Jan 30, 2006

Things to consider before fixing a roof

Sun-Sentinel article regarding South Florida roof repairs.

Sun-Sentinel
Posted January 29 2006

Get an insurance adjuster onto your roof to perform an inspection and hand out a check before calling a roofer. It's beneficial for you to have an idea of how much money will have to come out of your pocket as each roofer provides an estimate. The time for getting a roofer out to provide an estimate generally ranges from two weeks to two months, with a number of companies not accepting new clients. Free estimates are ideal, but paying for one is not out of the realm of possibility. If you pay for an estimate, try to ensure that money gets put back into the cost of the job if you pick that roofer.

You can hire a public adjuster to submit a claim on your behalf. The adjuster, in tune with the insurance industry, should be able to maximize the amount of money you get. Public adjusters are entitled to charge up to 10 percent of the settlement they get for you.

With labor and some roofing materials in short supply, you need to be patient. While shingles are readily available, the wait for tiles can stretch from several months to a year, said Steve Munnell, executive director of the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association. When calling for estimates, find out the availability of your rooftop materials and factor that into the decision.

Because the shortage of tiles is so bad, consider metal roofs, which cost a little more than tile but can last longer.

Work only with reputable, established roofing contractors who are licensed. Avoid those who knock on your door offering to fix your roof.

Before signing any contract, call your local building department and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at 850-487-1395 or go to www.myfloridalicense.com. The officials can verify that the company has an active status license and advise you of any complaints that have previously been filed against the contractor.

Check with the counties consumer agencies, building officials, the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been lodged against the roofing contractor you want to hire. You can also search circuit court cases electronically to see lawsuits filed against the contractor.To search civil lawsuits against a contractor electronically, go to http://www.clerk-17th-flcourts .org/ bccoc2/disclaimer.asp in Broward County and click Accept. Click Public Access Case Search and you can type in the contractor's name or the company name for Party. Click Submit and you will see if any lawsuits and judgments have been filed against the contractor. For detailed information on a case, you will have to go to the Broward County Courthouse and look at the file. Make sure to write down the case number from the docket information online so you can provide it at the clerk's office.

In Palm Beach County, go to http://courtcon.co.palm-beach.fl.us/pls/jiwp/ck_ public_qry_main.cp_main_idx and click Search, then Accept, and type in the contractor's name or the company name to see lawsuits.

Require the contractor to get all necessary permits and post them on the property before work begins. Never apply for a permit for the contractor.

Beware of any requests for unusually large sums of up-front money before beginning work. Don't pay cash. Pay only by check or credit card, and pay the final amount only after the work is completed to your satisfaction.

Make sure the roofer has workers' compensation, which is required by state law, and general liability insurance. As a homeowner, you could be held liable if a worker is injured and there is no workers' compensation. Likewise, if the roofing company has no general liability insurance, any damage to your house becomes your problem. To verify workers' compensation coverage, call the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation at 800-742-2214 or 850-413-1601 or go to www.fldfs.com/WCAPPS/ Compliance_POC/wPages/ query.asp. You must give the company license number or tax identification number. Ask for current certificates of insurance.

Get a copy of the final, signed contract before the job begins.

Get a lien waiver from the contractor upon making a lump sum or final payment for any project.

Ask for current certificates of insurance. The document shows a firm has liability insurance, automobile policies and workers' compensation policies. These protect you from accidents or injuries on your property. Some contractors or companies may not be willing to show proof of insurance, but homeowners should insist on it.

The Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association offers tips for hiring a licensed contractor and provides a list of members who are licensed roofers in Florida. Go to the organization's website at www.floridaroof.com, or call 800-767-3772, ext. 100.

Broward and Palm Beach counties have roofing associations and list their members online. Contact the Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida based in Davie, at www.rcasf.org, or 954-587-5040. Contact the Palm Beach County Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors' Association, based in West Palm Beach, at www.pbcroofers.com or 561-684-2120.

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel research; The Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association

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Jan 29, 2006

EPA guide on indoor air pollution

From the EPA is this guide on indoor air pollutants. This is a good read for

those looking to improve air quality within the home.

here's the link to the full article

"The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality"

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6604J)
EPA Document # 402-K-93-007, April 1995

This document is available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file (PDF, 32 pgs., 120KB About PDF)

