Where a water damage job involves repairs or rebuilding, ask for the contractor's Maryland MHIC home improvement license and check it with the state before work begins. Plumbing work needs a separate plumbing license from the Maryland Department of Labor. Unlicensed home improvement work has no Guaranty Fund protection.
Key takeaways
- The Maryland Home Improvement Commission licenses contractors doing home improvement on homes and apartment buildings of three units or fewer.
- Contracts for that work must carry the contractor's MHIC license number.
- Doing home improvement without a license is a criminal offence in Maryland.
- A homeowner who used an unlicensed contractor has no Guaranty Fund protection.
- Plumbing work needs a plumbing license, separate from the home improvement license.
Does every water damage job need an MHIC license?
Not every drying job does, but repairs and rebuilding generally do.
Whether pure water extraction or drying counts as home improvement is not settled here. Where repairs or rebuilding are part of the job, ask for the MHIC license and check it.
The Maryland Home Improvement Commission takes license checks and complaint questions on its consumer lines, which are listed on its website.
How do I check a plumbing license?
The Maryland Department of Labor licenses plumbers at master, journey and apprentice levels.
Ask the plumber for the license level and number, and check it with the Department of Labor before the work starts. A master license covers water supply, drainage and gas piping, but not heating or cooling.
What is the homeowner's protection?
Work done by an unlicensed contractor is outside the Guaranty Fund.
The Guaranty Fund does not protect a homeowner who used an unlicensed contractor. That is one reason the license check belongs at the start of the job, not after the invoice arrives.
Frequently asked questions
What do I ask a water damage company for before work starts?
Ask for the license that applies to each part of the job, the scope in writing and the credentials of the people doing the work. Call (833) 490-5225 to ask what the visit involves.
Does Brandywine Water Damage Restoration do the plumbing?
No. Drying, extraction and cleanup are separate from plumbing. Replacing a supply line or a water heater is done by a plumber with a Maryland plumbing license.
What if I have already signed?
Check the license with the state now, and ask the contractor in writing what is covered. The complaint route runs through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission.
Sources
- Maryland Department of Labor – Maryland Home Improvement Commission
- Maryland Department of Labor – plumbing licensing
This guide is general information for Prince George's County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.