DECKEXPERT.com

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Great story in SF Chronicle on a Roof Deck

One August night, on a roof terrace in Rome, a young architect in a state of repose observes a speckled sky. It's the Night of San Lorenzo, the best night of the year to spot shooting stars.

"The air was cool, drifting from the sea, but the deck was still warm from the heat of the day," recalls architect Matthew Peek, who studied architecture in Italy on a Fulbright Fellowship in the late '90s. "I absorbed the warmth of the deck through my back, gazing up into the stars. It was kind of magical. I knew I had fallen in love with roofscapes in Italy."

Peek, now principal of San Francisco's Studio Peek Ancona, summons more memories of life above the fray in Italy: the "sea of domes" as seen from his Roman rooftop, and, from a modest terrace in Florence, adorned with lemon and olive trees, a postcard view of the famous Duomo. More than a decade later, Peek's enchantment with rooftops has long surpassed its statute of limitations as mere nostalgia for a hopeful and adventurous time in his life - the impact of these Italian terraces lingers, imbuing his architectural career.

Fwd: What Problems Does Your Association Face From Hidden Damage?

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Legal News and Comments for Community Association Boards and Managers

Issue #94 • June 2012

What Problems Does Your Association Face From Hidden Damage?

by Tyler P. Berding, Esq. and Steven S. Weil, Esq.

Every community association will face a major reconstruction project several times in the life of the development. This may occur because of anticipated problems, such as re-roofing or re-painting, but it can also occur because of completely unanticipated,and unreservedfor, problems, such as dry rot, soil subsidence, or leaks in windows and siding.

There are two different outcomes to any attempt to repair hidden damage. The first is a predictable project that succeeds in repairing the damage within the association's financial means. The second part is so unexpected and expensive to repair that it overwhelms the association's resources.

Next to damage from a natural disaster, a big, unexpected construction project is probably one of the most disruptive events in an association's life. Some associations never recover.

So what are your association's options?

Learn what your association can do when facing hidden damage in the booklet, The Perils of Hidden Damage.

This 12-page booklet is free simply by calling 800-838-2090.

Visit Us at the
40^th Annual ECHO Seminar and Trade Show on June 23 at Booth 318/419
And Get a Free Copy of Our Booklet:
The Perils of Hidden Damage.

Hear the following presentations in the Seminar Hall:

9:00 Tyler Berding: "Hidden Damage and It's Threat to Older HOA's"

1:30 Steve Weil: "Back to the Future: Facing the Email Ban Head-On"

1:30 Sandra Bonato & Andrea O'Toole: "Clean up Your Act: Handling Old CC&R Rules & Violations"

For more information see ECHO's annual seminar website here: http://www.echo-ca.org/annual-seminar/

Knox inspector warns of dangerous decks

Knox County Building Inspector Roy Braden looks at decks differently than most people. What he discovers often leaves him speechless.

Braden finds critical structural components missing from many decks in East Tennessee, such as joist hangers.

"Decks are the number one place where people are going to get injured," said Braden. "Usually, there are injures that are substantial injuries. My plea to people out there would be this: obtain a building permit. Require your contractor to get one."

The main problem, the inspector believes is homeowners either don't know building permits are needed to build decks in many Tennessee municipalities or they don't care.

Braden said 90% of decks are built without a building permit, according to the International Code Council.

READ THE REST BY CLICKING HERE http://www.wbir.com/news/article/220168/2/Knox-inspector-warns-of-dangerous-decks

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

New at the Annual Seminar, HOA Legislation, and Great Boards

ECHO's 40th Annual Seminar Is Here

Join us on Saturday, June 23rd

How do you change your association? At ECHO, we believe that the only effective way is education. Board members and homeowners committed to education can inform, protect, and grow their communities. Whether you are a veteran board member or a new owner in an HOA, you will learn something new at ECHO's Annual Seminar.

This year's Annual Seminar will feature:

   • A freshly updated guide to HOA operations.
   • 16 educational classes, including our respected HOA University course.
   • Hundreds of exhibitors and prizes.
   • Exciting live demonstrations of HOA maintenance.

Join us for the most fun, interactive, and educational seminar yet! We know that you will learn something new. Be a leader in your HOA: get educated, inform your neighbors, and strengthen your community. Register or learn more on our Annual Seminar event page.

ECHO Annual Seminar

What Makes a Great Board

How does your board measure up? Is your board "just getting by" or are you leading your community to a more stable, open, and prosperous future? Perfection is difficult to achieve, but this article by long-time association manager and consultant Julie Adamen can get you started on the right path. Here are just a few things that great boards do:

   • Great boards act as fiduciaries.
   • Great boards speak with one voice.
   • Great boards are proactive with information.

But what does it mean to be "proactive with information" or to "act with one voice?" Read the full article, from our March ECHO Journal, on the ECHO website.

