Painting contractors are a crucial aspect of any home improvement project, turning houses into homes with an array of colours and beautiful finishes. However, as important as they are to creating dream homes, troubling issues lurk beneath the surface when it comes to unlicensed painting contractors. In this blog post, we will delve into the surprising statistics that highlight the risks surrounding unlicensed painting contractors in Toronto specifically.
The Growing Number of Unlicensed Contractors in Toronto
The painting industry in Canada is a booming business. With thousands of contractors working to keep the walls of Canadian homes looking fresh and new. So, in what industry is painting considered? Painting is considered a construction industry. The painting and decorating industry in Canada is expected to grow by 2% per year over the next five years, according to IBISWorld.
Although this is a growing industry, it’s also one that can be quite dangerous for consumers.
What’s the problem? The majority of painting contractors are unlicensed, according to a study conducted by the Canadian Home Improvement Association (CHIA). Unfortunately, unlicensed workers are often not properly trained or insured. Which can put homeowners at risk for injury and property damage.
Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor – Did you know out of 20,000 residential renovation contractors and house painters in Ontario,
A Whopping 37% Do Not Have A Master Business License or HST Number and They Work As Unlicensed Painting Contractors?
This substantial “underground” painting contractor industry in Toronto and the GTA exists. Because, for most people, the biggest factor in a home renovation is its price. The lower, the better, right?
But there’s a reason unlicensed painting contractors can underbid for a job. In the event of a problem, the only ones responsible for the damage will be YOU and your assets.
The Top Problems You’ll Face with Unlicensed Painting Contractors:
Most unlicensed painting contractors lack formal training
- If they don’t have or bothered to get a license, why would you believe they invested the time for proper time and education in their craft?
- Ask yourself why don’t they have a license in the first place. They may have been licensed painting contractors but lost them due to complaints, legal charges, and other issues. In other words, they are trying to fly “under the radar” for whatever reason. Would you trust your biggest financial asset with someone who isn’t clear and above board?
Unlicensed painting contractors almost always sub-contract and hire other unlicensed painters and workers.
- Why would a reputable painting contractor risk their business with someone who isn’t licensed? This is also how those low estimates play out – unlicensed help is cheaper.
- No license means they’re likely not paying taxes, don’t have any liability insurance, don’t carry worker’s compensation coverage, and almost for sure are not bonded and don’t have criminal background checks. Without an actual business with employees to protect, there’s no incentive to carry coverage. And guess who’s responsible for any claims, accidents, thefts, vandalism, fraud, or poor workmanship? You as the Homeowner!!!
- You might think your home insurance coverage will protect you if you hire unlicensed painting contractors but think again. Some policies state that if you knowingly hire an unlicensed contractor, they can deny coverage.
Accountability
Sure, the painting job looks good today, but what about in a year or two? It’s very unlikely you will get a contract or guarantee with an unlicensed painting contractor. The fact is, they’ll probably be long gone when the time comes.
In fact, 95% of painting contractors go out of business within the first 3 to 5 years even when they do have a license.
The failure rate for unlicensed painting contractors is far worse!
Fraud and Scams by Unlicensed Painting Contractors
A disturbing trend among unlicensed painting contractors in Toronto is the prevalence of scams:
- Reports indicate that around 20% of homeowners in Toronto who have hired unlicensed painting contractors have been subjected to fraudulent practices.
- Unlicensed painting contractors in Toronto are more likely to be involved in unethical conduct, such as charging for incomplete work, than licensed professionals.
Quality Concerns
The quality of work provided by unlicensed painting contractors in Toronto has repeatedly been called into question:
- Research suggests that homeowners hiring unlicensed contractors in Toronto are 25% more likely to express dissatisfaction with the final result.
- Over 40% of the work done by unlicensed contractors in Toronto requires extensive repair or complete redoing.
Hiring Unlicensed Painting Contractors? It’s Just Not Worth It
Bottom line: You’re taking a huge risk with your home when you hire an unlicensed painting contractor. Think of it like this: Would you purchase your next laptop computer from Best Buy or a guy selling one from his truck?
With a properly licensed business, you can verify its reputation, check real past references, and know that you will be completely protected in the event of property damage, an accident, or injury.
At Home Painters Toronto, earning your trust is our #1 priority. We strive to give you value and peace of mind for your home improvement dollar.
A Final Takeaway
These surprising statistics should encourage Toronto homeowners to be extra cautious when selecting a painting contractor for their projects. The risks associated with hiring unlicensed professionals are evident in terms of both work quality and the possibility of engaging with fraudulent individuals. Before hiring a contractor, always verify their credentials, confirm insurance coverage, and ask for references to ensure your investment is protected and your home receives the quality finish it deserves.
Home Painters Toronto hires only experienced house painters fully trained to the high standards we bring to every job. We also protect you and your property with $5 million in General Liability Insurance (versus the industry average of $2 million) and have full WSIB coverage.
And even when the job is done, we’re still there for you. – all of our work comes with a two-year Quality Guarantee.
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That’s why at Home Painters Toronto, earning your trust is our #1 priority. We strive to give you value and peace of mind for your home improvement dollar.
At Home Painters Toronto, we hire only experienced house painters that are fully trained to the high standards we bring to every job. We also protect you and your property with $5 million in General Liability Insurance (versus the industry average of $2 million) and have full WSIB coverage.
And even when the job is done, we’re still there for you. – all of our work comes with a Two-year Quality Guarantee.
Give us a call to set up a FREE consultation and discover why Home Painters Toronto has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and why our clients have made us a top-rated Toronto painting contractor on HomeStars.
Call 416.494.9095 or email us at Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com and let our 36 years of experience work for you.
Don’t Forget the Dangers of Hiring an Unlicensed Painting contractor, simply, it’s not worth it!
