Florida Keys Gets Tough On Unlicensed Tile Contrac
Key West, FL, June 12--Middle Keys, FL tile contractor Fred Schmidt has seen the trucks loading tiles at the Marathon Home Depot, according to the Keynoter.
"I see these unmarked trucks from Miami with no contractor’s license on the side loading in piles of tile," he said. "There are a lot of these guys coming down and working for very low prices, keeping the work away from local contactors."
It’s an often-heard complaint in the Keys, and the Florida Keys Contractors Association has been fighting this battle for years, trying to make sure that Monroe County and the cities use local contractors. However, the association has had only moderate success.
"It’s flagrant, especially in the Upper Keys," said Executive Director Bill Smith. "We’re trying to keep unlicensed contractors out of the Keys, but we’re too small to do much about it," and admitted it’s an issue that’s on the back burner right now.
Home Depot itself uses a contractor from outside the Keys, US Carpet, for the work it does here. Schmidt said he approached the chain about work and even filled out the appropriate paperwork, but to no avail. He said that when he called about getting work, the person he spoke to indicated he would be used only if US Carpet is not available.
According to Home Depot spokesman Don Harrison at the company’s Atlanta headquarters, the company prefers to use local contractors if possible.
"It certainly makes sense for us, especially in the Keys," he said. "It’s a small community down there and everyone knows everyone."
Harrison went on to say that the company wouldn’t end a contract with a company that was doing good work and satisfying the company’s customers. In the case of flooring, Home Depot has a contract for the entire state with US Carpet, a national firm that often then hires local workers.
In addition, Home Depot has a rigorous set of requirements for contractors that includes prices as well as quality. He also said that any local contractor must carry worker’s compensation and liability insurance, and that it’s often too expensive for many small companies.
The influx of unlicensed contractors is an ongoing problem that, according to Monroe County Code Enforcement Senior Inspector Jack Reed, ebbs and flows. The county, however, has always pursued unlicensed contractors aggressively.
"It’s a serious issue, not only because it denies work to local contractors but also because of safety," Reed said. "Not only might the work be shoddy, but these people usually don’t have liability insurance or worker’s comp insurance. If there’s an accident or a worker gets hurt, the homeowner will be liable."
The county assesses a $500 fine on unlicensed contractors found to be working illegally in the area. In addition, homeowners get slapped with a $150 fine for "aiding and abetting" an unlicensed contractor.
Another reason cited for the latest influx of unlicensed contractors is the rapid increase in home prices in areas such as Key Colony Beach. Tile contractor Schmidt indicated that many very wealthy people are purchasing the homes as investments and don’t want to put much money into upgrading them because they intend to resell them soon.
"They try to spend as little as possible and get people who are installing tile for a dollar a foot," he said. "I just can’t compete with that. I’m not high-priced, but I have to pay health insurance, insurance on my house, my mortgage — and all of that is expensive down here."
Contractors and homeowners can report unlicensed contractors to Code Enforcement. Reed said his office would follow up on complaints.
"We get good cooperation from both contractors and homeowners, and they are a major source of our information in this area," he said.
