Corruption Scandal Nets Waterproofing Contractor On Bribery Charges

Cleveland OH-A waterproofing contractor was arrested for bribery...and several school board members are in trouble too, for a job worth $250,000.00.

Reported From Clear Channel-
A federal grand jury indicted (Steven )Tomasone for one count of honest services mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud.

Tomasone was owner and president of Southwest Companies, Inc., a painting, roofing, waterproofing and paving contractor in Independence.

According to the indictment, Tomasone gave cash and other gifts in exchange for business at the Maple Heights City Schools. In all, that business was valued at $250,000.

READ THE ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE

CSLB Catches Wanted Sex Offender, DUI Suspect in Unlicensed Contractor Sting

CSLB Press Release - 12/14/10

CSLB Sting Snatches Nine Illegal Operators in Glendora

Registered sex offender among those caught in undercover operation

SACRAMENTO — The Contractors State License Board’s (CSLB) Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) caught nine people for violating state home improvement contracting laws during an undercover sting on December 13, 2010. SWIFT was assisted by the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
During the sting operation at a Glendora home, SWIFT investigators posed as homeowners seeking bids for painting, fencing, flooring, and cabinetry projects. Suspects who bid more than $500 for labor and materials received a notice to appear (NTA) in court. Registered sex offender Richard Charles Rupp was among those detained in the operation. Rupp, 51, of Long Beach, also has a prior conviction for contracting without a license and had a $10,000 arrest warrant for theft. Ronald Eugene Williams, 44, of Temple City, had a $10,000 arrest warrant for driving under the influence.
"Homeowners need to be fully aware of who they are letting into their homes," said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. "This operation illustrates the importance of spending a couple of minutes on CSLB’s website to check the license before you hire a contractor to ensure you aren’t putting your family or your home at risk."
California law requires all home improvement jobs valued at more than $500 to be undertaken by a licensed contractor. Contractors also must place their state license number in all advertisements. Unlicensed individuals may advertise and accept jobs valued at less than $500, but their ads must state that they are not a licensed contractor. State law prohibits solicitation of a down payment that is greater than 10 percent of the project’s value or $1,000, whichever is less, for home improvement contracts. There is an exception for about two dozen licensed contractors who purchase special consumer protection bonds and are noted on CSLB’s website. State law also requires those selling home improvement services for licensed contractors to register with CSLB.
Since 2005, state law has required criminal background checks for anyone applying for a new license or adding a license classification. California law also requires contractors to have workers’ compensation coverage for all of their employees to protect homeowners from liability.
The following suspects who received NTAs will be arraigned in the Los Angeles County Superior Court facility at 1427 West Covina Parkway on February 15 and 16, 2011, at 8:30 a.m.:

SUSPECTNAME & CITY	AGE	CLASSIFICATION	VIOLATIONS
Jesus Rocha Solis Pasadena	56	Flooring and Floor Covering	Contracting without a license; illegal advertising
Fong Chong Lo Temple City	60	Painting	Contracting without a license; illegal advertising; soliciting excessive down payment
Berge Boyadjian Sterling, VA	48	Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry	Contracting without a license; illegal advertising; soliciting excessive down payment
Alex Sosa Pasadena	40	Flooring and Floor Covering	Contracting without a license
Adrian Gaona Avalos Rosemead	40	General Construction	Unregistered Home Improvement Salesperson
Richard Charles Rupp Long Beach	51	Flooring and Floor Covering	Contracting without a license (repeat offender); registered sex offender; $10,000 warrant for theft.
Ronald Eugene Williams, IV Temple City	44	Painting	Contracting without a license; illegal advertising; soliciting excessive down payment; $10,000 warrant for DUI.
Thomas Jacob Eby Covina	40	Fencing	Contracting without a license; illegal advertising
Jose Luis Delgadillo-Parra Pacoima	22	Painting	Contracting without a license; illegal advertising; soliciting excessive down payment

CSLB urges consumers to remember the following tips when hiring a contractor:

• Verify the contractor's license by checking online at www.cslb.ca.gov, or through 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.
• Don't pay more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less. There is an exception to this for about two dozen contractors who purchase special bonds that are noted on CSLB’s website.
• Don't pay in cash, and don't let the payments get ahead of the work.
• 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 at www.cslb.ca.gov. 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..

