Vetting a water damage contractor

Work requested through this site goes to verified local restoration contractors licensed in California for the work. Checking for yourself takes a few minutes and is worth doing with anyone who works on your home.

Before work starts

• License: look up the number on the CSLB website. Active status, matching business name and a classification that fits the work.
• Bond and workers' comp: shown on the CSLB record.
• Standards: ask whether the crew follows the IICRC S500 water damage standard and whether technicians hold IICRC credentials.
• Scope in writing: what is being removed, how drying will be verified, and how pricing works.
• Insurance paperwork: read anything about assigning benefits or direct payment before signing.

Red flags after storms

• Unsolicited door knocks right after a storm.
• Pressure to sign on the spot.
• Large cash deposits. The CSLB's hiring guide covers down payment limits.
• No license number, or one that does not match.

During the job

• Daily moisture readings.
• Photos before walls are closed.
• Change orders in writing.

For coastal homes

If the water came through the envelope, ask who will fix the cause. Drying without a window, deck or roof repair leaves you exposed to the next storm.

California law, briefly

• Since January 1, 2025, a license is required for construction work of $1,000 or more, or any job requiring a permit or employees.
• Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing and include the contractor's license number and business address.
• The down payment cannot exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less.
• Except for the down payment, payments should not exceed the value of work done or materials delivered.

Interview questions

1. What is your license number and classification?
2. Do you follow the IICRC S500 standard for water damage?
3. How will you document moisture and drying?
4. Who will fix the cause if this was an envelope leak?
5. How do you handle hidden damage and change orders?
6. What will you need from me and my insurer?

Insurance paperwork to read carefully

Some contractors ask homeowners to sign documents that direct insurance payments to the contractor. Read anything like this before signing, understand what rights you give up, and ask your insurer if you are unsure.

After a storm

CSLB has long warned consumers about unlicensed operators who appear after disasters. Verify every license, never pay large sums up front, and get everything in writing.

Red flags, in more detail

Comparing bids fairly

Restoration estimates often list equipment days, square footage of removal, labor hours and materials. Compare scope line by line. A lower bid may omit drying days, cabinet removal or containment that another contractor considered necessary. Ask each contractor to explain differences.

A five-minute check before anyone opens a wall

1. Look up the license number on the CSLB site and confirm the business name matches the truck, the contract and the invoice.
2. Read the license classification and status, and note any disciplinary history.
3. Ask who will be on site each day and who you call with questions.
4. Ask how they will document moisture and how often they will check readings.
5. Confirm in writing that nothing beyond the agreed drying scope happens without your approval.

Del Mar Water Damage Pros works with verified local restoration contractors, and we still suggest every homeowner run this check. It costs nothing and protects you from storm-season door knockers.

Sources, accessed Oct 16 to 17, 2026: CSLB: Check a license · CSLB: Hire a licensed contractor · IICRC (publisher of the ANSI/IICRC S500 water damage standard) · CSLB: $1,000 license threshold, AB 2622 (PDF) · CSLB: Home improvement contracts