CSLB Urges Customers of Aqua Pool and Spa to File Online Complaint

Deck Expert

Mer-Ko Demonstration & Educational Seminar Schedule — 2010

September 9, 2010	Mer-Ko Fundamentals of Waterproofing Deck Systems Location: Parex USA, Inc. / Mer-Ko, 4130 E La Palma, Anaheim, CA 92807 (8am - 2pm)
December 9, 2010	Mer-Ko Annual Round-Table Location: Parex USA, Inc. / Mer-Ko, 4130 E La Palma, Anaheim, CA 92807 (8am - 2pm)

	Register Online

Seminar Descriptions

Fundamentals of Seamless Decking & Waterproofing Systems
This hands-on demonstration and seminar covers the methods and techniques you need to successfully install Mer-Ko's waterproofing and decking systems. Materials and application techniques used in Mer-Ko's waterproofing membranes, underlayments, pedestrian, vehicular and flat roof decking systems are reviewed, as well as basic project considerations, flashing details, and how to select the proper systems and topcoats for a project.

Decorative Coatings & Accents
This hands-on demonstration and seminar covers the methods and techniques you need to successfully install Mer-Ko's decorative coating systems. Materials and application techniques used in Mer-Ko's decorative coating line are reviewed, in addition to various accents and artistic affects (i.e., Antiquing Gels, Antique Release Agents, Kolor Packs, etc.).

Lunch is provided at all seminars in conjunction with interactive discussions on topics impacting project site efficiency and application success.

Upon completion of the seminar, new participants are eligible to complete the application process to become a Mer-Ko Currently Listed Applicator. For those who hold an active status as a Mer-Ko Currently Listed Applicator, attendance at any of these sessions qualifies for renewal of your status. Our Currently Listed Applicators enjoy access to Mer-Ko's complete line of waterproofing and decking systems, opening new doors of opportunity to offer high-quality systems that protect and beautify new construction, renovation, preservation, retro-fit and maintenance projects.

Join us for this exciting new seminar and position yourself to capitalize on new project opportunities!

Deck Expert

Fear Not Law blog has a great case on a tile job on decks that failed...read it here there's a lesson somewhere in that mess...

http://www.fearnotlaw.com/articles/a...952.html#_ftn2

Deck Expert

Saw this on JLC's forums...anyone want to read more or chime in go to JLC and register to post at their forums...

pestocat

New Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Posts: 16

Floating a Mortar Bed on a Balcony

I will be floating a mortar bed on a balcony 4 ft. wide by 11 ft. long. There is nothing to confine the outside edges of the bed. How is this non confinement handled. Do I float to the edge and use a steel trowel to make a sharp cut just short of the edge and just make sure I have it compacted well. Maybe use my hand to confine the mortar at the edge. A little excess will fall off the edge. Is this the way it is done? After reading Michael Byrne's article "Tiling an Outdoor Countertop", it seems I could add temporary edging to the bacony facia that would be at the finish height of the mortar bed. Seems like a solution.

Last edited by pestocat; 08-03-2010 at 05:25 PM.

Deck Expert

Passing on my email alert I just got today...

CSLB Urges Customers of Aqua Pool and Spa to File Online Complaint

Plans being formulated to help customers of potentially bankrupt company

SACRAMENTO – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is urging consumers who currently have a contract with Aqua Pool and Spa (License #799793), of Ripon, to file an online complaint if they believe they may have been harmed after a company officer, Richard Townsend, revealed to KCRA-TV news last Thursday that it had shut its doors and would be filing for bankruptcy. The company apparently has more than 50 jobs unfinished.

At the time of the news report, CSLB had begun investigating more than a half-dozen consumer complaints against the company. Since the report, CSLB has received 16 additional complaints. CSLB investigators have been unsuccessful in their attempts to contact Aqua Pool & Spa officers and are not aware of an official bankruptcy filing.

“It’s important that Aqua Pool & Spa customers contact us as soon as possible,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “This will help us build the necessary legal case and help consumers get the help they need to finish their pool projects.” CSLB is working with the California Spa and Pool Industry Education Council (SPEC) and other groups to help consumers who may have been harmed by Aqua Pool & Spa. The goal is to gather a group of licensed contractors to step in and help finish the jobs. The effort is similar to one undertaken in 2006 after a Sacramento-based pool company filed for bankruptcy.

