December 8, 2025 · 8 min read
Stucco is one of the easier trades to get burned in, because bad work doesn’t fail until year three. Here is how to vet a contractor before you sign.
1. Verify the license
In California, every stucco contractor needs a CSLB license. Look it up at cslb.ca.gov — confirm it’s active, the classification is correct (C-35 plastering or B general), and there are no recent disciplinary actions. If the contractor refuses to give you the number, walk away.
2. Ask for proof of insurance
You want a current Certificate of Insurance for general liability and workers’ compensation. If a worker gets hurt on your property and the contractor doesn’t carry workers comp, your homeowner’s insurance becomes the backstop — and they will not be happy about it.
3. Get three written, line-item bids
“$15,000 for the whole house” is not a bid, it’s a number. A real bid breaks out lath, scratch coat, brown coat, finish coat, accessories, scaffold, paint protection, and dump fees as separate line items. That’s the only way to compare apples to apples.
4. Visit a job they’re running right now
Forget the portfolio photos. Ask to drive by a job they’re actively working on. Look at how the crew is dressed, how the site is laid out, whether the scaffold is OSHA-compliant, and how the homeowner’s landscaping looks. That’s what your job will look like.
5. Ask about the warranty
Get the warranty in writing. “One-year workmanship” is standard. Anything shorter is a flag. Anything longer is a sales tactic — confirm the company has been in business at least that long.
6. Watch for these red flags
- Door-knocker who happens to be “finishing a job in the area.” Run.
- Cash-only or 50%+ deposit. California law caps deposits at $1,000 or 10%, whichever is less.
- No physical address.
- Unwilling to pull permits when permits are required.
- Bids 30%+ below the others. Either they’re missing scope, undercutting on labor (which means crew turnover mid-job), or they don’t understand the work.
7. Check actual reviews — carefully
Google reviews are the most useful, because they’re tied to a real Google profile and a physical address. Cross-check with Yelp and the BBB. A pattern of one-star reviews about “disappeared after the deposit” is the signal you’re looking for.
The honest truth
The right contractor is rarely the cheapest. They’re usually the one whose bid is in the middle, who answered the phone when you called, and who walked the site with you instead of giving a number sight-unseen.
