Pause and Think Before Hitting Send... Local Competitor Emails a Client With This Barrage of Verbal Diarrhea

What was Deck Tech's CEO thinking when he hit the send button on this email? Let us know with your comments and tweets. Send us tweets to @deck_expert. Post on our wall at www.Facebook.com/deckexpert. You can also comment here too. 

An HOA I'm working with requested bids from several firms locally for deck work. I met with them and have done as they asked, bid two decks for coatings and flashings. The HOA requested a bid from DeckTech, who came out and looked at the job and promptly began telling the HOA how they were going to do the job...the HOA Board rep asked for a bid and this is the email that they got back from Ron McKenna, CEO of DeckTech. 

Now I know that sometimes clients can be difficult and sometimes don't know what they really need, but this HOA BOD rep is a contractor themselves. The discussion I had with the client showed they are planning and working through a priority list of water intrusion issues that is being done as money allows. 

From: Ron McKenna <rmckenna@decktech.org>
Date: Fri, Jun 15, 2012 at 2:41 PM

(Client names  not shown to protect their identity)

XXXXXX,

 

First of all I have not been to site twice for XXXX, so you need recheck your facts! I also only left XXXXX one message yesterday, so again your facts are clouded! Secondly the Association is a CLUSTER and your ignorant request is exactly why Board & Association is in the position of having nothing but Shotty work completed with no intension by Contractors to warrant any of it. I am here to tell ya , you deserve exactly what you are paying for at this Association because you ignore the Experts in the Industry and take the dummy approach.  

 

Good luck when membership sues you for squandering their monies! Ug! A little intelligence goes a long way, I suggest you listen more to Professionals in their respected trades. Hum, what is it you do for a living?

 

Ron J. McKenna

President

DECKTECH,INC.

Phone: 805.544.3325

805.928.6220, 805.969.0982

Fax: 805.489.6136

 

Deck Waterproofing Company Claims Nevada Coating Systems Granite Deck is Class A, But We Can't Find a Report at ICC-ES Div 7 Pedestrian Traffic Coatings.

I browse the websites of my colleagues for information, see what they are doing and just general snooping around...

so I was on DeckTech's web site and I saw a surprising statement they made...

NCS-GRANITE II SYSTEM

Decktech utilizes the NCS Granite II system, which is unlike any other, and offers a class A fire rating and...                             

finish reading their website information at this link http://www.decktech.org/ncs-granite/

I'm surprised because I've done prior research into the Granite Deck system, made, as I understand, by Carboline and  privately labeled and marketed by Nevada Coating Systems. 

I've not found any listings before nor did I find any today at ICC_ES' website under Div 7 Pedestrian Traffic Coatings at this link.  http://www.icc-es.org/reports/index.cfm?csi_num=07%2018%2013&view_details

ICC-ES issues reports for building products that have under gone testing in a strict lab controlled environment that is independent of the manufacturer. The report allows building code officials to determine of the product meets the building code requirements for the type of building be constructed. 

As we cannot find any reports or other proof at ICC-ES or Nevada Coating Systems website to support that Class A claim, we are issuing a warning to consumers to be cautious about unsubstantiated claims for fire resistance. 

In our own limited testing of a Decktech Granite Deck sample, we found the sample began to burn with several wood coals burning much like an ember would from a fire. We can not make any determination as to whether it meets ICC-ES criteria, so we would advise that you ask questions and obtain written proof of any oral or website claims.   https://www.dropbox.com/s/ule2h0yitcr32xh/2012-05-28%2010.14.16.jpg

Manufacturer's with ICC listed products can be found at the link above. To learn what criteria must be met to be issued a Class A fire retardant rating from ICC-ES, click here on this link to ICC-ES http://www.icc-es.org/criteria/pdf_files/AC39.pdf  

ICC-ES' criteria for fire resistance is- 

4.3 Fire-classified Roof-covering Test: For applications as a classified roof covering, reports of fire-classified roof-covering tests in accordance with ASTM E 108, UL 790 (IBC and IRC) or UBC Standard 15-2 (UBC) shall be required. A minimum Class C classification shall be required.

READ MORE AT OUR WEBSITE ON DECK ASSEMBLIES AND FIRE RETARDANT COATINGS. 

 

Patio Fire Causes 500K of Damage in Atascadero Apt Complex

Locally we are reminded to make sure patios and decks are Class A fire retardant to help reduce the spread of flame with this fire at Bordeaux Apartments in Atascadero. 

