Deck Projects: The Ins and Outs of Hiring Labor
“It’s important to be aware of potential risks associated with getting a friend to help with a project versus hiring professional labor.”
For some projects, it can be tempting to casually bring someone in to help with a particular aspect of your deck instead of hiring a professional, but what are the risks or potential legal issues that may come up?
In part two of our decking series, we’re going to share just that. We’re joined by one of the greater Seattle area’s premier deck builders: former co-founder of West Coast Decks, Joel Skillingstead. Joel has been building decks in the Pacific Northwest since 1990. With more than 30 years of experience building, overseeing, and waterproofing deck projects large and small, Joel is one of the best resources out there.
In this episode, we discuss the potential risks associated with getting a buddy (or friend of a friend) to help you with a building project or paying someone under the table versus hiring professional labor. Watch the video above or keep reading for a detailed recap.
Is having a friend or casual laborer help build a deck okay?
If you hire someone on the side, it’s important to be aware that there is some risk. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Legally in the state of Washington, if you hire someone to help with a building project, that person should be licensed, bonded, and insured. If they aren’t, then you’re responsible for being licensed to build. You can use a free verification tool to see if who you’re hiring is verified on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website here.
- If someone who is licensed, bonded, and insured works on your home and has an accident or is hurt, the state industrial insurance will cover associated costs and care. However, if you have a buddy casually helping out and they get hurt, you may be responsible for covering medical costs, potentially from your homeowner’s insurance, which isn’t meant to cover serious accidents.
- When hiring help, also consider the scope of the project before opting to cut corners instead of hiring a professional. For example, multi-level decks are more complex and require more precautions than simple, ground-level decks and therefore require more experienced builders.
For more decking support, trusted knowledge, and decking resources, head to the Dunn Solutions library or browse all our deck-related posts here.
