Good Video From Peter in Melbourne! Balcony Waterproofing Australia Style

I saw this video while surfing You Tube and it's a very good clip on waterproofing a balcony for a tile finish. It's production is great, it shows us clearly the steps and methods used (there's a lot) and shows the final tile deck. A nice job and a good educational film that maybe one of us will see something that would work better here? Or vice versa, an exchange of ideas on deck waterproofing from voices all over the globe...imagine the possibilities.

Click and watch it, click our headline to go to You Tube to see all of Peter's videos.

Tell em G'day for us...

From the RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL- Nevada contractors want defect laws changed

This article on construction defect's repair process in Nevada came out yesterday...

Homeowners, contractors and subcontractors gave state lawmakers varying viewpoints on Nevada's law governing construction defects, though most were of the opinion that the law needs to be adjusted.

"I think there is a little tweaking that is going to have to be done," said state Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that received the testimony during a hearing about construction defect laws and Chapter 40 of state law.

"The Chapter 40 process is slow, expensive and isn't working," said Josh Griffin, representing the MGM Mirage that is building a

2,392-unit residential project in Las Vegas.

Steve Hill, chairman of the Construction Coalition, agreed.

"Chapter 40 is such a convoluted process; it does more harm than good," he said.

Three homeowners who used the Chapter 40 process to have construction defects fixed on their properties said it is invaluable.

David Babel of Reno said he received no satisfaction from the builder of his home despite phone calls and face-to-face meetings but was able to get his home fixed with the Chapter 40 process.

Read the rest of the article by clicking on our headline!

RCI Offers 2009 California Energy Code Update-Low and Steep Sloped Roofing and The Building Envelope

So Cal Chapter of RCI, Inc.

2009 California Energy Code Update Low and Steep-Sloped Roofing and the Building Envelope Now offered in two locations: SAN FRANCISCO, CA Monday, March 2, 200 Pacific Energy Center 851 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 973-2277 SAN DIEGO, CA Tuesday, March 3, 2009 Holiday Inn on the Bay 1355 N. Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101 (800) 877-8920 Roofing, Waterproofing and the Building Envelope The focus of this portion of the program will be on new requirements involving the inclusion of roofing for residential and certain institutional entities and the new requirements for sloped roofing, shingles, tiles and metal panels. Both of these areas where previously excluded from Title 24 Cool Roof requirements. The last topic for Title 24 Cool Roofs, will be the 3 year progress updates on how the reflectivity of Cool Roofs has played out in the field and how it will impact any revised requirements. Speakers: John A. Goveia, President of Pacific Building Consultants, Inc. and Philip D. Dregger PE RRC FRCI, President of Technical Roof Services, Inc. This program will also provide an overview the current '05 T-24 California Energy Efficiency Standards impacting nonresidential buildings with '09 energy code changes to watch for that impact a nonresidential building's envelope, particularly energy issues for both new and existing roofs. The seminar will include a current standards overview of relative building energy impacts for a generic building's roof R-value options and "Cool" roof initial reflectance and initial emittance specifications, and how those overall building energy budget impacts might effect how proactively you approach building energy features upgrade options with roofing performance improvements. Speaker: Ken Miller, President, Energy Compliance Systems, Inc. Continuing Education Credits RCI Continuing Educational Hours (CEHs) from RCI 5 AIA Learning Units (LUs) from the American Institute of Architects 5 Registration and Location Registration Time: 12:30 pm Program: 1 pm to 7 pm An afternoon break and dinner will be provided Registration Fees: RCI / AIA / CREIA / WESTCON / SDRCA Member: $120 Non-Member: $145 Parking: Pacific Energy Center: Holiday Inn on the Bay: Self $10 Valet $17 Location: MARCH 2, 2009 Pacific Energy Center 851 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 973-2277 MARCH 3, 2009 Holiday Inn on the Bay 1355 N. Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101 (800) 877-8920 To register, go to www.RCISoCalChapter.org Questions call: 866/914-4RCI

RIP Millard Fuller, Habitat For Humanity Founder

From a Yahoo news feed, Millard Fuller the founder of Habitat for Humanity passed away.

I have done work for Habitat, they are a worthy and noble organization. The world has lost a wonderful person.

Read the whole story by clicking on our headline.

Strange Case of Deja Vu on these websites...

Browsing browsing, found this case of double vision at these two websites of waterproofing contractors down south...

http://deckmastersinc.com/

http://prestigedecking.com/index.htm

someone either got ripped off, or is one company fronting as two? We asked Deck Masters Inc and we asked Prestige Decking.

I could find a license at CSLB for Deck masters, but nothing under Prestige Decking.

Also, if you do have a license, I believe one must post that number on any form of advertising, including the Web.

Another deck coating case settled in favor of HOA

From Marc Alexander & William M. Hensley 's www.calattorneysfees.com website;

Homeowner sued HOA in unlimited jurisdiction superior court over an assessment for maintenance/repair work done on homeowner’s balcony. In Gabriel v. Canyon Haven Homeowners Assn., Case No. D052178 (4^th Dist., Div. 1 Jan. 28, 2009) (unpublished), the appellate court affirmed a $1,575 judgment against homeowner and an award of attorney’s fees/costs of over $18,500 ($17,923.50 of which were fees).

You have got to read this case on a balcony maintenance issue that just got settled recently!

What a fascinating case and great insight into the world of HOA's. I was a CAI certified manager of HOA's some years ago, before becoming a deck waterproofing contractor and consultant.

I've always maintained that waterproof decks are first a roof (protecting space below that was intended to be kept dry and free of moisture intrusion) and then secondly a deck one can walk on.

HOA's CC&R's usually put the onus of maintaining, repairing and replacing the roofs on the Association. It should be the same with decks in all cases. Asking owners to maintain the deck attached to their unit is simply asking for trouble; they are almost always left unmaintained. I see it happen in my job everyday. Case in point, the claim that 18 decks at this Assoc were in similar condition.

Why did the HOA take so long to try to make the owner maintain their deck? Deck coatings, depending on the manufacturer/type, typically need to be resealed every 1-3 years.

It doesn't sound like a large balcony, judging from the relatively small cost of replacing the waterproofing membrane.

As a contractor, I would have to charge around $600 at least to cover my costs and time to reseal this one balcony.

As a single owner, try to get a deck contractor to come out and clean and reseal your ONE little deck-you'll probably find that is pretty futile.

So why so much for one deck? My time to come inspect the deck and write a contract/proposal for the work. Office personnel time to check the contract, schedule the work, write a pre-lien notice that says is we don't get paid...we can lien your home, 2 workers to set up and send out with a truck and the materials/supplies needed for the work, drive to the home, set up and protect the work area, pressure wash and clean, and then reseal the deck. Wait time while the deck is drying, I pay them by the hour.

Now if I had 18 decks to do at once, the costs to do all of them at once would be greatly reduced, as we can take advantage of production work where we are not standing around watching paint dry-we are moving to another deck to pressure wash it, then to another, then we come back and start repairs/resealing, moving through all of them efficiently. The HOA stays on a regular maintenance schedule, ensuring that the decks are water resistant as intended.

HOA's mistake it sounds like was assigning maintenance to owners, owners mistake was fighting it in court with an attorney who is only to happy to bill you.

This is a sad case indeed!

Thanks for the insight, I hope you don't mind that I posted the case/your article onto my blog at