The EPA is increasing inspections of RRP job sites and stepping up enforcement efforts

Enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rulehas so far yielded three noncompliance claims against contractors, with the first dated May 6.

However, as noted in a summary of a recent webinar presented to remodelers by the National Association of Home Builders, the agency will be stepping up inspections in 2012 and following through on tips likely to lead to enforcement action. Don Lott, associate director of the EPA’s Waste and Chemical Enforcement Division, told webinar participants that the agency already has conducted 1,000 compliance inspections of job sites and contractor-training certifications, as well as audits of records that contractors must keep for projects requiring lead-safe practices.

The RRP rule applies to residential renovation, repair, and painting on properties built before 1978. Contractors, landlords, and property managers are subject to the rule, although individual homeowners and tenants doing work on their personal residence are exempt.

Collecting and culling tips
The EPA is enforcing the rule in all 50 states, although 12 states (Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin) administer the rule on their own.

One indication of the potential scale of enforcement action, NAHB noted, is that the EPA has been receiving an average of 400 tips a month (many of them submitted via the agency’scompliance and enforcement page) and has found that 60% of firms inspected so far have not yet been certified to perform RRP work. NAHB maintainson online database on RRP compliance, training, and certification requirements.

NAHB says members can access for free a recording of the webinar – and download related documents and slides – on the group’s “Webinar Rewinds” page:http://www.nahb.org/product_details.aspx?forSaleID=9068

The material is available to nonmembers for $44.95.

• Change some windows and doors
• Replace counter tops and back splashes
• Replace lighting fixtures
• Clean and re-stain a deck
• Add crown molding to a few rooms
• Install new carpet or hardwood flooring
• Replace old and dated lighting fixtures
• Add task lighting to your counters
• Freshen your yard with new shrubs and trees
• Add a Pergola over your patio

This is the house before the addition.

This is the house after the addition.

See a complete set of construction photos here: https://picasaweb.google.com/KnollwoodConstruction/DeeScreenRoomAddition

01. Do you enjoy physical work?

02. Are you persistent and patient?

03. Do you have reliable work habits? (This means that once you start, it will get finished in a timely manner)

04. Do you have all the tools needed and the skills required to do the job?

05. What quality level do you need for this project? Are your skills at that level?

06. Do you have the time that will be required to complete the project? (FYI – the first time you do something, it will almost always take 2 to 3 times as long as a “normal” install, then you also have to calculate how tired you will be at the end of your normal workday or work week)

07. Will it matter to you or other family members if the project remains unfinished for an extended period of time?

08. Are you prepared to handle the kind of stress this project will create in your family relationships?

09. Do you know all of the steps involved in the project?

10. Have you gotten and reviewed the installation instructions from the manufacturer to determine whether this product will meet your needs, that you have the abilities to install it, and do you have the tools necessary / ability to rent them? (Most manufacturers installation instructions can be found on the web)

11. Is this a job you can do completely by yourself or will you need assistance? If you do need assistance, what skill level is involved for your assistant and do they have that knowledge and skill level? If you need a professional subcontractor, do you have access to a skilled labor pool?

12. Are you familiar with your local building codes and permit requirements?

13. Do you have a plan for what to do if the project goes awry / location of the main water shutoff?

14. Is it safe for you to do this project? (Everyone’s health and safety should be your primary concern)

15. Will you be able to obtain the materials you need? Who will be your source of supply? Will they deliver?

16. Are you attempting to do-it-yourself for financial reasons? If so, have you looked at all of your costs, including the cost of materials, your time, and the tools you need to purchase or rent? You may also want to look at the cost to correct any mistakes you may make—i.e., the damage factor. Will it still be a cost-saving venture?

17. If you are trying DIY for the satisfaction of a job well done—can you ensure that the job will be “well done”? If it doesn’t come out right, how will you feel? Will you be able to afford to redo any unsatisfactory work?