The fastest way to activate a complaint in CSLB’s system is to file online. It’s important that consumers provide CSLB investigators with the following information:

§ The current stage of the project with Aqua Pool & Spa;

§ A copy of the contract;

§ A record of any payments made and copies of checks; and

§ Identify what work has been paid for, but not received and take photographs to document all work done.

Two of the four officers on the Aqua Pool & Spa license, Bryan John Townsend and Julio Cesar Rangel, disassociated from the company’s license on August 9, 2010. The two have filed an application for a separate, new license. CSLB has blocked that application pending further investigation.

“Disassociating from a license after there are consumer complaints doesn’t release you from your responsibility for those complaints,” said Sands. “We will not issue a new license until the current investigation is completed.”

This case also highlights the importance for consumers to not let their payments get ahead of work performed, especially for the construction of swimming pools. California Business & Professions (B&P) Code 7159.5(a)(5) prohibits contractors from either requesting nor accepting payment before work is done or materials are delivered. B&P Code 7108 makes it a crime to divert funds from a construction project to any other purpose.

CSLB urges consumers to remember the following tips when hiring and working with a contractor, especially for the construction of a swimming pool:

§ Do not make payments for work not performed or for materials not yet delivered.

§ Don't pay more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.

§ Don't pay in cash.

§ Verify the contractor's license online at www.cslb.ca.gov, or via CSLB’s automated phone system at 1-800-321-CSLB (2752).

§ Ask to see the person’s identification to make sure you are dealing with the correct individual.

§ Check references, and get at least three bids and a written contract before your project begins.

§ Make sure your contractor obtains the necessary building permits for any project. If you are unsure of these requirements, contact your local building department.

The Contractors State License Board operates under the umbrella of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. More information and publications about hiring contractors are available on the CSLB website or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752). You can also sign up for CSLB e-mail alerts. CSLB licenses and regulates California's more than 300,000 contractors, and is regarded as one of the leading consumer protection agencies in the

United States

. In fiscal year 2009-10 CSLB helped recover nearly $42 million in ordered restitution for consumers.

# # #

Deck Expert

Mer-Krete, the division of Parex that along with Mer-Ko, makes tile setting, mortar beds and waterproofing for tile decking and tile applications in showers/baths etc. has launched their new website at www.merkrete.com.

The new website brings us lots of updated information, better graphics, faster loading and lots of specs for tile and waterproofing applications!

The site looks great, check it out today!

Deck Expert

In our never ending ques to educate the world, DeckExpert.com has improved the Wilkipedia listing for waterproofing at their website. ee what we added at the site...

Do you have knowledge? Share it at wilkepedia today! Click our headline to read up at Wilkipedia now.

Deck Expert

Great View From Avila Beach roof deck

Rotted subfloor, metal lath visible in closeup view

WTF? No, you don't run irrigation lines under tile decks!

Heaved up tile in center of deck

Here's another shining example of a tile deck over a waterproofing system done badly, this time on a 3 million dollar home in Avila Beach.

There's 1500+ square feet on the main level deck and roof deck. The decks were waterproofed with a metal lath, concrete and urethane with sand broadcast into it (sand gives thinset something to grab when installing the tiles). The manufacturer is unknown but several make a tile waterproofing system similar to the system here.

So what's wrong you ask? It would be easier to answer with what's right...NOTHING!
The tile & grout have cracks all over, indicating excessive movement in the sub-structure. The tile is heaved in several places, indicating moisture underneath. The tile is higher than the door thresholds, trapping water in the thresholds, allowing water out under the tile vis a vis the weep holes doors have built in them...

The deck/tile has no allowances for expansion/contraction that occurs in exterior conditions. No mortar bed to provide a firm base. The substrate it's built over is only 3/4" plywood, not the minimum 1" as recommended by TCNA. The joists are woefully undersized, at 16" on center and only 2" x 8", can't possibly provide the necessary stiffness a tile deck requires.

