Solutions for Remodeling

Lead-based Paint Dangerous for Children

Young children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning since they are more likely to ingest lead paint chips, flakes, or dust and are more sensitive to the adverse health effects of lead. Elevated lead levels in young children can trigger

• learning disabilities
• decreased growth
• hyperactivity
• impaired hearing
• brain damage

Lead can be found in a number of places inside and outside the home. For example, lead can be found in household dust from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into the house. It can also be found in drinking water coming from old lead pipes, fixtures and solder.

"Childhood lead poisoning is easily preventable with the right information and awareness. This grant will help Arizona tribal communities raise awareness about preventing lead's adverse health effects," said Administrator Jackson. "This project is an important example of the efforts happening across the country to protect our children from a major health threat."

Lead-based Paint Outreach to Native American Tribes

The Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona is developing culturally specific outreach materials to educate tribal families, especially parents of young children, and tribal staff on the health risks to children from exposure to lead-based paint.

Lead Awareness for Facility Maintenance Personnel

The program specifically reaches out to facility maintenance personnel to stress the importance of using lead-safe work practices when renovating buildings.

The use of lead-based paint in U.S. residential housing was banned in 1978.

Approximately 75% of the U.S. housing stock built before 1978, or 64 million homes, contain some lead-based paint.

For information on EPA's lead paint program, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/lead

For information on lead in paint, dust and soil, visit: http://www.epa.gov/lead

For information on protecting your family from lead hazards, visit: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#where

Since early 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been contacted by more than 1,000 residents of 27 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia about possible chemical emissions from imported drywall that was used when their homes were built or remodeled. Most calls were from persons in Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia.

At this time, experts believe that defective drywall imported from China was installed in homes built or remodeled after 2003.

The number and location of all affected or potentially affected homes are not yet known.

CPSC is leading the federal investigation into complaints about imported drywall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are providing technical support to CPSC and several state health departments. CDC and ATSDR are working with other federal and state agencies to identify what chemicals are in the drywall and if these chemicals are a health risk to persons living in homes containing this drywall.

How can I find out if my home has imported drywall?

Corrosion: Are any of your home's copper pipes, plumbing fixtures, or uninsulated electrical wires at light switches or receptacles corroded? Have your air conditioner evaporator coils failed early? Metal or copper corrosion of these types may mean there is defective drywall in your home.

Odor: Does your home have an odor that smells like rotten eggs, matches, or fireworks? A sulfur odor in the home might mean defective drywall is present.

Label: Can you see the back side of your drywall? Some drywall from China is stamped with "Made in China" on the back. However, some Chinese drywall does not have a label or markings.

The Florida Department of Health developed a guide for residents to help them identify drywall problems.

What has been found in the air of homes that contain imported drywall?

State and federal agencies are testing the air inside some homes in Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi. They are testing homes in which homeowners suspect they have contaminated drywall and, for comparison, other homes in which no problems have been reported. State and federal agencies will evaluate these results to determine whether there is a health problem. This evaluation is expected in the fall of 2009.

How can Chinese drywall affect my health?

Some persons are more sensitive than others to possible chemical exposures. An exposure that causes no problems for some people can make other people sick or uncomfortable. Persons most likely to get sick from breathing contaminated air include the elderly, children, and people with asthma, allergies, lung disease, and heart problems. Until federal agencies get more information from the indoor air testing, it is not possible to determine if the symptoms people are experiencing are possibly from drywall.

What else should I do if I may be having health problems from imported drywall?

See or call a doctor if you are experiencing health problems and say that you are concerned your illness might be related to imported drywall. Tell your doctor about the health care provider fact sheet for imported drywall. A fact sheet from CDC tells your health care provider how to get more information.

• Go outdoors to get fresh air. Scientists do not know what, if any, benefit there is to opening windows to allow fresh air to come into the home.

Are there other problems I should watch for in my home that may be related to imported drywall?

• Some homes with imported drywall have had damage to exposed wiring. We do not know of any house fires that have occurred related to the drywall. If you experience unusual electrical problems in your home (such as appliances or light switches not working), ask a licensed electrician to check out the problem.

Where can I get additional information?

You can report a drywall problem to CPSC  by calling them at 1-800-638-2772.

Since early 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been contacted by more than 1,000 residents of 27 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia about possible chemical emissions from imported drywall that was used when their homes were built or remodeled. Most calls were from persons in Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia.

At this time, experts believe that defective drywall imported from China was installed in homes built or remodeled after 2003.

The number and location of all affected or potentially affected homes are not yet known.

CPSC is leading the federal investigation into complaints about imported drywall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are providing technical support to CPSC and several state health departments. CDC and ATSDR are working with other federal and state agencies to identify what chemicals are in the drywall and if these chemicals are a health risk to persons living in homes containing this drywall.

