How to get a concrete license in Hawaii?

Becoming a concrete contractor is not a day’s job. It is something that takes years of training and practice with certifications to back up all the efforts. Given the importance of a concrete contractor’s work, one will understand such a job requires that level of skill and expertise. A concrete contractor is a trained and experienced person or a team capable of managing all kinds of projects involving concrete use. A concrete contractor can design intricate plans and execute various ideas because such a person has both expertise and experience. 

For anyone to become a concrete contractor in Hawaii, such a person must have a license. It is this license that gives a person the authority to work as a contractor. It is the proof of all the skills and experience that anyone may claim they possess. Hawaii generally requires its contractors to have a license before they can perform any construction, remodeling, or renovation in commercial or residential projects. Here are the steps to getting a license.

Determine The Kind of License You Want

There are three types of licenses that the board of contractors can issue. These are

General Engineering: This license is for contractors that work on public projects such as tunnels, waterways, bridges, highways, etc. 

General Building: This is for contractors that deal with constructing structures that involve three or more unrelated building trades.

Specialty: This is for a contractor performing construction jobs which require unique and special skills. This is where a concrete contractor usually belongs.

Licenses would be issued as in three business categories which are an entity, responsible managing employee, or sole proprietor.

Get the License Application Form

You can get the application form for the license you want through phone or email. On the other hand, you can download the application form online from the official website.

Meet The Requirements

There are certain requirements you must meet to become a concrete contractor. the requirements include:

You must be 18 years and above

You must have a solid reputation for financial integrity, honesty, fair dealings, and truthfulness.

You must be in the employment of a licensed contracting entity.

You must have at least four years of supervisory experience in the last ten years.

Write and Pass the Examination

For you to get a license as a concrete contractor, you need to write a two-part exam. The first part of this exam deals with Business and Law, while the second part is about your trade. Before you can write this exam, your application must have been approved by the board, after which you will get all the materials needed to register for the exam. These exams are conducted monthly in Oahu, Kaui, the Big Island, and Maui. 

Submission of License Requirements

Once you have passed the examination, the board informs you of the License requirements so you can submit. These are:

Social security number

A form detailing all the projects you have completed in a chronological order

At least three notarized experience certificate

Credit report

Entity Appointment

Fees

The application fee is $50 for each application, while the examination fee is $75. You will also pay for study materials for the examination, which cost about $120 in total.

Conclusion

It is essential that you don’t let your license expire before you renew it. Also, note that it doesn’t matter that you have a license in another state; for you to work in Hawaii, you must get the state license. For more information on what concrete contractors actually have to do for concrete repairs or new projects visit here!

Difference between Masons and Laborers

The construction industry is a multidimensional one that employs different workers with a variety of skill sets. From skilled professionals to apprentices and unskilled laborers, it is an industry where there is a place for everyone. One of the major jobs in this industry is masonry. Here, we compare a mason’s job with a laborer to examine the differences between the two.

Mason

A mason is an experienced and skilled tradesperson who can carry out a different construction aspect without supervision and supervise other less qualified professionals in performing the same tasks. Their skills include reading blueprints, creating structures, and other things. Masons work with different materials such as bricks, blocks, stones, etc.

Laborers

While a mason’s job is a skilled one that requires expertise, there are parts of the job where skills are not essential. For these parts of the job, the laborer serves as a helper for the masons. By using the laborers for routine jobs, the mason can focus on laying bricks’ actual work. Their job includes transporting the bricks, cutting bricks, mixing grout and mortar, and many others. Their work generally overlaps that of the apprentice, and sometimes these laborers usually end up as masons themselves.

Differences between Mason and Laborers

Skillset

The significant difference between masons and laborers is the skill set of the two. A laborer does not necessarily need to have any skills since most of the work done is routine tasks that do not require any expertise. Thus, a laborer does not require any experience for the job. However, a laborer will Still need to have basic knowledge of equipment, masonry techniques, and materials, and must have the stamina and physical strength for the job.

For a mason, the skillset is essential as the job requires expertise –  Every part of the job, from reading the blueprints to translating it appropriately, laying bricks, and other things. In short, all the skilled part of the job is handled by the mason.

Salary

The salary is also a significant difference between laborers and masons. The laborers, serving as mason helpers, are projected to collect about $31,110 

according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For those in the top ten percent, their salary is approximately $46,920. On the other hand, a mason collects an average of $50,370. However, those in the top ten percentile earn as much as $77,790 or more annually.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a laborer include:

Assisting the mason in the general performance of his duties

Transportation of bricks and other buildings materials to the working area or scaffold

Cutting bricks that would be used for patterns, arches, corners, and different complex designs 

Performing tasks such as preparing the surface, repairing structures, and other chores as determined by the mason

The responsibilities of a mason include:

Conclusion: determining the amount of material needed for a job, and this is done by providing reading and correctly interpreting the blueprint.

Laying out bricks, foundations, patterns, etc. and installing sidewalks and other concrete installations.

Conclusion

 A laborer and Mason both work side by side on construction projects. However, while a mason can work without a laborer, a laborer cannot work without a mason.