Straight Answers: The Contracting, Plumbing & Electrical Questions Homeowners Ask Us Most

We get these questions on almost every walkthrough. Here are the honest answers — with links to the official sources so you don't have to take our word for it.

Does my Pennsylvania contractor have to be registered?

In most cases, yes. Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) requires contractors who perform $5,000 or more of home improvement work per year to register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, carry minimum insurance, and put their registration number on contracts and ads. Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing. You can verify any contractor's registration — including ours, PA148984 — in the state's official HIC registration search.

When does my project need a permit?

Permits are issued by your municipality under Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code. As a rule of thumb: structural changes (removing or altering load-bearing walls), additions, new egress windows, decks above a certain height, and new electrical circuits or plumbing lines typically need permits — while cosmetic work like painting, flooring, cabinets and trim typically doesn't. Requirements vary by borough and township, which is why we handle permit applications and inspections as part of any Royal Hands project that needs them.

Can a handyman legally do plumbing or electrical work?

Pennsylvania has no statewide plumber or electrician license — licensing happens at the municipal level, and each borough or township sets its own rules. Our policy is simple and conservative: we handle minor, non-permit work like swapping a faucet, replacing a light fixture or installing a ceiling fan, and we bring in licensed trade partners for anything bigger — re-pipes, water heaters, gas lines, new circuits and panel work. If someone offers to run a new circuit for cash with no permit, that's a red flag no matter how good the price is.

My home was built before 1978 — does that change anything?

Yes. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and federal law requires contractors who disturb painted surfaces in those homes to be certified under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule and to follow lead-safe work practices. Much of Western PA's housing stock predates 1978, so this comes up often — ask any contractor working in an older home how they handle it.

Where do I actually need GFCI outlets?

Ground-fault circuit interrupters protect against shock anywhere water and electricity can meet. Modern electrical codes call for GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas, garages, unfinished basements and outdoors. If your older home doesn't have them in those spots, adding GFCI protection is one of the highest-value small electrical upgrades there is. The Electrical Safety Foundation has excellent homeowner guidance on this and other electrical safety basics.

How many smoke alarms do I need, and where?

The National Fire Protection Association recommends smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home including the basement. Alarms older than ten years should be replaced entirely — not just the batteries. We check detectors on every maintenance-plan visit.

My water bill jumped. Do I have a hidden leak?

Very possibly — and the usual suspect is the toilet. A silently running toilet flapper can waste hundreds of gallons a day. The EPA's WaterSense program estimates household leaks waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water a year on average, and offers simple detection steps like the food-coloring tank test. If the meter keeps spinning with everything off, call a pro.

We're building a deck or fence. Anything before we dig?

One phone call: 811. Pennsylvania law requires notifying PA One Call at least three business days before digging so utility lines can be marked — it's free, and it applies to fence posts and deck footings, not just big excavations. We make the call on every Royal Hands project that breaks ground.

The takeaway

A trustworthy contractor should welcome these questions. Verify the registration, insist on a written contract, ask about permits, and expect licensed trades where the law and safety call for them. Have a question we didn't cover? Ask us directly — we'll give you a straight answer.

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