How can I find out if my home has imported drywall?

Corrosion: Are any of your home's copper pipes, plumbing fixtures, or uninsulated electrical wires at light switches or receptacles corroded? Have your air conditioner evaporator coils failed early? Metal or copper corrosion of these types may mean there is defective drywall in your home.

Odor: Does your home have an odor that smells like rotten eggs, matches, or fireworks? A sulfur odor in the home might mean defective drywall is present.

Label: Can you see the back side of your drywall? Some drywall from China is stamped with "Made in China" on the back. However, some Chinese drywall does not have a label or markings.

The Florida Department of Health developed a guide for residents to help them identify drywall problems.

What has been found in the air of homes that contain imported drywall?

State and federal agencies are testing the air inside some homes in Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi. They are testing homes in which homeowners suspect they have contaminated drywall and, for comparison, other homes in which no problems have been reported. State and federal agencies will evaluate these results to determine whether there is a health problem. This evaluation is expected in the fall of 2009.

How can Chinese drywall affect my health?

Some persons are more sensitive than others to possible chemical exposures. An exposure that causes no problems for some people can make other people sick or uncomfortable. Persons most likely to get sick from breathing contaminated air include the elderly, children, and people with asthma, allergies, lung disease, and heart problems. Until federal agencies get more information from the indoor air testing, it is not possible to determine if the symptoms people are experiencing are possibly from drywall.

What else should I do if I may be having health problems from imported drywall?

See or call a doctor if you are experiencing health problems and say that you are concerned your illness might be related to imported drywall. Tell your doctor about the health care provider fact sheet for imported drywall. A fact sheet from CDC tells your health care provider how to get more information.

• Go outdoors to get fresh air. Scientists do not know what, if any, benefit there is to opening windows to allow fresh air to come into the home.

Are there other problems I should watch for in my home that may be related to imported drywall?

• Some homes with imported drywall have had damage to exposed wiring. We do not know of any house fires that have occurred related to the drywall. If you experience unusual electrical problems in your home (such as appliances or light switches not working), ask a licensed electrician to check out the problem.

Where can I get additional information?

You can report a drywall problem to CPSC  by calling them at 1-800-638-2772.

Is remodeling the solution for reducing an office's energy consumption...and costs?  According to a study by energy efficiency company, Johnson Controls Inc.,  there are ways to save energy, and ways to "think" you're saving.  They took a look at the effect workplace comfort has on employee productivity and energy conservation.

"Employers may be tempted to turn down the thermostats this fall, but this quick fix could lead to hidden costs," said Clay Nesler, Johnson Controls' vice president. "Energy efficient systems and equipment is the win-win alternative, allowing businesses to save energy and money without sacrificing workplace productivity."

• 69% of the 800 US office workers surveyed for the study said they are "willing to sacrifice" their preferred ideal temperature on the job if that helps conserve energy.
  
• 45% said they think their employers are not doing enough to make their offices more energy efficient.
• 78% of workers said their productivity falls when they feel too cold or too hot at the office
• 98% said their offices are too hot or too cold at some point.

Solutions to Workplace Comfort

The study found that as a result

• 49% said they use a fan when they feel too hot,
  
• 28%  use a space heater
• 30% said they leave their office building to warm up or cool down by taking a walk.
• 41% report their discomfort to an office manager or facilities worker
• 69% try to remedy the situation by adding or removing a layer of clothing.

The findings provide further insight into employee behavior and workplace conditions.

Remodeling efforts to recover from fire damage can be driven by insurance claims, appraisals and payments.

In researching health insurance, I ran across an "insurance evaluator" who helped homeowners after recent California fires.  The court notes prove helpful for both homeowners and service providers. 

A lot of the monies that will be available for recovery and remodeling after a disaster result from getting the paperwork right!  And it starts BEFORE the fire.  And it continues AFTER the fire...and BEFORE work begins.

This excerpt of the court documents points to some best practices for both homeowners as they gather information for risk management -- and service providers who need to provide helpful estimates and evaluations:  

In late October 2004 Allstate provided Kacha's attorney, Peter Lawrence, and Dawson with a draft form appraisal award. The form included several pages of damaged items Kacha claimed were covered under the policy, such as kitchen cabinets and flooring, garage cabinets and flooring, and carpet and interior walls. For each item, the form provided: "Damage, if any, to the [e.g., kitchen cabinets] attributable to the fire of October 26, 2003." The form included a line for the entry of a dollar amount for each item.