If you answered yes to at least 8 or more of these questions, you might have what it takes to complete a successful project. However, before you run for the nearest hardware store, revisit those questions you marked “No” on, and carefully consider the potential problems you will face in those areas if you proceed.

by CHATTANOOGA REMODELER on JANUARY 23, 2011

If you are sitting on a million dollars or half a million dollars or even $200,000, you might consider getting advice from a financial advisor. With that kind of money, you’d want the best advice on how to grow your investment. During your first session with him you are going to go over your goals and ambitions, what assets you have, and when and how you plan to retire. With this information, your advisor will put together a plan to help you achieve your goals. You may put some of the money in stocks, some in bonds and some in annuities. At certain milestones you’ll change the funds from one place to another to maximize your return. Most of you will stick with your advisor for life, if he does a good job for you. Having a good financial advisor turns out to be a good move for you and your family.

We’ve all heard that most people’s homes are their largest assets. This is repeated in many ways, and in many circumstances. We’ve heard it so many times that it is rather a cliché of sorts, and we don’t give it that much thought. All we know is that when the time comes to sell our homes, we hope to get a good return on our investment.

So, how many of you have hired a financial advisor to protect your home, your largest asset in most cases? I’m guessing that very few have. Most live by the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rule. When you think about this philosophy, as far as your house goes, it’s plain dumb. Take a look at car maintenance for instance. Do you perform routine preventative maintenance on it? Sure you do. You don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road somewhere. What if the airlines adopted that philosophy? Now that’s scary. Nobody would want to fly anymore. So why let your house rot, and then fix it. Why have your furnace fail on a cold night, and then fix it. Why let your home decrease in value when it could be increasing in value with routine maintenance.

I think you get my point by now. Routine maintenance on your home is very important, not only financially, but also in terms of your comfort and convenience. You need a trusted advisor to look over your entire home and see when certain parts of the home need to be replaced or serviced. You need to know when the repairs or maintenance will be needed and how much it will cost. It’s time to —– Adopt a contractor!

Just as you hired your financial advisor, you need to interview a few contractors and get references. She or he need to be experienced with all facets of your home. I would suggest a full service remodeler, possibly with design-then-build experience. They need to know what products are best, and how they should be installed and who should install them. A good contractor should be surrounded by experts in all fields. She or he should have built relations with the best in the business, so you get the best advice and service when it is needed.

Your home is a system. Everything in your home has to work together. Your home’s function is to keep you warm and dry, safe and comfortable at all times. It is an envelope that protects you from the outside world. Find a contractor that understands this; one that can see the big picture, and will guide you toward the best possible return on your investment. This should be a long term relation, so that your contractor becomes familiar with your home and your lifestyle and you know what to expect from your contractor. When you find such a person, life will be so much better. Now you can set up an annual budget for the future maintenance needs of your home and schedule them at your convenience.

Your contractor may not wear a suit and tie, but he may well be the most important financial advisor you’ve ever hired.

Catastrophic deck collapse

Deck failures are on the rise all over the country. The primary reason is structural failure of the wood itself or the mechanical connections that hold the wood together. Why now and why so many. We are coming off a building boom that lasted for years. There was so much demand that many people were building decks without the proper knowledge. In many cases building permits were not required, so they were not inspected for code compliance. In cases where building permits were required they were not secured because people wanted to save some money.

In a nut shell, poor construction practices and a lack of regular inspections is the root cause. In recent years decks and exterior stairs have come under scrutiny because of the failures that took human life. What these inspectors found was a lack of proper construction techniques and a lack of high quality fasteners.

Based on these findings new building codes and hardware solutions have been developed to minimize these failures. Chicago, IL has some of the strictest in the nation.  Any outdoor structure needs to be maintained. The elements in the Mid-west can be especially hard on these structures. In addition to yearly cleaning and the occasional stain or paint, most people ignore the structural aspects of their deck until it falls apart. Hopefully no one gets hurt when it does.

It is important that the building owner have these decks inspected at least every 2 years. If the deck is older it may need some structural repairs and the addition of new hardware and fasteners. If the problems are caught early you can save a significant amount of money over a total replacement.

When viewed in context, a deck inspection is very cheap insurance against what could be significant injury to persons and property. I encourage you to find a reputable carpentry company that knows the building codes in your area to inspect your deck. Remember, you do not need to fall very far to get seriously hurt. In fact, low decks can be more difficult to inspect because they are usually surrounded with lattice or siding. Out of sight out mind is not the best approach in this instance.