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The average consumer cannot be expected to identify the qualified contractor, especially today, when so many considerations of moisture, energy conservation, materials with poisonous potential exist.
Zara Norman offers “3 reasons why it’s hard for Mainers to spot a bad contractor” in a recent BDN story, and identifies impediments to reducing the problem through licensing.
Here are five reasons why licensing builders and contractors would benefit all of us.
As demonstrated among many occupations and professions, five preconditions create the foundation of effectiveness:
One, the practice being regulated is widely perceived as important to public well-being. (Astrology, for example, does not rise to this need.)
Two, failure to achieve acceptable levels of practice often results in significant harm. (Installing vapor retardant materials in a cold climate on the exterior of an insulated shell will severely accelerate deterioration of the structure — absent sophisticated mitigation.)
Three, members of the general public cannot be expected to develop the expertise needed to protect itself or others adequately. (No need to license anyone wielding a hammer for its usual purpose, whereas the ability to construct energy-efficient, economical, and durable structures lies beyond the capacity of ordinary members of the public.)
Four, the industry to be regulated cannot be expected to police itself to protect the public sufficiently (operators of nuclear generators can be presumed qualified under self-administration of standards applied by the owners of the facilities.)
Five, those possessing requisite knowledge, skill, and experience needed to perform the tasks being licensed accept limitation of access to those properly qualified as important to achieve and protect public good, and willingly adopt requisite standards for their development and measurement — unambiguously, demonstrably, equitably, and defensibly. (Licensing creates a form of monopoly, even just as self certification, a restriction to the free market which can be permitted only if the public good achieved surpasses the value diminished from unfettered exercise of the free market.)
What are we waiting for? Unqualified contractors not wanting to live up to the public trust we all deserve?
George Terrien
Rockland
Election notice: The BDN will stop accepting letters and columns related to the Nov. 5 election on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Not all submissions can be published.