The appraisal was held at Kacha's home, on November 15 and 16, 2004, and January 4, 2005. Allstate presented an appraisal brief that stated, "[T]his is not your standard appraisal where value of the loss is the only issue; there are still many issues regarding the existence and scope of damage that have not been resolved between the parties. This is due in large part to the insureds' prematurely demanding appraisal without coming to an agreement upon a scope of loss or even providing Allstate with the specifics of their claim." The brief asserted that damage to numerous items was not caused by smoke or heat from the Cedar Fire.

On November 15, Allstate provided the panel members with its draft appraisal award form. The parties had not yet agreed to the form, however, and Judge Joseph instructed them to do so before the conclusion of the hearing.

On November 16, the parties stipulated in writing that the appraisal panel "should utilize replacement cost value less depreciation to determine the actual cash value of the loss." The parties also stipulated to the amount of loss for certain items, including interior light fixtures and cleaning of windows, HVAC ducts and "[o]zone." The same date, Kacha increased the value of his loss to $858,393.87, and that prompted Judge Joseph to schedule the third hearing day.

Insurance services cover a range of helpful information management opportunities to "meet in the middle" of fair settlements that help homeowners manage their risk. Professional Insurance Evaluations is just one of the companies that provides a wide range of such services to sort through the complications of insurance and recovery:

Claims Recovery

Professional Insurance Evaluations maximizes your insurance policy claims by knowing exactly what is covered in your policy, determining the extent of the damage, and aiding you in any disputed claims resolution process.

Fire Insurance Claims

Professional insurance Evaluations can help with your claims resulting from fire damage. In the event of a fire, often times the damage is severe and the claims large, we can help recover your losses for known and unknown hidden damages to real and personal property.

Business Interruption Claims

Business interruption insurance protects policy holders from losses due to the interruption of business operations. Time element losses of business income, extra expenses, loss of rents or additional living expense are measured and valued.

Expert Witness

An insurance expert witness provides support in a legal case by having knowledge about insurance, claims handling, and insurance policy coverage analysis that can be relied upon in litigation of disputed claims.

Catastrophe Expert

Professional Insurance Evaluations is an expert in insurance policy claims resulting from catastrophe property damage. General adjuster, Kevin Dawson worked on insurance claims resulting from Hurricane Katrina, the San Diego Cedar Fire, and California wild fires and many other catastrophes during his long career serving policy holders and insurance companies.

Water, Smoke, Storm, Vandalism, Vehicle, Explosion Damage Claims

Professional Insurance Evaluations can help recover insurance policy holder claims resulting from water, smoke, storm, vandalism, vehicle, and explosion damage to property and time element losses.

 

Read more at Professional Insurance Evaluations, a California service company

California fires consume many acres of wilderness -- but they also damage structures.  And sometimes draconian measures are taken to hack trees and shrubs away from buildings to minimize fire danger.  And that's smart, but what is smarter is to remove those problematic plants in fire-prone areas long before a fire creeps close.

When property is damaged, landscaping is the first line of attack and defense.  And remodeling will include landscaping.  Here are some suggestions from the Californians who are very experienced with recovery work after fires.


It's important to restore landscapes in an ecologically sound way.  And that's not as intuitive as you might think.  It's not "business as usual."  Here are some suggestions from the California Landscape Contractors Association that might help you understand the major landscaping transformation that takes place after a fire.

Recommendations to Help Protect Your Property After a Fire from the California Landscape Contractors Association

Fire destroys hundreds of homes each year in California and often burns thousands of acres of land.  If your property was damaged by fire, the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is pleased to offer some recommendations to help your landscape recover and to help protect your property.

... In general, many plants and trees are exposed to fire in their native environment and many will recover in the spring and should be left alone.  Any pruning or cutting back of fire-damaged plants should not be done until the plants show signs of recovery. Removing bark, leaves or limbs can expose the plants to sun damage.  Heat from the sun can actually kill the tissue beneath the bark on some trees.  It is best to leave them alone until new growth appears.

... Some plants recover faster than others. Burned plants can still be green underneath and still have healthy roots. If similar plants appear to be recovering, wait a few more weeks before removing damaged parts.  Full damage to woody plants may not be apparent until the next spring or summer season.  Re-examine them at that time and then carefully remove damaged wood to make room for new growth. Ash on the plants will not cause damage and should be left alone.

... Damaged trees that have branches that are cracked or overhanging homes, driveways etc., that can be a future hazard, should be removed.  Trees that have shifted in the soil due to wind or burn damage and those with burned roots should be removed as well, because they are now considered unstable and could potentially fall.  If fire has completely burned off all the bark around the entire circumference of the tree and/or fire has burned deep into the trunk, the tree should also be removed.

... Fertilization is not recommended.  Immediately fertilizing can cause damage to the roots and cause additional harm to the plants. Waiting also gives the soil time to recover.  Wait until the spring and fertilize at half rates with a product containing nitrogen.  Do not fertilize with manures at that time, since they contain a high concentration of salts that can injure roots.  