Nevada Coating Systems Granite Deck-Client Says It Burns...

A local competitor in San Luis Obispo puts down Nevada Coating Systems Granite Deck . The manufacturer claims it can be put down on decks, which you could if you didn't know better...

One of my clients had received a bid from Deck Tech, Inc of Grover Beach. They specified "Granite Deck" (oooooh, it sounds like tough stuff doesn't it?) to install for the client.

The client was almost sold that day, but did call Central Coast Waterproofing for a bid. We came and looked ta the job, discussed the products and showed the client our ICC report for Desert Crete. 

We left a sample of the Desert Crete so they could compare it to the NCS Granite Deck...I told the client that Granite Deck has no testing or evaluation to certify it's use a as a deck coating, only manufacturer claims...

The client is a smart guy, he did some research,  investigating my claims and  I got an email back from him, he did his own "testing" of the NCS Granite Deck and Desert Crete...here are the clients own results.

"I tried to reach the fire department about fire-proof ratings, etc, but was unable to get through.  So, I tried lighting the sample you gave me and also the sample from decktech:  the decktech material catches on fire after exposure to a flame from a cigarette lighter; your material does not.  This is a very important consideration for us."

If  having deck coating materials that don't catch on fire is important to you, please call Central Coast Waterproofing today at 805-545-8300.

FROM the American P{lywood Association-construction details for moisture resistant homes.

Saw this on an email newsletter i get, passing it on...

Build A Better Home publications provide simple construction details for moisture-resistant homes

APA’s Build A Better Home program is designed to provide builders and homeowners the construction guidelines they need to protect their homes against damaging moisture infiltration by encouraging better building practices for the key elements of a residential structure: roofs, walls and foundation.

Three brochures in the Build A Better Home (BBH) series - BBH: Foundations; BBH: Walls; and BBH: Mold and Mildew have been updated and are now available for purchase as printed brochures, or as free downloadable PDFs.

Click here for more information.

Visit the Build A Better Home website at www.buildabetterhome.org for additional information on construction details, tips for builders and designers, notes to homeowners on controlling mold, and links to video segments demonstrating proper moisture control techniques in construction applications.

Contractors: Unlicensed and Illegal CSLB STING IN SAN JOSE-Watch the Video!

Published by NBC Bay Area TV station, a reporter goes with CSLB investigators to watch unlicensed contractors get taken down...

WATCH THE VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE 

 

Contractors: Unlicensed and Illegal

Vicky Nguyen Leaky roofs. Faulty wiring. Unfinished projects.

Contractors who promise to get the job done, but disappear instead taking your money with them.

We went on a two day undercover sting to round up unlicensed contractors. The video above shows you what we found.

Here are some tips to avoid unlicensed contractors:

• Ask for their pocket card. It's issued to every licensed contractor by the state and it shows their name and license number.
• Check it against your contractor's driver's license.
• Ask to see a copy of your contractor's insurance policy, bond, and worker's comp insurance.
• Finally--check this state website to make sure your contractor is licensed and in good standing.
• You can also find more information at the Contractors State License Board website.

Del Webb Sued For Lack of Weep Screed on 1400 Home In Nevada

A developer in Nevada is being sued by 1400 homeowners at a development where it was found that weep screed, a flashing termination for stucco to weep water out over as it evacuates a wall, was never installed.

Weep screed costs me about $2.60 for a 10 foot piece...plus a little labor to install them. Little mistake costs big time to fix after wards! Tsk tsk

Nevada's Largest Construction Defect Lawsuit

Chris Saldaña, Reporter

The largest construction defect lawsuit in the State of Nevada is pitting hundreds of homeowners against a well-known developer.

Residents of Sun City Summerlin are suing the neighborhood's developer -- Del Webb -- claiming it failed to install metal strips that protect a home's foundation against water damage.

It is this community in Summerlin where frustration and concern among homeowners is common. They say a small 5-inch piece of metal called a "weepscreed" was not put in place by Del Webb when these homes were built.

Weepscreeds help keep moisture out of dry wall paneling. And now more than 1,400 homeowners have filed a lawsuit. 

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