CHECK THE LICENSE FIRST! Notorious Unlicensed Operator Arrested at CSLB Headquarters

www.cslb.ca.gov     |     CheckTheLicenseFirst.com     |     SeniorScamStopper.com
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  August 23, 2011						CSLB #11-29
	CSLB Media Contacts
	Rick Lopes Chief of Public Affairs 916.255.4161 rlopes@cslb.ca.gov			Melanie Bedwell Public Information Officer 916.255.4717 mbedwell@cslb.ca.gov		Venus Stromberg Public Information Officer Spanish Language Media 916.255.1831 vstromberg@cslb.ca.gov
	Notorious Unlicensed Operator Arrested at CSLB Headquarters Man with extensive history of using licenses not issued to him taken to jail   SACRAMENTO – Investigators from the Contractors State License Board's (CSLB) Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) and Rancho Cordova Police officers today arrested a notorious unlicensed operator with a history of using contractor licenses not issued to him. Charles Peter Maffia, 67, of Rancho Cordova, was booked in the Sacramento County Main Jail this afternoon, with bail set at $40,000. His arraignment is set for Thursday, August 25, 2011, in Department 61 of Sacramento County Superior Court.   Maffia is charged with nine felony counts of fraudulent use of an incorrect contractor license, three misdemeanor counts of contracting without a license, 14 misdemeanor counts of illegal advertising, and felony violation of probation. Maffia was already on formal probation for felony fraudulent use of a contractor license number not issued to him, following a 2006 arrest on this and related charges.   Maffia has a complaint history with CSLB that stretches back to 1980. His criminal background includes almost four years (44 months) in state prison for the fraudulent use of a contractor license.   Leading to the latest arrest, CSLB's SWIFT unit received leads from two former employees and a customer that Maffia was doing business as Wolf Excavation, Inc., and using other people's contractor licenses, which was verified by investigators.   A video on YouTube shows Maffia's company engaged in a paving project and includes a link to a website. The website indicates Wolf Excavation is a full-service construction company offering paving, asphalt, and residential remodeling. There is a similar page on Facebook for Wolf Excavation, Inc., and ads on Craigslist.   Maffia applied for a CSLB license, which was rejected due to lack of the required four years of journey-level experience, as required by state law. CSLB investigators put a block on the license, and when Maffia came to the CSLB headquarters today to try and have the block lifted, Rancho Cordova Police arrested him.   The business owner who reported Maffia's unlicensed activity to SWIFT hired Wolf Excavation in June for an $8,100 project as a result of a Craigslist ad. After the work was completed, the consumer found that many areas of paving were in need of repair. After researching Maffia on the CSLB website, the business owner found that the contractor license number provided by Wolf Excavation was issued to another entity. He also found reports about Maffia's previous arrest for fraudulent use of a contractor license and related charges.   One former employee who reported Maffia to SWIFT said that he had been hired with the understanding that he would receive a company vehicle and health insurance. He did not receive either, was not paid, and was told to fill out a form classifying him as an independent contractor, which he refused to do and quit. The other employee, who had also quit, stated that he was not paid for about $8,000 in wages. # # #
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Lesson-Never Underestimate The Power of Wind Driven Rain to Penetrate the Building Envelope

Contractor for UC Davis Project to Repair Leaky Facade 

 Sandstone to come down for leak fix at Mondavi Center

August 17, 2011

By Dave Jones

The curtain is going up on a big show outside the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

In this case, the curtain is scaffolding all along the building's south wall, from the ground to the roof. Workers will be removing all of the sandstone — an estimated 50,000 tiles — to repair the waterproofing underneath.

The project is expected to last into December. During this time, the real show, inside the center, will go on as scheduled.

The scaffolding, scheduled to go up around the end of the month, will be enclosed in mesh to protect the workers from the elements. In addition, the beige-colored mesh will minimize the visual disruption.

After removing the stone, the workers will replace the sheathing and the waterproof membrane, to stop rainwater from getting inside, as has happened periodically since the center's construction 10 years ago.

Leakage tied to wind speed, rain angle

Alex Achimore, senior project manager with UC Davis' Design and Construction Management, said the Mondavi Center's water inlfiltration problem usually occurs only when the wind is of sufficient speed to push the rain into the wall at a certain angle.

