re: Flooring Options

I hired a contractor that said they were liscensed with the state, however they were not liscensed. The owner of the company is a liscensed commercial contractor but contracted with me in a name other than the name he is liscensed in and has been fined. He did not subcontract the job out. Commercial and residential contractors are exempt from the law that requires them to be registered as a home improvement contractor. However, flooring contractors that perform work between $7,500 and $75000 must be registered with the state as a home improvement contractor unless they already have a commercial or residential liscense and hold an exemption. If the contractor fails to do so, and you do not pay them, then they have no standing in court to recover the money. Now, I am not certain how all of this works when it comes down to subcontactors working under a general comtractor. And to answer your statement, yes they did royally frick me over. Hopefully I will get some of my money back in a reconventional demand.

Eta..I didnt pay 3.50, I paid 2.50

I didnt go with the cheapest estimate. I felt like the person I hired was reputable and qualified. As it turned out, he just didnt supervise his employees correctly and I got burned. I learned a lot from the experience. I would recommend to the OP, read the brochure on the Louisiana state board for liscensed contractors website for consumers to know what to expect from a qualified contractor. Also, check prior to hiring any references and also see if they have ever had any complaints filed against them.