Archive for October, 2011
Court Ruling Outlines Liability For Roof Subcontractors
Homeowners pay good money to have their roof repair conducted in a professional manner. Roof contractors are expected to perform high quality work that requires a specific skill base and licensing. Unfortunately, many homeowners have learned the hard way about the dangers involved when roof contractors outsource the work to cheap subcontractors.
Sub-standard Repair
A Tennessee homeowner performed due diligence by interviewing multiple roofers and obtaining several bids before deciding to hire Winters Roofing Co. A few weeks after the new roof was installed the homeowners contacted the company to inform them about the leak and a subcontractor was sent out to perform the repair. The subcontractor used a propane torch to repair the roof causing the home to catch fire a few hours later. Fire investigators concluded the open flame used on the roof was the cause of the fire, which caused more than $870,000 in damages to the home.
To make matters worse neither the roofing company nor the subcontractor had an liability insurance. The homeowners insurance company sued the roofing company stating they were to be held liable for the negligence in hiring and lack of supervising the subcontractor during the work. Eventually, the case made its way to the Tennessee Supreme Court, who ruled that the roofing company was to be held liable for the damage caused by the hired subcontractor. The 5-0 ruling confirmed the idea that the roofing company was to be held liable for the entire contract and work performed, even if the work was contracted out. The court ruled that contractors have a “duty to perform services in a careful, skillful, diligent and workmanlike manner” that cannot be responsibly delegated to a subcontractor.
New Roofing Scam Revealed
Having work done on your roof is a major undertaking for most people. There are thousands of dollars involved, making it appealing for scammers to take advantage of homeowners. Being informed of their methods is a powerful tool to avoid being scammed.
Shippensburg PA
New scam alert for people that just had their roofs replaced in Shippensburg PA. On Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 3 young-looking white people attempted to scam a Shippensburg Borough resident out of $1,700.
The 3 suspects told the homeowner that they were roofers and they worked for the company that had recently replaced their roof. They told the homeowner that they needed to inspect the work that was done. Since they sounded knowledgeable and the homeowner recognized the name of the roofing company, they let them check it out.
Police Report
“After checking the roof, they said there were some problems that needed to be fixed,” Shippensburg Police Chief Fred A. Scott wrote in his report. “The owner told them to fix the problems. They messed around on the roof for a while and then told the homeowner they needed over $1,700 for the repairs.”
The homeowners gave the 3 people the check but the bank refused to cash it because of how the check was written. When the bank called the homeowners about the check, the homeowners asked the bank not to cash it. In the meantime, the homeowners had called the roofing company who had no knowledge of these 3 people.
When the 3 suspects returned to the homeowners to get another check, the genuine roofing company was there and when the suspects saw them, they left the area.
General Description of the Suspects
The 3 suspects, described as being very young, were driving a late 1980’s or early 1990’s black Ford truck. They were carrying a tool box and ladder in the back. If you have any information about this incident, please call the Shippensburg Police Department at 717-532-7361.
New Roof For Salt Dome In Ohio
Plans for roof replacement are underway for the salt barn located in Brunswick City, Ohio. The 30 year old roof has suffered from numerous instances of roof damage over the last few years and is in need of repair. Having been patched numerous times, city officials have declared the roof to be substandard and are concerned about how the roof damage to the barn’s salt stores will affect the local community.
Damaged Goods
Multiple holes in the roof have caused major water leaks, which affects the salt stored in the barn. When it rains salt escapes the building and flows into the parking lot and, eventually, becomes runoff into local waterways. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is concerned about the increased salt deposits in the local water supplies.
The salt barn stores much of the county’s supply of salt that is used during winter months to de-ice the local roads. The increased moisture has caused the salt to clump together and harden, making it difficult for the city’s snow plows to load and disperse in the winter months. With another winter approaching, local officials are concerned about the availability of the essential salt supply.
Cutting Costs
Despite pressure from the potential negative outcomes, the project managing team is considering different ways to avoid the high costs of roof replacement. The roof repair is estimated at around $60,000, money local officials say isn’t in the budget. One alternative solution that is being considered is to cover the roof with a fabric material to reduce leakage and hopefully extending the life of the current roof by 25 years. A similar method was used earlier this year on the city’s police station building and was said to have saved the city significant amount of money.
