From APRA's Nov/Dec Newsletter-Wily Nilly Drilling of Holes For Cable Leads to Major Damage

I get APRA's (Association of Professional Reserve Analysts) Monthly Newsletter delivered to my email box every other month.The Nov/Dec newsletter has some important lessons for HOA's on deferred maintenance and the costs that come with it.

Satellite/Cable installers are some of an HOA's worst enemies, whether you know it or not. Cable/sat dish installers get paid the same way many of your vendors employees do,  by "piece work". What's piece work? Well lets say that the cable/dish installer has 5 installs in one day scheduled. He/she gets paid by each dish they install. If they get paid lets say $75.00 per dish, they can make $375.00 that day. If it takes the installer 5 hours to do the job, that breaks out to" $75.00 an hour in wages. If it takes the installer 10 hours to do the jobs, that breaks out to "only' $37.50 an hour.

They are incentivized to slam as many dishes in as possible. Therefore, your HOA is at risk of leaks due to the installer slamming in the dish as easily and as fast as they can. Read this from APRA-


Mysterious Holes. While doing my
weekly property inspection, I noticed
holes in the stucco walls that appeared
to be vandalism. The holes revealed a
mysterious black substance inside the
wood structure. The black substance
turned out to be mold and dryrot. About
the same time, reports were coming in
regarding some of the cantilevered
balconies that had dropped an inch or two.


Engineers Called In. The board
decided to bring in experts to study
both the walls and the balconies to
make recommendations for repair and
to write the specifications so bids could
be obtained. At this point, the health
and safety of those affected residents was of great concern.

Bids were obtained from four different
engineering companies and a contract
was awarded to the low bidder at
$56,000. Arrangements were made for
the engineers to have access to all
second and third story balconies for
inspection purposes. A detailed
description of the condition of each
balcony was noted, including a rating
system to determine the priority in
which these balconies would be
repaired. As a result of the inspection, a
dozen balconies were immediately
closed off due to unsafe conditions.
The study revealed dryrot and mold
behind the walls where the small holes
had been made. It was thought that the
water came from roof leaks and poor
drainage. The holes in the walls were
created by the cable company
installing cable to individual units. The
exterior walls were coated with an
elastomeric paint which did not allow
water to evaporate when it got behind
stucco.
Termites. All of the dampness had
attracted termites. A termite specialist
was brought in and the treatment of all buildings cost $100,000.

Dryrot on plywood under dish from leaks through stucco

Wires run on top of wall nailed through creates a path for water intrusion

Open holes in stucco are waiting to funnel water into the wall.

 READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE AND FIND OUT THE COSTS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AT APRA BY CLICKING HERE

Another Tiled Deck Gone to Hell-Tufflex Material Re-Emulsified/Leaks Into Garage

Last week I looked at another failed Slate covered deck in Atascadero, CA... this one has Tufflex underneath. Four years old, the installer went out of business and the owner is stuck with a big (11k) repair bill to remove it all, then will have to put down new plywood and waterproofing.

Tile decks, you can go cheap the first time, but when that bites you in the ass...you'll spend more second time around to fix it.

Pay Central Coast Waterproofing once to do it right. Call Bill at 805-545-8300 for a free tile waterproofing system estimate. Lic 890269.

Re-Blog From Berding & Weil-Dangers Of Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor

Liability in the Bargain?
The Dangers of Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor

by Timothy J. Smith, Esq.

Homeowners and homeowners' associations often face expenses to maintain or repair their property. It makes sense to look for the most affordable contractor available to do the work. Many times, through friends or relatives, a homeowner will come across an unlicensed contractor during their search for a person to do the work. The unlicensed contractor will provide a bid that is much lower than bids from licensed contractors and promises to do the same work. It sounds so appealing to save money but still get great workmanship that many people fall into the trap and hire the unlicensed contractor. However, the cheapest contractor available might be the one that will cost the most in the long run.

It is not surprising that an unlicensed contractor would be less expensive than a licensed contractor. Unlicensed contractors have advantages that enable them to provide the lowest prices. They do not have to pay licensing fees, they do not have to obtain a bond to protect their work, and more often than not they do not purchase liability or workers compensation insurance. Without these added expenses the unlicensed contractor can provide their services at a rate lower than the legitimately licensed professional.

It is true that having a contractor's license is not a guarantee that the work will be done well, or even properly. Since there is no guarantee that a licensed contractor will do a better job why should a homeowner or association care if the contractor has a license? The answer is simple--to protect the homeowner or association from a myriad of problems that could arise.

READ ALL OF THIS ARTICLE AT BERDING & WEIL BY CLICKING HERE

 

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.