This deck is a total tear off and redo, sans tile. The deck is obviously not designed for tile, but some idiot went ahead anyway...

Estimated costs to repair and redo with a traffic coating-$70,000-$80,000...
and tile is not an option!

Central Coast Waterproofing, the deck experts, is a authorized installer of Mer-Kote tile deck waterproofing systems. For your next tile deck project, call the experts at 805-545-8300 or pay the price of failure!

Deck Expert

While this new product is for wood decks, I couldn't resist in bringing this news to the world...

Eugene entrepreneur and longtime industrial hemp advocate Dave Seber hopes to make a little history today at Seattle’s HempFest, a pro-cannabis event expected to attract at least 175,000 people.

He will be introducing Hemp Shield, which he calls the “world’s first” hemp-oil deck sealer.

Hemp Shield is coming to market in an unconventional way, but it’s backed by traditional research and development, and marketed as an eco-friendly product.

Forrest Paint Co., a 37-year-old Eugene company that has developed other niche paint products, engineered the water-reducible Hemp Shield formulation, and has tested it extensively in its labs. Seber contracted with Forrest Paint to manufacture and distribute Hemp Shield, which is priced at $35 a gallon.

“In our tests, it outperforms all the other deck stains on the market, primarily for UV resistance — how well it holds its color after exposure to intensive UV light,” Forrest President Mark Forrest said.

Hemp oil historically was used in wood preservatives and coatings until the 1930s, he said, but he’s not aware of any other hemp-oil deck sealer on the market.

The hemp-oil deck finish, which soaks deeper into the wood instead of forming a film on the top of the wood, “tends to hold up better to foot traffic, standing water and other stresses on a deck coating,” Forrest said.

CLICK OUR HEADLINE TO READ THE REST!

Deck Expert

Summer 2010

Water Barriers to Withstand Shotcrete:
Shotcrete is a popular choice for tunnels, deep foundations, and other blindside work. But getting waterproofing that’s tough enough to stand up to the abuse is a top priority.

» Read the complete story here «

Sump Pumps for the Commercial Market
The larger volumes of water, higher head pressures, and complex dewatering systems involved in commercial work make selecting the right pump for the job more difficult.

» Read the complete story here «

Black or White: Roofing Color as an Energy Strategy
While black roofing membranes usually do a great job keeping water out, they may also contribute to higher energy costs and the “urban heat island effect.” The solution may be a simple black-and-white decision.
» Read the complete story here «

Deck Expert

RCI Document Competition

2011 Document Competition

RCI Professional and Quality Assurance members are invited to submit entries for the 2011 Document Competition. Winners will be presented awards at the 26th RCI International Convention and Trade Show, April 7-12, 2011, in Reno, NV, at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino.
A panel of RCI members will judge the entries for excellence in regard to such criteria as technical merit and organization, with extra points for complexity and application of innovative concepts.
Submitted projects must have completed construction after September 30, 2007 and on or before September, 30, 2010. Construction projects should include the Project Manual and Drawings. Projects may be for new construction or exterior building envelope renovation. Report entries can be any written document pertaining to roofing, waterproofing, or exterior walls, such as survey, forensic, or analysis.

For complete details: Download the Rules and Entry Form

(.pdf)

If you have any questions, contact Catherine Moon at 800-828-1902 or cmoon@rci-online.org.

Deck Expert

Saw on my Google alerts that WR Grace has applied for a new patent on a waterproofing membrane they claim to have invented.

PatentDocs has the application listed on their site. You can read it by clicking here.

Abstract:

Disclosed is a waterproofing membrane that performs well at both high and low temperatures. The waterproofing membrane comprises a carrier support layer and an adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive bitumen composition comprising bitumen (asphalt), synthetic rubber, high density polyethylene, ground vulcanized crumb rubber and, optionally, a plasticizer. The waterproofing membrane also may optionally include a removable release sheet on the adhesive layer.

Read more: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20100196648#ixzz0wb1DxxJI

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates to an adhesive waterproofing membrane that is adhered to a building or construction substrate to prevent water infiltration. In particular, it relates to a waterproofing membrane that performs well at both high and low temperatures.