“Free Roof for the Holidays” Program
For the ninth year in a row DryHome Roofing and Siding will be continuing its holiday tradition of giving away a free roof to a needy individual, family or non-profit organizations in the Northern Virginia area.
Nominations will be open from November 1st to December 5th. They will announce the winner around the middle of December. Customers and the community are encouraged to nominate struggling homeowners and non-profits in Northern Virginia for the annual charity.
To Make Nominations
To make nominations visit www.dryhome.com and click on the nomination form. You can also email DryHome at info@dryhome.com. You should include your name and phone number along with the name, address and phone number of whom you are nominating.
DryHome’s “Free Roof for the Holidays” program is a way for the roofing and siding company to give back to the community. Locally owned and operated, DryHome has been in business for 20 years based in Sterling Virginia.
Previous Winners
Previous winners are 87 year old Hubert Laconia, Good Shepherd Alliance, Reston Interfaith, Falls Church Cub Scout House, Gabriel Homes, Mrs. Caylor and another elderly resident, Bernie Cline.
“We always receive many heartfelt nominations, and are proud to be able to continue this tradition. Mr. Laconia served our country in many ways, and it felt great to be able to give back to him. We look forward to helping someone else this year,” said Steve Gotschi, DryHome’s owner.
New York Rooftop Blooms With Produce
With the green roofing initiative continuing to grow, many locals have begun taking advantage of urban rooftop gardens. A large rooftop in Queens, New York has taken their green roof to new heights creating one of the largest “farms” within the city limits.
Growing New Relationships
The rooftop garden covers approximately a 40,000 square foot rooftop in one of the most densely populated cities in North America. 140 rows of crops cover a six story building in Queens. The main crops include leafy greens, tomatoes and exotic items like Japanese turnips. Not only does this rooftop garden boast beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, but it features a high-tech irrigation system and is home to five hens.
Known as the Brooklyn Grange, this commercial rooftop farm is changing the way locals interact with one another. The founders started the garden as part of a vision for helping impact the local community. Head farmer and co-founder Ben Flanner says, “It just makes sense to utilize the open spaces we have in the city to benefit the community.
By selling the produce at the local farmers market, the idea is to give residents a better idea of where the food comes from and who is growing it. Flanner says, “We are amid 8 million people, but the farm allows them to know us and us to know them.” The vision has grown beyond expectation as most of the work done within the farm is now conducted by local volunteers looking to be part of something special.
Roof Pitch
The main purpose of a pitched roof is to allow rain and snow to slide off of a roof. Typically, the more rain and snow you get in your area, the more the pitch you will need. Also different roofing materials require different pitch levels and building codes in your area may vary.
Rise, run and pitch are common terms used when discussing roof slopes. Pitch, also called “slope” is the number of inches that rise for every 12 inches of horizontal distance; it is expressed as “_” in 12. Roofs steeper than 8 in 12 are difficult to install roofing on, especially if there are also a number of dormers, hips and valleys.
One way to determine the slope of your roof is to use a foot long level and put it on the roof surface. Make sure it is level and then use a tape measure and run it from the free end of the level straight down to the roof surface. The number of inches on the tape measure will be your slope.
When you get an estimate for roof repair or replacement, the pitch will be factored in the roofing estimate. The steeper the roof, the more difficult and sometimes dangerous it is to do the work. Most asphalt roofs are somewhere between 2 in 12 and 4 in 12.
More Debate over OSHA Rules
The debate still is going strong over the new OSHA fall-protection rules. The stricter safety rules went into effect on September 15, 2011 after a 17 year exemption for residential contractors. Congress is getting involved in response to complaints by people in the building and roofing industries.
Senator Clair McCaskill gets Involved
10 St. Louis area homebuilders are the latest to file complaints regarding the harsher rules and hefty fines for violating them. Senator Clair McCaskill set up a conference call for the St. Louis homebuilders to air their concerns with OSHA officials in Washington.
Could Cost Jobs
Opponents of the new OSHA safety rules say it could add on to the price of a home by thousands of dollars. And in this economy, it could end up costing jobs. The builders are complaining about the severity of the extensive fines, up to $7,000 per worker per violation. The builders are saying they need common sense flexibility in their safety procedures.
