Van Dycke Projects, in Steinbach, Manitoba, is insured. The company carries WCB coverage and $5 million in liability insurance. WCB is the provincial plan that covers injured workers. The liability insurance covers damage during the work. Owner Malachi also holds a Red Seal in carpentry, a personal trade certification.
What does WCB coverage protect a homeowner from?
WCB coverage protects you if a worker gets hurt on your job. WCB stands for the Workers Compensation Board. It is a provincial plan, and Van Dycke Projects pays into it for its crew.
Say a worker is injured on your property. With WCB in place, that plan covers the worker. The cost does not land on you as the homeowner. Without it, an injury on your site can become your problem. That is the risk WCB takes away.
What does the $5 million liability insurance cover?
Van Dycke Projects carries $5 million in liability insurance. Liability insurance pays for accidental damage caused by the work. If the crew damages your property during the job, the insurance stands behind it. You are not left to chase the cost yourself.
This is not the same as the warranty. A warranty covers the quality of the work. Insurance covers accidents. Van Dycke Projects carries both.
What does being insured actually mean for you?
For a homeowner, insured is not paperwork. It is who pays when something goes wrong. If a worker is hurt, WCB covers them, not you. If your property is damaged during the work, the liability insurance covers it, not you.
Those two risks are the ones most likely to blindside a homeowner. Van Dycke Projects carries both so they are not sitting on your household. That is what to look for in any contractor before the work starts.
How long is the workmanship warranty?
Van Dycke Projects gives a one-year workmanship warranty. It starts at substantial completion. Substantial completion is the point when the renovation is finished and you can use the room. For one year from that point, the crew stands behind the quality of its own work.
The warranty has limits, and Van Dycke Projects is clear about them. It does not cover normal wear and tear. It does not cover manufacturer defects, or damage caused by others, or misuse. It does not cover anything Van Dycke Projects did not install.
What is the better question to ask a contractor?
Insurance is the baseline. The sharper question is who stands behind the finished work, and for how long. With Van Dycke Projects, one team owns the job and warranties what it installs for a year.
It also helps to ask about training. Owner Malachi holds a Red Seal in carpentry. A Red Seal is a recognized trade certification he earned himself. It certifies the tradesperson, not the company, so keep it separate from a business licence. Van Dycke Projects is also a member of the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce.
Here is what Van Dycke Projects carries:
- WCB coverage through the provincial plan for workers
- $5 million in liability insurance for damage during the work
- A one-year workmanship warranty from substantial completion
- Membership in the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce
- Owner Malachi's Red Seal in carpentry, a personal trade certification
When you compare contractors, ask for proof of WCB and liability coverage. Then ask who warranties the work. You can read why our price does not move, or see the renovation FAQ on the Van Dycke Projects homepage.