Read more: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20100196648#ixzz0wb1YNQNe

Deck Expert

Crossfield Products of Rancho Dominguez CA recently received their new Evaluation Service report from ICC-ES.

Dex-o-Tex is a slip sheet traffic coating system installed only by professional authorized applicators.
It has been on the market for years as one of the first traffic coatings available.

ESR-1757 is the report number, look it up and read their new report.

Deck Expert

Metal flashings are seldom well understood by members of the construction industry, resulting in miss-applications, leaks and wind damage. In the 2010 Westcon Symposium, a group of industry leaders will attempt to bring clarity to sheet metal flashings, their uses, functions, code requirements, what is covered by principle industry publications, advantages and disadvantages of different metals, and how to integrate them into assemblies. Westcon has also created a number of sponsorship packages. This is an opportunity for members to be a part of the event in a new way that can promote your business.

Click here to sign up and get more info

Architectural Sheet Metal Manual Sixth 6th Edition

Deck Expert

The Concrete Decor Show & Spring Training is looking for innovative and informative presentations on the art and business of decorative concrete. By submitting a proposal, you will help shape the educational focus at the Concrete Decor Show & Spring Training and the future of your industry. If you are selected as a speaker/trainer, you will gain visibility in the industry and contribute to the advancement of your profession. Help the industry grow and be recognized for your expertise by becoming a presenter.

We are looking for basic and advanced courses, including educational seminars, hands-on workshops and panel discussions. Courses must be non-proprietary. Companies donating materials for workshops will receive recognition within the course and on any printed material regarding that course. If you are interested in a company or product-specific presentation, please inquire about our Product Showcase Sponsorship opportunities.

We invite experts from various fields in the decorative concrete industry including contractors, architects, manufacturers, business owners, researchers, government officials and others.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE

Deck Expert

We bring you these safety tips and information from FEMA's website.

In California and other states out west, it's not a question of if a fire strikes your community and home, but when...

Prepare for a Wildfire

Listed here are several suggestions that you can implement immediately. Others need to be considered at the time of construction or remodeling. You should also contact your local fire department, forestry office, emergency management office or building department for information about local fire laws, building codes and protection measures. Obtain local building codes and weed abatement ordinances for structures built near wooded areas.

Find Out What Your Fire Risk Is

Learn about the history of wildfire in your area. Be aware of recent weather. A long period without rain increases the risk of wildfire. Consider having a professional inspect your property and offer recommendations for reducing the wildfire risk. Determine your community's ability to respond to wildfire. Are roads leading to your property clearly marked? Are the roads wide enough to allow firefighting equipment to get through? Is your house number visible from the roadside?
Learn and teach safe fire practices.

Build fires away from nearby trees or bushes.
Always have a way to extinguish the fire quickly and completely.
Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
Never leave a fire--even a cigarette--burning unattended.
Avoid open burning completely, and especially during dry season.

Always be ready for an emergency evacuation.
Evacuation may be the only way to protect your family in a wildfire. Know where to go and what to bring with you. You should plan several escape routes in case roads are blocked by a wildfire.
Back To Top

Create Safety Zones Around Your Home

All vegetation is fuel for a wildfire, though some trees and shrubs are more flammable than others. To reduce the risk, you will need to modify or eliminate brush, trees and other vegetation near your home. The greater the distance is between your home and the vegetation, the greater the protection.
Create a 30-foot safety zone around the house.
Keep the volume of vegetation in this zone to a minimum. If you live on a hill, extend the zone on the downhill side. Fire spreads rapidly uphill. The steeper the slope, the more open space you will need to protect your home. Swimming pools and patios can be a safety zone and stone walls can act as heat shields and deflect flames. In this zone, you should also do the following:

Remove vines from the walls of the house.
Move shrubs and other landscaping away from the sides of the house.
Prune branches and shrubs within 15 feet of chimneys and stove pipes.
Remove tree limbs within 15 feet of the ground.
Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns.
Replace highly flammable vegetation such as pine, eucalyptus, junipers and fir trees with lower growing, less flammable species. Check with your local fire department or garden store for suggestions.
Replace vegetation that has living or dead branches from the ground-level up (these act as ladder fuels for the approaching fire).
Cut the lawn often keeping the grass at a maximum of 2 inches. Watch grass and other vegetation near the driveway, a source of ignition from automobile exhaust systems.
Clear the area of leaves, brush, evergreen cones, dead limbs and fallen trees.

