CSLB Industry Bulletin - 11/20/2012 CSLB Issues Industry Alert Regarding Scam Targeting Licensees and Applicants

CSLB Issues Industry Alert Regarding Scam Targeting Licensees and Applicants

At least one unscrupulous company using public information to rip off dozens of businesses

SACRAMENTO — The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is issuing an Industry Alert to all licensees about to renew current licenses or anyone who has either applied for a CSLB license, or plans to apply.

PRESS RELEASE FROM CSLB

Be careful if anyone contacts you claiming to be from CSLB, or asks for credit card information over the phone for you to renew your license, get continuing education credit, or take a licensing exam. This is a scam!

"We've discovered at least one unscrupulous company that's using information from CSLB's website to contact licensees or applicants to mislead and scam them," CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. "The caller leads the licensee or applicant to believe he or she needs to pay money over the phone to get continuing education credit, renew a license or to schedule a licensing exam."

CSLB staff will never ask for credit card information over the phone, nor will they process any payment over the phone. CSLB fees are only payable through the mail by check or at CSLB headquarters by cash, check, or credit card. There are no continuing education requirements to renew a CSLB license. A list of all license fees is available on CSLB's website.

Business and Professions Code section 7080.5 requires CSLB to make public the name and address of every accepted application for a license, on the day following acceptance, at CSLB's office in Sacramento. Since technology now permits the electronic posting of these lists, CSLB makes them available on its website. These lists are used by many legitimate companies, including bond companies and license assistance companies.

At this point CSLB will continue to post the applicant lists on its website, but the process could change if applicants continue to be preyed upon by unscrupulous companies.

Need Advice on Decks? Get the Value You Deserve

An unsolicited opinion from a tile expert at JohnBridge.com

"It sounds like Bill Leys gave you value for your money." bbcamp

This from the statement made on the forum page located here. http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-98631.html

"I paid Bill Leys with The Deck Expert some money for advice and he said to remove the siding so the waterproof membrane can run up the wall and the door is probably too low for tile." BalconyNewb

Need advice on decks? $25.00 could save you thousands and a lot of heartache. 

DeckExpert.com's First Webinar a Hit With APRA's Professional Reserve Analysts

It was a fun morning earlier today giving my first webinar to professional reserve analysts that are members of the Association of Professional Reserve Analysts (APRA). 

Starting on the various walking deck systems that are on the market that are sold to HOA's, I led the class through the 5 basic types of deck coating materials, followed by what red flags to look for during site inspections. 

Following that was a session discussing best building practices for assembling decks sub-structure and the deck coating system. 

Book your custom seminar or webinar with us now. Get training on decks and waterproofing methods, for reserve studies and general maintenance and care. 

Call us today at 805-545-8300.  

Seminar From AIA-Waterproofing: Clear, Consice, Correct and Complete

Date

Nov. 30, 2012 8:30 am – 2:30 pm

Location

The Washington Inn, 495 10th Street, Oakland (near BART 12th St. Station)

Price

$55 for CSI / AIA member, $75 for nonmember, $15 late registration fee (after Nov 21, 2012), $15 for full time students with verification of enrollment

Next Steps

Learn More

Register Here

SEMINAR

One Seminar, Two Topics

In-depth training on the essential components of below-grade and plaza deck 
waterproofing systems by an industry expert with decades of experience in new construction, remedial design and forensic investigation. Receive instruction on design and construction best practices protocols that are vital to create livable, waterproof and sustainable building enclosures:

Below-grade Waterproofing Overview 
Below-grade waterproofing failure can be avoided by

• Proper selection of waterproofing systems
• Proper use of shotcrete
• Selection of the proper method of shoring
• Proper soil mechanics and perched water table
• Proper foundation drainage design
• Proper integration with wall and floor slab waterproofing
• Properly installed flashing

Below-Grade training course will cover the following Design Considerations

• Geotechnical Report
• Relieved and Non-Relieved Foundations
• Positive vs Negative SideWaterproofing
• Excavation and Shoring
• FoundationWall Construction (Cast in Place vs Shotcrete)
• Waterproofing Systems Options

Plaza Deck Waterproofing Overview 
Review of Plaza Deck design will illustrate the importance of plaza deck design and how it integrates into other systems.

