issued inside Vancouver, through WA L&I in unincorporated Clark County.
Free in-home estimates
Ready to plan your remodel?
Tell us about your project. We visit, measure, and give you a written scope and price. No obligation.
- Written pricing
- Permits handled
- Warranty in writing