Tennessee Flooring Contractors

Consumers should carefully evaluate their space and flooring material before jumping into a flooring project. It may take a qualified professional to ensure the new material is installed correctly and safely in the desired space. Finding a contractor may be as simple as asking a few friends or neighbors and doing a little research for the best qualified person or company.

Licensing

Only eight counties in Tennessee require all contractors to be licensed by the state. In these locations, flooring contractors need to obtain a Home Improvement License for any home remodeling project between $3,000 and $25,000. A contractor's license is required for jobs larger than $25,000.

Contractors do not have to pass an exam to obtain this two year license, though there is a $250 application fee and contractors must provide a $10,000 surety bond.

Counties wanting to adopt the Home Improvement license law may do so at no extra cost. In order to institute it, the law needs a 2/3's vote from a town's or city's commission.

Legal Issues and Complaints

Consumers can file a complaint against a licensed or unlicensed contractor through the Board for Licensing Contractors or the Division of Consumer Affairs. If it's found that a contractor's actions violated the law, the Board's legal department will determine the necessary disciplinary actions, such as civil penalties or possibly revoking their license.

In cases without apparent violations, the consumer's claim will be handled through the Consumer/Homeowner Accountability Mediation Program (CHAMP) at the Division of Consumer Affairs.

This program gives the consumer and contractor the opportunity to settle their dispute without legal intervention. If both parties don't agree to participate, or there are license law violations - the case may be transferred back to the Board for disciplinary measures.

Consumer Protection

The Home Improvement Licensing program protects consumers from becoming victims of deceptive business practices or poor workmanship. The HIC program requires contractors to display their license ID anywhere they advertise as licensed, so they are easily recognizable to consumers.

The law also requires contractors to be bonded and insured in order to obtain a license. This ensures consumers won't be charged if a worker is injured on the worksite, and the bond will reimburse the client if a contractor doesn't finish the job or performs the work poorly.

In addition, the Board has established strict guidelines for contract agreements. All contracts must be in writing and contain the contact information of both parties, full details of the job, with all fields filled out before it is signed.

Unique Flooring Materials

Tennessee's marble quarrying industry took off in the late 1840s when Tennessee marble was used to create the Washington Monument. Soon after, its reputation as a high quality material with unique coloration spread across the United States. Production began in the Knoxville area and by the 1920s there were 11 marble companies and 28 quarry mines.

Tennessee marble is used as a decorative and durable material for floors, counters, elevators, and walls in several private and well-known public buildings. This includes: J.P. Morgan Library in New York City, the National Gallery of Art, other Smithsonian museums, Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C and New York City's Grand Central Station.