... Plastic irrigation lines, parts and drains may be damaged.  Check your existing irrigation system for leaks and damage and document them for your insurance company.  Also shut off irrigation water immediately after a fire to help prevent erosion and further damage.

... It is generally not recommended to water plants immediately after a fire.  If your area is experiencing a drought and water is necessary, water gently by hand.  Severely burned soils do not absorb water well.  Make sure the flow of water is slow enough to be absorbed. Also examine and clean concrete drains and swales.  Many become filled with ash and mud during a fire.

... In areas where protective plants are removed or destroyed, soil becomes vulnerable to erosion.  Soil erosion can happen slowly or it can happen very quickly in a heavy rain.  The exact measures needed for your property are based on your soil type, slope grade, home location, weather, water availability etc.  Also areas exposed by fire can open the door for invasive species and weeds. In some areas erosion control materials or mechanical control measures may need to be applied.  Contact your local CalTrans office or local forest service for guidelines in your area.  

... Water flow is an important factor of any erosion plan.  Never underestimate the power of storm water and debris.  Evaluating the area and planning for storm events is a critical first step to protecting your property and improper or inadequate measures can aggravate potential problems.  If you need help with erosion control or fire prevention landscaping, be sure to hire a licensed professional who specializes in that area of expertise.  Ask for references, insurance certificates and request to see their license.  You'll want to protect your home and your neighbors' as well.

... It is also an important time to evaluate your property's landscape and damage.  Take a look at what worked and what did not and try to determine how to make your property safer in case of a future fire.  For future reference, it is also a good idea to keep records and photos of your landscape as part of your home inventory list for insurance purposes.

For helpful information about fire prevention landscaping please go to: www.clca.org/clca/education/fire-protection.php

Our wild and cultivated landscapes are all vital to prevent climate change -- and especially in the aftermath of disasters such as Western states' wildfires.


Barbara Landrith
Outreach Specialist

California Landscape Contractors Association
barbaralandrith@clca.org
1491 River Park Dr#100
Sacramento, Ca 95815
(916) 830-2780
www.clca.org

I mentioned that even though I've been researching and writing about windows and doors, I still wasn't sure where "fenestration" came from.  I mused in front of the wrong person!!!

Fenestration

Here's my version:  The term is derived from an 18th century contractor who wasn't very good at his job, but who livened up the workplace as  the butt of all jokes... George Fenester, the window guy, could not install a window without breaking at least one pane of glass.   On a particularly troubling day, he fell backwards and shattered an entire stack of glass panes.  His buddies kidded him by asking, "Hey George, feeling a little Fenestration today?"  It was followed by howls of laughter...they found it humorous, most likely because they were uneducated laborers who did not have access to fine comedic programming...or even to TV for that matter.


By David Hylton

I mentioned that even though I've been researching and writing about windows and doors, I still wasn't sure whre "fenestration" came from.  I mused in front of the wrong person!!!

Fenestration

Here's my version:  The term is derived from an 18th century contractor who wasn't very good at his job, but who livened up the workplace as  the butt of all jokes... George Fenester, the window guy, could not install a window without breaking at least one pane of glass.   On a particularly troubling day, he fell backwards and shattered an entire stack of glass panes.  His buddies kidded him by asking, "Hey George, feeling a little Fenestration today?"  It was followed by howls of laughter...they found it humorous, most likely because they were uneducated laborers who did not have access to fine comedic programming...or even to TV for that matter.


By David Hylton

The FY10 Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants have been posted to the brownfields website at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm

The proposal deadline is October 16, 2009.

These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum).

Opportunities for funding are as follows (See Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 66.818):

Brownfields Assessment Grants:

(each funded up to $200,000 over three years; $1,000,000 for Assessment Coalitions) provide funding to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning (including cleanup planning) and community involvement related to brownfield sites;

Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants:

(each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years) provide funding to capitalize a revolving fund and to make loans and provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites;

Brownfields Cleanup Grants:

(each funded up to $200,000 over three years) provide funding for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites that are owned by the grant recipient.

Please note there are two significant changes to the Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants in FY2010:

(1) Applicants applying for a cleanup grant must own the site that is subject of their proposal at time of proposal submission;

(2) For RLF proposals only - Applicants who are currently recipients of a Brownfields RLF cooperative agreement, whether awarded under CERCLA 104(k) or CERCLA 104(d) are ineligible to apply in the FY2010 RLF competition. If you are an existing RLF cooperative agreement recipient you may be eligible to apply for RLF supplemental funding in early 2010.

EPA encourages applicants to read the guidelines carefully before applying.