632 Deaths From Falling
Not everyone in the building industry is opposed to the tougher new laws. According to the government, since 2006, falls have been responsible for 632 deaths in workers in the residential construction industry.
“I don’t think OSHA is picking on anybody. I think they’re trying to do their job. Some of the people complaining are the ones who are trying to fly under the radar” said the safety director of the Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis.
US Labor Dept. Gives Grace Period
Labor Department Deputy Secretary, Seth Harris has agreed to give builders with a good safety record a 30 day grace period to get in compliance and builders that are attempting to comply with the rules will receive a 10% reduction in fines.
Falling Roof Tiles Damage Historic Statues
Statues of mythical and religious figures surround one of the oldest Chinese temples in Penang. The Kuan Yin temple is one of the top four places of worship for locals and tourists. Many come to the temple to receive a blessing after marriage and pray for children. As one of the most notable places in Penang, the 211 year old temple’s surrounding statues have been tarnished by falling roof tiles.
Historic Roof Easily Damaged
After experiencing a significant rainstorm that battered the rooftop of the temple building, many roof tiles fell from the building. Four of the surrounding statues representing Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) were damaged by the falling roof materials. The temple was closed for a short time over potential safety concerns.
A local architect inspected the roof after the damage and determined that the temple’s old roof had been infested by woodworms. The main supporting beam has become brittle and soft after years of the infestation. It is feared that further damage could result if another downpour strikes the city. Roof repair is planned for the temple, despite the need for closing the famous temple for nearly 3 months while the work is completed.
Oldest US Childrens Home Gets New Roof and Repairs
The Carrie-Steele Pitts Home in Atlanta received a heartfelt birthday gift for the children’s home 123rd year anniversary. On October 15, 2011 more than 100 volunteers installed new roofs, painted, made repairs to electricity, carpentry and plumbing for the residential apartments and spruced up the landscaping.
Volunteers
The Rebuilding Together project volunteers; CNA global business insurer, NRCA National Roofing Contractors Association, Land Improvement Contractors of America and the Georgia chapter of Mechanical Contractors Association of America were on board for a day of major repairs and renovations. Chris Grundy, television DIY star, and radio personality James Carey were also there to help out.
Over 20,000 Children Passed Through This Home
The Carrie-Steele Pitts home is the oldest child care home in the United States. The home has provided for over 20,000 of Atlanta’s children and young adults with all inclusive care, education and shelter.
CNN and Rebuilding Together
“CNA and all of our construction association partners are proud to provide the elbow grease for these rebuild day renovations,” said John Tatum, vice president – Construction, CNA. “The repairing of damaged roofing, replacing windows and doors, installing new bathroom facilities, flooring and interior walls, will serve as a wonderful commemoration for all of the work and the strong impact CSPH has had on the children of Atlanta.”
Rebuilding Together is a non-profit organization. With a network of over 200 affiliates they provide free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low income Americans.
Homeowners Insurance And Roof Damage
Roof repair and replacement can be expensive. As a homeowner it is one of the most important aspects of maintaining the integrity of your home. Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for homeowners to have their repair claims denied by their insurance company. Insurance policies are different for every homeowner and what is, and is not, covered can vary greatly.
Coverage For Damages
In general, you can rest assured that the insurance company will pay for repairs if the roof damage was related to natural disasters or acts of God. These include significant weather events such as wind, hail, rain, hurricanes and tornadoes. The most common type of damage covered is damage or removal of shingles, flashing and siding. If the damage done to the roof causes further damage to the home by way to water leak and damage, this may also be covered by the insurance company.
One important aspect to remember about your damage claim is that it must be determined that the damage occurred due to an unknown and unpreventable reason. This can become problematic if the insurance company feels there was any neglect or failure to properly maintain the roof prior to the damage. In other words, if the insurance company determines that you failed to keep the roof in good repair prior to the damage, your claim could be denied.
Knowing Your Policy
Your insurance policy has specific terms and conditions for what type(s) of damages are covered but also how these damages may be disqualified. Not only will your policy discuss the terms of your coverage but will also outline any limits or restrictions to the coverage listed. It is a good idea to thoroughly review your policy prior to any major weather event. You may find that you need to hire a local roofer to inspect the integrity of your roof before the weather event, which can help demonstrate the roof was properly maintained prior to the damage.