Create a second zone at least 100 feet around the house.
This zone should begin about 30 feet from the house and extend to at least 100 feet. In this zone, reduce or replace as much of the most flammable vegetation as possible. If you live on a hill, you may need to extend the zone for several hundred feet to provide the desired level of safety.
Clear all combustibles within 30 feet of any structure.

Install electrical lines underground, if possible
Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.
Avoid using bark and wood chip mulch
Stack firewood 100 feet away and uphill from any structure.
Store combustible or flammable materials in approved safety containers and keep them away from the house.
Keep the gas grill and propane tank at least 15 feet from any structure. Clear an area 15 feet around the grill. Place a 1/4 inch mesh screen over the grill. Always use the grill cautiously but refrain from using it all during high risk times.

Back To Top

Protect Your Home

Remove debris from under sun decks and porches.
Any porch, balcony or overhang with exposed space underneath is fuel for an approaching fire. Overhangs ignite easily by flying embers and by the heat and fire that get trapped underneath. If vegetation is allowed to grow underneath or if the space is used for storage, the hazard is increased significantly. Clear leaves, trash and other combustible materials away from underneath sun decks and porches. Extend 1/2-inch mesh screen from all overhangs down to the ground. Enclose wooden stilts with non-combustible material such as concrete, brick, rock, stucco or metal. Use non-combustible patio furniture and covers. If you're planning a porch or sun deck, use non-combustible or fire-resistant materials. If possible, build the structure to the ground so that there is no space underneath.
Enclose eaves and overhangs.
Like porches and balconies, eaves trap the heat rising along the exterior siding. Enclose all eaves to reduce the hazard.
Cover house vents with wire mesh.
Any attic vent, soffit vent, louver or other opening can allow embers and flaming debris to enter a home and ignite it. Cover all openings with 1/4 inch or smaller corrosion-resistant wire mesh. If you're designing louvers, place them in the vertical wall rather than the soffit of the overhang.
Install spark arrestors in chimneys and stovepipes.
Chimneys create a hazard when embers escape through the top. To prevent this, install spark arrestors on all chimneys, stovepipes and vents for fuel-burning heaters. Use spark arrestors made of 12-gauge welded or woven wire mesh screen with openings 1/2 inch across. Ask your fire department for exact specifications. If you're building a chimney, use non-combustible materials and make sure the top of the chimney is at least two feet higher than any obstruction within 10 feet of the chimney. Keep the chimney clean.
Use fire resistant siding.
Use fire resistant materials in the siding of your home, such as stucco, metal, brick, cement shingles, concrete and rock. You can treat wood siding with UL-approved fire retardant chemicals, but the treatment and protection are not permanent.
Choose safety glass for windows and sliding glass doors.
Windows allow radiated heat to pass through and ignite combustible materials inside. The larger the pane of glass, the more vulnerable it is to fire. Dual- or triple-pane thermal glass, and fire resistant shutters or drapes, help reduce the wildfire risk. You can also install non-combustible awnings to shield windows and use shatter-resistant glazing such as tempered or wireglass.
Prepare for water storage; develop an external water supply such as a small pond, well or pool.
Other safety measures to consider at the time of construction or remodeling.

Choose locations wisely; canyon and slope locations increase the risk of exposure to wildland fires.
Use fire-resistant materials when building, renovating, or retrofitting structures.
Avoid designs that include wooden decks and patios.
Use non-combustible materials for the roof.
The roof is especially vulnerable in a wildfire. Embers and flaming debris can travel great distances, land on your roof and start a new fire. Avoid flammable roofing materials such as wood, shake and shingle. Materials that are more fire resistant include single ply membranes, fiberglass shingles, slate, metal, clay and concrete tile. Clear gutters of leaves and debris.

Back To Top

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Some of the links on this page require a plug-in to view them. Links to the plug-ins are available below.