Discussion will cover general Plaza Deck types

• Protected Membrane 
  
• Split Slab
• Traffic Bearing 
  
• Surface Applied 
  
• Roof Garden

Plaza Deck training course will cover the following topics

• Geotechnical Report 
  
• Plaza Deck Configurations
• Structural Considerations
  
• Waterproof Membranes
• Drainage 
  
• Protection and Root Barriers
• Insulation 
  
• Warranties

The Speaker 
Mr. Bers has more than 30 years of experience in nearly all aspects of design and construction. He specializes in all types of waterproofing systems, including below-grade and plaza deck waterproofing Mr. Bers is also responsible for directing forensic and remedial investigations of existing facilities, as well as design recommendations and details for new construction. His ability to clearly and authoritatively communicate the essentials of waterproofing was featured at this year's CSIWest Region Conference.

From APRA's Newsletter-The 1% Rule

Saw this in the latest APRA Advisor.

Don't forget to sign up for my webinar on decks 

with APRA, speaking of leaks...

One Percent Rule

Most building professionals would

agree that water intrusion problems at

exterior walls typically are found at

changes in plane and/or changes in

material, such as door and window

perimeters and wall intersections with

decks. The "One Percent Rule" states

that 99 percent of the sources of water

intrusion damage is found in 1 percent

of the building envelope.

Water infiltration usually occurs at the

transitions between the work carried out

by different contractors. In most cases,

successful long-term weatherproofing

of these transitions requires careful

design and installation of flashing

crafted from corrosion-resistant metal

or flexible waterproof membranes.

The International Building Code (IBC)

includes the following guidance for

flashing exterior walls:

• Flashing shall be installed at the

perimeters of exterior door and

window assemblies, exterior wall

intersections with roofs, chimneys,

porches, decks, balconies and similar

projects and at built-in gutters and

similar locations where moisture

could enter the wall.

• Flashing with projecting flanges shall

be installed on both sides and the ends

of copings, under sills and

continuously above projecting trim.

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE AT 

APRA http://www.apra-usa.com/

Faulty decks , weatherproofing, doors, stucco and roof lead to 1.5 Million Settlement

Saw this press release from the Miller Law firm on a condo in San Francisco that recovered money for faulty construction...

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30, 2012 --/PRNewswire/ -- A contemporary condominium building at 1970 Sutter Street has recouped $1.5 million for numerous construction defects after only 9 months from hiring The Miller Law Firm. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120418/SF89665LOGO-b)

The 19-unit residential building is located in the neighborhood where lower Pacific Heights and Western Addition converge.  The settlement was reached in mediation and is being funded by insurance companies for the builder, 1960 Sutter, LLC, the general contractor, Nibbi Brothers Construction, and window manufacturer Milguard Manufacturing, Inc. Failure of weatherproofing systems on the stucco siding, roof, windows, decks and doors, with water intrusion into the interior walls, floors and ceilings plagued this building. Damages of $78,000 per unit were recovered.

According to Thomas E. Miller, CEO of The Miller Law Firm, "This Association came to us after having been in litigation for nearly three years with no trial date and no resolution in sight.   Consumers should know that construction defect claims are a highly complex area of the law and the expertise needed to obtain a timely recovery is key."

Jeff Ho, President of the 1970 Sutter Street Owner's Association, states, "Getting a second opinion on the progress of our case was key to helping us determine that a viable alternative did exist to return a favorable recovery in a reasonable amount of time."

According to Karen Katz of Property Management One, "The serious defects and frequent repairs that this building faced were overwhelming.  Having this claim resolved with a recovery that will let them rebuild is important to the owners and to the community."

According to Rachel Miller, Senior Partner of The Miller Law Firm, "Associations who simply need advice turn to us every day.  These communities show such relief in hearing that it is possible to resolve a claim in a reasonable time frame.  Associations do have a resource."

Thomas E. Miller and Rachel M. Miller of The Miller Law Firm (www.ConstructionDefects.com) are the co-authors of, "Home and Condo Defects:  A Consumer Guide to Faulty Construction," (Seven Locks Press, 2012), available online at  www.amazon.com.

Detailed information regarding this case can be accessed via the San Francisco Superior Court website at www.sftc.org, case number CGC-09-486342.

Media Contact: Rachel Miller (415) 437-1800

SOURCE The Miller Law Firm

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/30/4948635/lower-pacific-heights-building.html#storylink=cpy