The university and McCarthy conducted extensive testing of the wall to zero in on the problem and develop the solution. It is not an easy one.

The waterproof membrane goes on as a liquid, like paint, and solidifies on the sheathing that goes over the building's frame. Therefore, workers must remove the sheathing, and, to get at the sheathing, they must remove the sandstone and the mortar under the stones.

"Unfortunately, the stones are bonded to the sheathing and will not come off in such a way that they could be reused," Achimore said.

"We are applying new sheathing and new waterproofing, and the stones will be set in place over a half-inch mortar bed that is made by the waterproof membrane manufacturer, so that they are compatible and bond."

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE

JLC Live attendee registration now open

'@JLCLIVE:

Attendee Registration is now open and live for our Portland, OR show - Dec. 8 & 9 (expo) and Dec 7 -9 (conference). Www.jlclive.com

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From PR Web Polycoat Products Announces New And Improved Website

New Products, Content, Technical Information, and Improved Navigation

Santa Fe Springs, CA (PRWEB) August 16, 2011

American Polymers Corporation (dba Polycoat Products), announces that its new and improved website is now live and on-line at http://www.polycoatusa.com. The new Polycoat Products website prominently features the Company's new brand identity and messaging that focuses on Waterproofing, Industrial Coatings/Spray Elastomers, Truckbed Liners, Cast Elastomers, TDI-Hot Cast, Polyfil®, Theming Industry Products, Foam Products and a comprehensive offering of Polyurea, Polyurethane, Polyaspartic and hybrid chemical formulation applications. Each specialized Product section of the website also offers a new View e-Catalog option giving visitors easy access to that section's entire collection of PDF technical data sheets. The electronic catalog viewer also provides a helpful table of contents to assist visitors in quickly finding specific data sheets.

READ THE REST OF THIS RELEASE BY CLICKING HERE

Contractors State License Board Revokes License of Once- Prominent Sacramento Area Restaurateur and Developer

SACRAMENTO – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) officially revoked the license of Stonegate Construction, Inc.'s license (#766777) on August 12, 2011. 

Construction President and Responsible Managing Officer Abolghassen "Abe" Alizadeh signed and accepted the terms of a stipulated settlement agreement on August 5, 2011, in response to a CSLB investigation that concluded Alizadeh had diverted construction funds, and failed to pay subcontractors and materials suppliers.

SACRAMENTO – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) officially revoked the 

license of Stonegate Construction, Inc.'s license (#766777) on August 12, 2011. Stonegate 

As part of the agreement, Stonegate Construction's license is revoked for at least one year. Before the license can be reinstated, or another license issued to Alizadeh, he must:

·         Pay CSLB for the cost of its investigation and enforcement ($16,386.05);

·         File a disciplinary bond valued between $15,000 and $125,000 for at least two years; and

·         Prove that restitution has been made to subcontractors, or demonstrate that these debts were resolved civilly or successfully discharged in bankruptcy.

CSLB opened its investigation in 2009 after complaints were filed by more than 20 subcontractors and materials suppliers who had not been paid. CSLB partnered with the Franchise Tax Board, Board of Equalization, Employment Development Department, and Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, to whom Alizadeh also owed millions in unpaid fees and taxes. Alizadeh was arrested in January 2011 on grand theft and other felony charges related to that part of the investigation.

"CSLB hopes this sends a clear message that there will be serious consequences for licensees who do not follow state laws," said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. "Mr. Alizadeh must be held accountable for these violations of state contracting and other laws before he is ever allowed to contract again."

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 email alerts atwww.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 2010-11, CSLB helped recover nearly $45 million in ordered restitution for consumers.

Bill Leys to Present at JLC Live! Residential Construction Show in Portland OR

I am pleased to announce that I have been invited back to speak at the JLC Live Residential Construction Show

for this years west coast event to be held in Portland OR December 7th through the 9th. 

The educational track I will be discussing is "Best Practices in Building & Waterproofing Decks" is scheduled for Friday December 9th at 2:45 pm. 

The program is scheduled for one hour and fifteen minutes and will be presented with a Powerpoint slide presentation and we'll have materials and                                                     products for a  "hands on" discussion. 

Watch for more information to come; click on the link above to go the the JLC website and register.