Hiring a contractor means giving someone access to your home and a large share of your budget. In Oregon there is a simple first filter: the state requires home improvement contractors to be licensed, and checking a license takes a few minutes online. This guide explains how to check a license, what bonded and insured actually mean, what a good written quote includes and which questions help you tell a careful contractor from a careless one.
Quick answer: In Oregon, anyone paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed by the Construction Contractors Board (CCB). Before you sign, look the contractor up on the CCB website to confirm the license is active and the name matches, review the license history, and ask for current proof of bond and insurance. Then compare itemized written quotes, not just the bottom-line numbers.
Does a contractor need to be licensed in Oregon?
Yes. By law, anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home in Oregon must be licensed. The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) is the state agency that licenses contractors. Licensed contractors must carry a surety bond and liability insurance, and contractors with employees must also carry workers’ compensation insurance. Hiring a licensed contractor gives you a license history you can check and access to the state’s consumer protections.
How do you check a contractor’s license in Oregon?
- Get the contractor’s business name and CCB license number in writing.
- Go to the Oregon CCB website and use the license search to look up the contractor by name or license number.
- Confirm that the license is active and that the name matches the company you plan to hire.
- Review the license history, which can include complaint history, disciplinary history and unpaid debts.
- Ask for a current certificate of insurance rather than assuming coverage is in place.
- Check again before the project starts, since license status can change between the estimate and the first day of work.
What is the difference between licensed, bonded and insured?
| Term | What it means | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed | The contractor is registered with the Oregon CCB and has a license history you can look up | License number, then verify it on the CCB website |
| Bonded | A surety bond is required as a condition of an Oregon contractor license and exists to protect homeowners | Confirmation that the bond is current |
| Insured | Liability insurance helps cover property damage and injuries caused by the contractor or its employees. Contractors with employees also need workers’ compensation | A current certificate of insurance |
An active license does not by itself prove that a contractor’s insurance is current, so ask for current documents and keep a copy with your contract.
What should a written quote include?
A quote is your best tool for comparing contractors, but only if it is specific. Look for:
- A scope of work described in plain language
- Materials listed by brand and product line
- An itemized price rather than a single lump sum
- A start date and an estimated completion date
- The warranty on workmanship and on materials, and who honors each
- The deposit and payment schedule
- How changes to the scope will be priced and approved
- What cleanup is included
At Salexx, a written, itemized quote lists the scope, materials, timeline and warranty. A signed contract and a 30% deposit book the project, and if something changes during the work we discuss and approve the change with you before it continues, so there are no surprises on the final bill. For a worked example of how a quote is built, see what affects the cost of a roof replacement in Oregon.
Which questions should you ask before you hire?
- What is your CCB license number, and can I see your certificate of insurance?
- Who will do the work: your own crew or subcontractors? Who will be on site each day?
- What exactly does the quote include, and what does it not include?
- How do you handle surprises, such as rot found behind siding?
- What warranty covers the work, and who honors it?
- What are the deposit and payment terms?
- What is the realistic timeline, and what happens if weather delays the work?
- My home was built before 1978. Are you an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm?
- How do you protect my property and clean up each day?
- Can you give me references and show me recent projects in my area?
The CCB suggests checking two or three references before hiring, especially for big projects. A contractor who answers these questions clearly and in writing is easier to trust than one who is vague.
What are the warning signs of a risky contractor?
- They cannot or will not give you a license number
- They pressure you to sign today
- They quote a price for a condition-dependent job without seeing your home
- The scope is vague, or nothing is in writing
- The payment terms are unclear or heavily weighted to the start of the job
Any one of these can signal trouble. We give written, itemized estimates after seeing your home rather than quoting numbers over the phone, because cost depends on the size and complexity of the job, the materials, labor and site access.
Why homes built before 1978 need extra care
Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint. A contractor working on painted surfaces in an older home should follow EPA lead-safe practices to contain dust, and an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm has been trained and certified to do so. This matters for siding, trim, windows and exterior painting on older homes in Newberg, Portland, Tigard and across the region.
How does Salexx handle this?
Salexx is a family-owned exterior and remodeling contractor led by father and son Salvador and Alex Mendoza, with more than 30 years of experience. We are licensed in Oregon, bonded and insured, and we are an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm for work on homes built before 1978. Our core trades are roofing, siding, windows and doors, painting and decking.
Workmanship is warranted: exterior painting carries a five-year workmanship warranty, and decks carry a two-year warranty on wood and a five-year warranty on composite. Manufacturer warranties apply to materials and vary by product. We report a 4.9-star average from more than 100 Google reviews, and you can read customers’ own words on our testimonials page or see finished work in our photo gallery. Learn more about our team, or read our frequently asked questions on contracts, deposits and warranties. As with any contractor, we encourage you to verify our details on the CCB site before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a contractor’s license in Oregon?
Use the license search on the Oregon CCB website. Search by business name or license number, confirm the license is active and the name matches, and review the license history for complaints and disciplinary actions.
Does a contractor have to be bonded and insured in Oregon?
Licensed contractors are required to carry a surety bond and liability insurance, and those with employees must also carry workers’ compensation insurance. Ask for a current certificate of insurance to confirm.
How many quotes should I get?
More than one written quote helps you compare scope, materials and warranty, not only price. Make sure each quote covers the same work so the comparison is fair, and check two or three references for larger projects.
Is it normal to pay a deposit?
Deposits are common for home projects. Make sure the amount, what it covers and when the remaining payments are due are all written into the contract before you pay. Our deposit terms are on the FAQ page.
What does a free estimate include?
We visit your property, measure, look closely at the condition of what is there and explain what we find in plain language. A written, itemized quote follows, and there is no pressure to decide.
What is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm?
It is a company certified to follow EPA practices that contain lead dust when working on painted surfaces in homes built before 1978. Salexx holds this certification.
Ready to talk through your project? We serve Newberg, Sherwood, Tigard, Portland and nearby towns. Before you start, our winter home maintenance checklist can help you decide what to fix first. Request a free estimate or call 503-200-9880.
