Home Contractor vs. Homeowner

Another post from Jerry Solomon: The new 2008 construction season is just weeks away. As you plan and prepare for your new jobs think about the safety of your workers and subcontractors. Make sure everyone knows how to do their work safely and is aware of the safety rules that apply to residential construction. OSHA continues to focus on residential construction as a high hazard industry. They are out there looking for you. Last year they issued over 4900 citations against home builders and renovators with penalties of over $3.7 million. You need a lot of profit to cover those penalties which come off your bottom line. The most frequently cited violations are for fall protection for workers on floor edges, roofs, etc. Workers must be protected against any falls of 6 feet or more. Guardrails may be impractical except for fall hazards that might exist for a few days or more. For trained workers, safety harnesses with lanyards which are properly worn and secured are often the best ...

A couple of weeks ago, I gave a presentation along with a home contractor to a group of professionals. The contractor, Paul Monaco, brought up a number of terrific points about the effect that a home renovation project has on one's household. So, in no specific order: 1. Be ready to have your life turned upside down. Doing renovation work in your home is very disruptive. 2. Do not put in a new lawn or beautiful new shrubs just prior to putting in an addition. Assume that your landscaping is going to get ripped up. 3. Prepare to eat off paper plates and wash your dishes in the bathtub or a temporary slop sink. 4. Understand that different workers will come and leave at different hours. 5. Do not count on workers to arrive on a daily basis. For example, a plumber may need to attend to an emergency and put off work at your home for a day. 6. Unforseen events may occur. Weather may interfere with the progress of your project. In addition, there may be hidden defects that mu...

The New York Times featured an article recently about consultants who help homeowners work through renovation projects. Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/garden/13coach.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=renovation+consultant&st=nyt&oref=slogin