Contractors State License Board Helps Fire Victims
Protects homeowners trying to rebuild
Friday, October 26, 2007
The California Contractors State License Board is taking an aggressive stand against illegal contractors in the southern California fire zones.
CSLB staff is working at disaster assistance centers and in the burned neighborhoods, offering help and advice to fire victims and coordinating enforcement efforts with other local, state and federal agencies. “We have learned from past experience that it helps to take a proactive approach in disaster zones,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “We do everything we can to help disaster victims while letting the illegal operators know they’re being watched.”
The CSLB is warning residents to beware of unscrupulous or unlicensed operators who will try to take advantage of their situation. The board is also warning illegal operators that they face serious prison time if caught working or trying to get contracting work over $500 in a declared disaster area.
Homeowners are receiving information on how to protect themselves by using CSLB’s resources to check a contractor’s license status and history, and by following a series of important tips. “Avoid the urge to rush into repairs with the first contractor you meet, especially if they just show up without an invitation,” said Sands. “Spend just a few minutes checking the contractor out with CSLB to make sure they’re licensed.”
The CSLB is also reminding contractors who want to get work in the disaster area that they must hold a valid California contractors license, in the appropriate classification, in order to perform most work on homes and other structures damaged or destroyed by the wildfires. They must have the proper business license to work in the fire zone. Some out-of-state contractors and unlicensed operators may want to help with rebuilding. However, it is illegal and punishable as a felony to perform contracting work in a state or federally declared disaster area without a valid California contractor’s license. Punishment may include a fine of up to $10,000 or up to 16 months in state prison. In the days and weeks ahead, CSLB will partner with local, state and other government agencies to conduct enforcement stings and sweeps in and around the disaster areas.
Contractors working on any job—from debris removal to roof repair to rebuilding—totaling $500 or more for labor and materials must be licensed by the CSLB. To become licensed, a contractor must pass a licensing examination, verify at least four years of journey-level experience and pass a criminal background check. California contractors must carry a license bond, and provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. A homeowner could be at risk if workers who aren’t covered have an accident while on their property.
Homeowners should look closely at any paperwork or contracts they are handed. A standard home improvement contract is required to have a 7-day “Right-To-Cancel” notification for repairs or restoration of residential structures in an area for which a state of emergency has been declared. It is also important to note that repairs cannot be broken up into smaller projects to avoid the $500 threshold for licensing.
Consumers can verify a contractor’s license status through the CSLB’s Website or through its toll-free automated telephone system at 1-800-321-CSLB (2752). Find out if the contractor’s license is active and in the right classification for the work to be done. Consumers can also see if there are any legal complaints against the contractor, if the business name and address are correct, and if there is workers’ compensation insurance coverage for employees. Consumers can download tips and publications on topics like disaster scams, hiring a contractor and home improvement contracts from the CSLB Website.
The CSLB has also activated its Disaster Hotline. The line is open for disaster victims to call Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1-800-962-1125.
The CSLB urges consumers to follow these tips when dealing with a building contractor:
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Sizzling Sales
Solar Hot in Cool Real Estate Market
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The one bright spot in the current real estate market is the pace of solar home sales, according to the Los Angeles Times. The paper reports that solar homes are starting to outsell traditionally electrified homes in several markets, and developers are stepping up their use of the technology.
“They sell like hot cakes,” said Bernadette del Chiaro, energy specialist at the advocacy group Environmental California. Julie Blumden, a vice-president at SunPower Corp., a San Jose-based manufacturer of solar roof tiles, said builders using solar were selling homes faster than nonsolar competitors. “The increase in sales velocity is actually paying for the solar systems,” she said.
The boom is helped by California’s Million Solar Roofs rebate program, federal tax credits and growing public and political support for renewable power.
Click here for the full story.
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On the Rocks
Putting Pebbles Underfoot
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Quick—what’s the latest variation on stone floors? It’s pebblestone, a mix of natural rock and epoxy that originally for outdoor use, is increasingly found indoors.
Washed pebbles of varying sizes and colors are mixed with epoxy and installed in a layer between 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch thick. Borders and designs are easy to accommodate. Installed in one continuous sheet, it creates a large, seamless area. Pebblestone can be laid over expansion joints and cracks because its elasticity allows for expansion.
The real surprise is the price—it’s less expensive than many other hard surfaces such as flagstone or tile. Installation is just over $5 a square foot. And a Pebblestone floor can be laid quickly—a 3,000 square foot space can be completed in about two days.
Two regional sources for pebblestone are Pebblestone and Mountainstone.
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Down to the Wire
Customize Cabinets with Wire Grilles
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Cabinets with wire insets, either with or without glass, are a quick way to make a statement. A touch of Provence? The standard “chicken wire” will take care of that. Something suggestive of Tudor? How about a diamond pattern. Whatever the period, there’s a wire grille that can help evoke the ambiance. Outwater Plastics has about 24 basic shapes, all available in several finishes including brass, antique pewter and silver.
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Walk-ins Welcome
Italian Storage Does Double Duty
Friday, September 07, 2007
Italian furniture design firm Porro has applied its signature clean lines, regular forms and functionality to the storage dilemma.
Designed by Piero Lissoni and appropriately called “Storage,” the system can hold and display different items by changing from cupboard to walk-in closet. Coplanar electric leaves make the opening movement faster and easier while transparent glass leaves enclosed in a thin iron profile allow for a clear view of the interior while satisfying those who prefer a walk-in closet.
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Breathe Easier
Formaldehyde-Free Plywood
Monday, August 13, 2007
Columbia has converted all of its hardwood plywood and particleboard facilities to a proprietary formaldehyde-free manufacturing system called PureBond. Cost-competitive with the similar urea formaldehyde (UF)-made hardwood plywood, Columbia’s PureBond formula is derived from soybeans, then enhanced with a proprietary resin, giving it particularly strong bonding and water-resistance qualities. It enables Columbia to completely eliminate formaldehyde from its standard veneer-core decorative panel production.
The panels are also compliant with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
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