Luckily there were only minor injuries, but people are out of their homes and have lost their possessions... 

anyway, from KSBY News

New information concerning apartment complex fire

Posted: Jul 15, 2012 12:24 PM by Christina Jensen, KSBY News 
Updated: Jul 15, 2012 12:24 PM

The Atascadero Fire Department has released new information concerning the two story apartment complex that caught on fire Saturday afternoon.

It happened at the Bordeaux Apartments around 1:10 p.m. Saturday.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a large amount of fire in four apartment units that required numerous firefighting resources to contain the fire. 
They say the fire spread quickly because the apartment complex did not have fire sprinklers.

There are three people with injuries: one with a laceration to the hand, one with smoke inhalation, and another experiencing chest pain.

It took about 40 firefighters to control the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but crews know that the fire started in the patio area of Apartment E.

Theres an estimated $500,000 worth of damage to the property.

Preventing a Condominium Renovation Nightmare

Saw this article, very relevant to HOA's who are considering major repairs or renovations. 

Preventing a Condominium Renovation Nightmare

POSTED ON: JULY 9, 2012 , BY LAURA MANNING-HUDSON

Posted In: Community Association Law , Condominium Association Law , Renovation Projects

Has this ever happened at your condominium? You're on the Board of Directors. The building has not been painted in 20 years and could definitely use some restoration. You realize that a special assessment is going to have to be passed in order to start a painting and restoration project, but before an assessment can be passed, you need to know how much it's going to cost. Bids for a painting and restoration contractor are requested, and ultimately High & Dry Painting Company ("High & Dry") is hired to do the work. Without having an attorney look anything over, the association signs a contract with High & Dry and the project is underway. High & Dry arrives at the building along with a crew and equipment, and the company finishes the job in a month. The association writes a check for the full amount of the contract and everybody is happy. Or so you thought.

Six months later the paint starts to crack, the manager realizes that High & Dry forgot to deliver a warranty for the work, and the association has just received a document in the mail entitled "Claim of Lien" from ABC Equipment Supply, a company the association did not contract with, threatening to file a lawsuit against the association and lien the entire building if payment is not made within 30 days.

READ THE REST HERE http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/l/?p=1&instId=82b4233e-c067-4260-bc45-015a5a7975eb&token=6fbcdf351de412f11508a6e8b6179dd8b81969cf0000013871d32743&u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FPIu5BO

CCW's Bill Leys Quoted In Article - Get Paid Faster: 3 Tools So You Stop Giving It Away

Contractors need cash flow-to pay their labor, their materials and to keep the doors open. Our cash flow gets a boost from Square...see how. 

Do you do a million tasks for free, and then wonder why you are not seeing the dollars? Fret no more; I'm gonna help you get paid, and get paid faster!

I have three handy, dandy tools waiting for every situation an entrepreneur faces.

Square helps you get paid on the spot, with a simple credit card swipe and an app on your smartphone.

As I looked for folks who used Square in their work, I was absolutely inundated with business owners who told me how they loved it.

Square is free, ridiculously simple to operate, and small enough to always carry with you; it enables you to take payments in real time, from any customer with a credit or debit card. It's ideal for situations where you can sell to a person you are speaking with, at the moment the interest is peaked.

Bill Leys uses Square in his contracting business. "It offers my clients a convenient method of payment. One client charged their $4500+ deck repair costs using Square as they didn't have checks and they could get mileage using their card. I got money in my account the next day. Great for us as I didn't have to wait for a check to clear the bank."

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE (and kick in a little something of it was helpful, btw, I don't get anything) by clicking here http://www.mojo40.com/get-paid-faster-3-tools-so-you-stop-giving-it-away/

HARO Inquiry-How To Combat HOA Board member Burnout

Want to be quoted in an article? Sign up for HARO and get daily feeds from reporters looking for story sources... 

Summary: How to combat condo/HOA board member burnout 

Name: G.M. Filisko Website for condo/HOA boards nationwide

Category: Business and Finance 

Email: query-2a60@helpareporter.net 

Media Outlet: Website for condo/HOA boards nationwide

Deadline: 7:00 PM EST - 17 July 

Query: 

Looking for HOA managers and board members to share their best
ideas for recharging the batteries of a valued board member
who's showing signs of burnout or saying it's time to step back.