Adobe Acrobat (PDF)

Deck Expert

Tremco Division Acquires Modular Green-Roof System

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

| More

Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance (Tremco Roofing) announced the acquisition of the BioTray™ vegetated-roof product line from Rana Creek, a company based in Carmel Valley, Calif.
BioTray is described as a natural, biodegradable, modular system for vegetated roofs, consisting of 17-inch-square trays composed of natural latex and coconut coir. Coconut coir is a fibrous, renewable product derived from coconut husks.
Tremco said that unlike traditional modular systems, the coconut fiber decomposes over time and the BioTray module is converted into growing media (soil). The process allows the growing and installing of vegetated roofs without the use of plastic, increasing the sustainability of the roof, the company said.
Mark Anderson, program manager, sustainable market development for Tremco Roofing, said the BioTray systems can be used with young plants, and also allow vegetated roofing system owners to pre-establish plants in an off-site nursery. “This enables us to install vegetated roofs that are established from day one,” he said. “Besides providing plants that are more mature and robust, this process eliminates stress on the plants during installation.”

READ THE REST OF THE PRESS RELEASE BY CLICKING OUR HEADLINE.

Deck Expert

I'll probably get sued for borrowing this but, pretty funny cartoon by Wiley...

Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller

Deck Expert

Found this and I think it's something to pay attention to!

UELPH, ON, July 21 /CNW/ - In March, a massive fire destroyed a Calgary condominium complex, leaving at least 250 occupants homeless. The combustive culprit was a cigarette in a planter outside the complex. Recently there has been a spike in fires sparked by smoking materials in potting soil. The Co-operators is urging Canadians to be aware of the danger associated with disposing cigarettes in potted plants. There has recently been a noticeable increase of incidents of fires caused by dry peat moss in potting soil. Problems are also related to fertilizers in the soil, which can act as oxidizers that accelerate fires. Many potting soils on the market today contain less dirt and more organic substances that are flammable, such as shredded wood, bark, peat moss, Styrofoam, and vermiculite.
"People should remember to be prudent when disposing their cigarettes," said Glen Oxford, claims manager for The Co-operators. "You might think you are safely extinguishing it in dirt and not realize the soil is actually flammable. The reality is that homes have burned to the ground because of careless cigarette disposal."
In light of this, The Co-operators offers the following tips to reduce potted planter fires:

-   Do not use potted plants as an ashtray.
    -   Provide an appropriate ashtray/smoker's receptacle wherever people
        are smoking.
    -   Always keep potted plants well watered and maintained.
    -   Do not keep potted plants near combustible materials.
    -   Unused potting soil should be spread in your yard or garden.
    -   Use clay planter pots whenever possible, as they may keep potting
        soil fires better contained.

Due to smoking by-laws and changes in habits, more smokers are lighting up outside than in the past and when ashtrays are not available, smokers often use outdoor pots to extinguish their cigarettes. A preventative measure to reduce the risk of potting soil fires is to make ashtrays more readily accessible for outdoor smokers.

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Limited is a 100 per cent Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $36.9 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies, it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products.
The Co-operators is owned by 47 Canadian co-operatives, credit union centrals and like-minded organizations. It is well known for its community involvement, and is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada.

For further information: Leonard Sharman, The Co-operators, 1-877-795-7272, ext. 2707

Deck Expert

**SSPC/JPCL Webinars to Address Prepping Concrete for Coatings**

Two SSPC/JPCL Education Series Webinars in August—one on acid etching and one on moisture remediation—will deal with preparing concrete for coatings.
“Etching Concrete without Environmental Drawbacks” will be presented at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, by Glynn Loftin of Loftin Enterprises. The webinar will include information about current methods of surface preparation of concrete, the current standard for chemical etching of concrete, new materials that meet the standard, and a project description showing the environmental advantages of the new material.
“Moisture Evaluation and Remediation of Concrete” will be presented at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, by Fred Goodwin of BASF. Goodwin will describe methods used to measure moisture in concrete, standards that apply, and how remediation is achieved.
Education Series Webinars provide continuing education for SSPC recertifications as well as technology updates on important topics.
Those who wish to participate in the webinars above or ones scheduled later in the year can register free at www.paintsquare.com/education.