INTRODUCTION
- Indoor Air Quality Concerns
- Why a Booklet on Indoor Air?
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN YOUR HOME
- What Causes Indoor Air Problems?
Pollutant Sources
Amount of Ventilation
- How Does Outdoor Air Enter a Home?
- What if You Live in an Apartment?
IMPROVING THE AIR QUALITY IN YOUR HOME
- Indoor Air and Your Health
- Identifying Air Quality Problems
- Measuring Pollutant Levels
- Weatherizing Your Home
- Three Basic Strategies
Source Control
Ventilation Improvements
Air Cleaners
A LOOK AT SOURCE-SPECIFIC CONTROLS
(Includes a discussion of the health effects and ways to reduce exposure to each pollutant source)
- Radon
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
- Biological Contaminants
- Stoves, Heaters, Fireplaces, and Chimneys
- Household Products
- Formaldehyde
- Pesticides
- Asbestos
- Lead
What About Carpets?
When Building a New Home
DO YOU SUSPECT YOUR OFFICE HAS AN INDOOR AIR PROBLEM?
- Health Effects
- What Causes Problems?
Sources of Office Air Pollution
Ventilation Systems
Use of the Building
What to Do If You Suspect A Problem
REFERENCE GUIDE TO MAJOR INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS IN THE HOME
(Listed by Sources, Health Effects, Levels in Homes and Steps to Reduce Exposure for each Pollutant)
- Radon
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke
- Biologicals
Carbon Monoxide
Nitrogen Dioxide
Organic Gases
Respirable Particles
- Formaldehyde
- Pesticides
- Asbestos
- Lead
WHERE TO GO FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Glossary of Terms
How Do I Order a Copy of This Document?

DISCLAIMER

Information provided in this booklet is based on current scientific and technical understanding of the issues presented and is reflective of the jurisdictional boundaries established by the statutes governing the co-authoring agencies. Following the advice given will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that may be caused by indoor air pollution.

Introduction

Indoor Air Quality Concerns

All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.

In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.

In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Why a Booklet on Indoor Air?

While pollutant levels from individual sources may not pose a significant health risk by themselves, most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. There can be a serious risk from the cumulative effects of these sources. Fortunately, there are steps that most people can take both to reduce the risk from existing sources and to prevent new problems from occurring. This booklet was prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to help you decide whether to take actions that can reduce the level of indoor air pollution in your own home.

Because so many Americans spend a lot of time in offices with mechanical heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, there is also a short section on the causes of poor air quality in offices and what you can do if you suspect that your office may have a problem. A glossary and a list of organizations where you can get additional information are available in this document.

Top of page

Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

What Causes Indoor Air Problems?

Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.

Pollutant Sources

There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.

The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.

Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in housekeeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.

Amount of Ventilation

If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Unless they are built with special mechanical means of ventilation, homes that are designed and constructed to minimize the amount of outdoor air that can "leak" into and out of the home may have higher pollutant levels than other homes. However, because some weather conditions can drastically reduce the amount of outdoor air that enters a home, pollutants can build up even in homes that are normally considered "leaky."

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- What's the recipe for smart growth?

From the Daytona Beach News is this article on urban growth.

link to the article

January 19, 2006

Planner describes smart growth as a 3-legged stool

By MELANIE STAWICKI AZAM
Staff Writer

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- What's the recipe for smart growth?

The City Commission recently heard the ingredients one Central Florida planner recommended at a workshop, focusing on development.

Joel Ivey, with the Maitland-based Ivey Planning Group, described "smart growth" as a three-legged stool -- it must be economically sound, environmentally responsible and promote community livability.

Involved in smart growth for about three years, he said such projects include a mix of uses and housing and transportation options. They also tend to conserve open space and promote high quality development techniques, he said.

First, New Smyrna Beach needs to figure out what it wants in the way of development and have a solid master plan and vision, Ivey said.

"You have to build a (community) consensus on what you're trying to achieve," he said.

Then the city can tell developers what it wants and stick to its guns, Ivey said. When it identifies a good project, it needs to support it, he said, even if it faces some public opposition

"Most local governments are in a reactive mode, not a proactive mode," he said. "Have a vision you stick to once you've got it."

City Commissioner Lynne Plaskett asked how to deal with rural land, which lies outside the city now but eventually may be annexed into New Smyrna. Ivey said the city needs to ask why it's annexing the land and have a solid reason for doing so.

Plaskett also asked if infrastructure costs are cheaper when homes are clustered, instead of spread out on larger lots. It's costly to supply one house on 5 acres with central sewer and water, Ivey said. That type of development needs its own well and septic system, he said, which can be an environmental issue.

The most direct way the city can control development is with its code, Ivey said. Developers build to code and most cities don't realize their codes can date from the 1950s, producing structures that are no longer desirable.

"If you don't like what (development) you're getting -- you need to change your code," he told the commission. "A lot of them can be outdated."

The city also needs to figure out what is worth saving in the community, like sensitive wetlands and natural resources, and safeguard them, Ivey said. Historic buildings also need protected, he said, not necessarily left alone to fall down, but preserved.

Another way to encourage smart growth is through incentives to developers, he said. Business incentives need to be created, not by government officials in a vacuum, but by talking with merchants in the community. Residential uses mixed into downtown areas help keep them viable with regular customers, he said.

"Developers don't necessarily create the demand -- they respond to the demand," Ivey said. "If that sounds pro-development-I don't think it is. It's reality."

melanie.stawicki@news-jrnl.com

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