"Your home is your castle." "There's no place like home." "Home is where the heart is." "Make a house into a home." We have all heard these and countless other adages about the bond between an individual and their dwelling. It doesn't matter if we are describing a mobile home or a mansion, a quaint cottage or sprawling estate. For most people, their home is among their largest investments. Even in a tough economy with rampant foreclosures, a house is also one of the best ways to build wealth over time. Equity comes from paying down debt, as well as increasing the value of the property. And just as a high tide raises all boats (that are in the water), an improving market elevates the vast majority of housing values. Of course, a poorly maintained, leaking boat will struggle to stay above the tides and the same can be said of a poorly maintained house.

This blog will delve into some off the many systems that comprise a house (roofing, ventilation, HVAC, insulation, windows, entry systems, flooring, kitchen and bath). We will discuss what it takes to keep these systems functioning properly, how to maintain them, and what to look for when replacing or upgrading them.

Home improvement is a scary business. Cutting corners to save a few bucks may end up costing you dearly in aggravation, legal entanglements, premature system failure and subsequent replacement. Unpaid subcontractors can place a lien on your home, even if you paid the entire amount of the contract. Does the contractor carry insurance? The Yellow Pages ad may say so, but those claims are never verified. A worker getting injured on the job potentially places the home-owner at risk of liability. "Lifetime" warranties are only as strong as the company that backs them up. With nearly 70% of contractors going under within 7 years, who do you go after if/when something goes wrong? Buried deep in the fine print, it is all-too common to find clauses nullifying warranty protection if installation is not in accordance with manufacturer specifications. How does an unsuspecting homeowner know if the installation is done properly and in accordance with those specifications?

This blog will help to expose the issues that can turn a home improvement project into a nightmare. Knowing how to protect yourself should provide some much needed peace of mind.






Monday, May 13, 2013

OSHA sends roofers a firm message on violating safety measures

 
The U.S. Occupational Health & Safety Administration is cracking down on roofing safety violations, as a string of high-profile cases in the last few months demonstrates:
  • St. Louis, Mo.: Roofing contractor KG Framing and Construction LLC, cited for 12 safety violations, including one willful and three repeat, for failing to provide roofers with protection from falls. Proposed fines total $121,480.
  • Salina, Ks.: Ryan Roofing Inc. cited after a worker suffered a broken neck and was paralyzed when he fell 20 feet from the roof of a commercial building. Proposed fines total $115,500
  • Lemont, Ill.: Roofing contractor, Woodridge Enterprises Inc., cited for eight safety violations, including three repeat, for lack of protection from falls at a residential job site. Proposed fines total $47,960.
  • Milford, Conn: Amilicar Samper Perez, doing business as Roof Systems of Connecticut, cited for alleged repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards. Proposed fines total $44,880
  • Ridgefield, NJ: Conte Roofing Co. Inc., cited for  two repeat and four serious violations, including fall hazards. Proposed fines total $57,300
OSHA officials will argue it shouldn't be about the money; it's about the safety of workers. Falls from roofs reportedly account for one-third of construction fall fatalities. In general, falls are the leading cause of fatalities in construction. Nevertheless, the scale of these fines is extreme, due in part to repeat violations. Fines levied against contractors increases with the number of citations. Citations of this magnitude could permanently bury many roofing companies, and contractors may want to explore how to exercise their rights in this webinar by the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA).
The cases come right at the time the temporary enforcement measures for residential fall protection expired. OSHA apparently outlasted the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), which had lobbied hard for different fall protection rules for residential construction in the past. Moving forward under the circumstances, the NRCA is now offering  free fall-protection courses.
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