Deck Expert

Passing it on from an ad on Craigslist....tell em you found it here!

Forensic Construction Defect Expert (Westwood)

Date: 2010-07-28, 2:42PM PDT
Reply to: job-fcxjn-1868591522@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

Forensic Construction Defect Expert

Expanding West side forensic analysis company is looking for qualified candidates for Forensic Construction Defect Analysis. Focus is mainly on tracts of single family residences. Candidates should have requisite experience and education to qualify as an expert in the field. Previous experience as an expert helpful. Must be reliable, presentable and persuasive.

Location: Westwood
Compensation: TBD commensurate with experience
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 1868591522

Deck Expert

Condo balcony collapse, 08.01.10

Sunday, August 1, 2010 (updated on 8/01/2010 at 9:45 a.m.)

5 of 7

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(Alberto Martinez AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

A second-story balcony at the Garden Court Condominiums at 4811 Oltorf Street collapsed early Sunday morning. Police say 23 people were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge after the collapse. Austin police officials believe that the load limit of the 400-square foot balcony was exceeded. Property damage estimates are approximately $10,000.

No life-threatening injuries in balcony collapse

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(Alberto Martinez AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

No life-threatening injuries in balcony collapse

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(Alberto Martinez AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

No life-threatening injuries in balcony collapse

c

Deck Expert

Reprinted from
Davis-Stirling.com by Adams Kessler PLC

BID SHOPPING

QUESTION: I would appreciate your comments on whether bid shopping by a board of directors is a violation California law or a violation of the Code of Ethics by a certified manager.

ANSWER: There are two types of bid shopping and both are considered unethical because of the unfair competition involved.

Pre-Award Shopping. The first type is called pre-award bid shopping and occurs when a board or manager receives bids on a project and instead of awarding the contract to the best bid takes the lowest bid without the contractor's knowledge or approval and discloses it to other contractors. The board or manager "shops" the bid in an effort to get new proposals below the original bid. At that point, the board may award the contract to a new low bidder or squeeze everyone yet again with a another round of bid shopping.

Post-Award Shopping. The second type is called post-award bid shopping. This one is done by the general contractor after the association awards him the contract. It is done without the association's knowledge or approval. The general takes his subcontractors' bids and shops them in an effort to drive down the costs he quoted the association. He does not pass the savings on to the association. Instead, he pockets the difference.

Negative Impact. Using a legitimate bid to chisel down other bidders can significantly impact work quality. Contractors will cut corners by substituting cheaper materials and inexperienced labor in an effort to make a profit. Some states have made efforts to curb this practice. Those efforts have been largely unsuccessful.

Managers. I reviewed the Codes of Professional Conduct posted by the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and the California Association of Community Managers (CACM) on their websites. They don't directly address bid shopping but their ethics standards are broad enough to cover the practice. In 5-01(b) of CACM's Standards of Practice:

[Managers] shall employ a sealed bid process wherein all bids are received sealed and are opened in the presence of the client board or its designated representative other than the Member.

Paragraph 14 of CAI's Professional Manager Code of Ethics states that managers shall "Not engage in any form of price fixing, anti-trust, or anti-competition."

RECOMMENDATION: I know that boards and managers who engage in bid shopping have good intentions but the practice is not ethical. Moreover, using it to save a few dollars may actually backfire and cost the association more money than it saves.

Visit our Pages!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

CSLB Urges Customers of Aqua Pool and Spa to File Online Complaint

Monday, August 23, 2010

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

RCI Document Competition

2011 Document Competition

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Abstract:

Description:

Friday, August 13, 2010

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Prepare for a Wildfire

Find Out What Your Fire Risk Is

Create Safety Zones Around Your Home

Protect Your Home

Friday, August 6, 2010

Tremco Division Acquires Modular Green-Roof System

Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

SSPC/JPCL Webinars to Address Prepping Concrete for Coatings

Monday, August 2, 2010

Forensic Construction Defect Expert (Westwood)

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Condo balcony collapse, 08.01.10

Pages

**SSPC/JPCL Webinars to Address Prepping Concrete for Coatings**