Read the Full Article

What's New at the Annual Seminar

HOA University. ECHO's HOA University program is an excellent course for first-time board members or veterans who want a refresher. This year we have updated our HOA University course guide to address current laws and practices. Come to the Seminar, get your copy, and take it to every board meeting!

Passport Program. In addition to great prizes from our vendors, we're adding a fun way to win stuff from ECHO. Enter to win an iPad 3, a Kindle Fire, or one of two Kindle Touch readers by completing your Passport. The winners will be contacted after the show and announced in the ECHO Journal.

We Are! After years of incredible service, Oliver and Dorothy have retired. Come thank them at the Seminar, and meet the new crew at ECHO. We are eager to meet you: our association members. Tell us what you think, what you need, and introduce yourselves; we will be walking about the Seminar throughout the day.

Annual Seminar Program

HOA Legislation

June 1 was the final day for bills to pass out of their house of origin. We are working with or watching 13 bills in 2012. Here is a brief update on three of those bills:

AB 805 & 806 - These bills will replace the existing Davis-Stirling Act. The California Law Revision Commission (CLRC) has worked for several years to simplify and renumber the Act, and these bills are the results of their efforts. While the update is not supposed to change the substance of the law, we are watching all amendments very closely. ECHO's Legislative Committee is working closely with the CLRC to avoid potentially harmful changes to CID law.

AB 1726 - This bill, facing opposition from ECHO and other industry groups, died in the Assembly. The bill would have required all common interest developments to hire "qualified pool operators" to maintain their pools. "Qualified" was defined by the bill as someone who has taken a state-mandated course, among other requirements.

Read the ECHO Journal for regular updates on our legislative activities including bill descriptions, positions, and advocacy opportunities.

Talk to Us

"Thick skin" is a requirement in HOA life, and we've got it. So go ahead: whether you like what you see or want something completely different, we want to know. We read and respond to every email. Send your comments to Tyler Coffin (tcoffin@echo-ca.org).

Inside this Issue
40th Annual Seminar
What Makes a Great Board
New at the Annual Seminar
HOA Legislation
Your Comments Welcomed
ECHO Annual Seminar

Annual Seminar Website
Speakers, lodging, and more.

Reception Registration
Friday Night Reception

From echo-ca.org:
Corporate Status: Why It Matters
Tax Day for HOAs
Legislature Targets Email
Earthquake Insurance: To Buy or Not To Buy?
ECHO Journal

Inside the June 2012 Issue:

The Perils of Hidden Damage, Part 2
Part 2 of this in-depth look at older building maintenance.
Know Your Community's Financial Position
How to maintain a financially stable community in tough times.
"Green" Paint Technology
Learn about environmentally friendly paint options.
Develop Towing Partnerships
Create reasonable parking and enforcement policies.
Reviewing Bank Statements
By law, boards must review financials. Understand what you read!
California Laws and Codes

Look up current common interest development laws

Executive Council of Homeowners
1602 The Alameda, Suite 101
San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 297-3246
Fax: (408) 297-3517

Forward email

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ECHO | 1602 The Alameda, Suite 101 | San Jose | CA | 95126

Monday, June 11, 2012

DeckExpert.com is On Facebook

Did you know we are on Facebook? Like us and follow our stories and posts.

You'll get access to our wall, post pictures, stories and comments on your deck, the company that did the work (good or bad), and anything pertinent to deck waterproofing.

www.facebook.com/deckexpert Check us out!

BBQ Safety Tips From UL

Saw this on UL's website...copied and pasted it over. READ IT!

Watch this video at YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfoL4swpZkk

A Summer Grilling Safety Recipe

Did you know that Americans prepare about 3 BILLION meals on grills each year? From 2005-2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 8,200 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Five out of six home grill fires involve a gas grill and the leading contributing factor was a leak or break in hoses or other equipment. That's why UL, a global independent safety science company, is sharing simple, yet critical, guidelines to help prevent potential summer tragedies:

PREPARE FOR SAFETY FIRST

Position your grill a safe distance from your house or any building (if possible).
Never use a grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, under an awning or overhang that might catch fire.
Always have a spray bottle and a fire extinguisher handy

GAS GRILLS

Check the hoses on your gas grill for any cracking and brittleness to address potential leaks
Drip soapy water over the hoses and around the fittings. Any bubbles forming means there is a propane leak
Never start a gas grill with the lid closed

CHARCOAL GRILLS

Never use gasoline or kerosene to light a charcoal fire. Both can cause an explosion.
Dispose of charcoal away from kids and pets, and cool it down with a hose. Coals get HOT – up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Have a designated area for dumping hot coals and cool down with a hose.

SAFETY WHILE COOKING

Never leave the grill unattended, especially when young children or pets are nearby.
Never attempt to restart a fire by adding additional lighting fluid to an already-lit grill, as this can cause a flare-up.
Keep kids, pets and bare hands away from the grill.
Use insulated, flame retardant mitts and long-handled barbeque tongs and utensil when grilling.

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