Tips

for Property Manager and Building Owners

OSHA Fall Protection Regulations
October 31, 2011

According to OSHA's new fall protection laws a roofer is now required to use fall protection at heights of 6' and up while working on residential properties. This is a huge change from the former trigger height of 20' and seriously impedes projects. Roofers formerly benefited from a trigger height of 20' because they were considered skilled climbers. With the new trigger height of 6' OSHA hopes to provide roofing technicians with more safety, but this may not be the case. The extra time it takes to set up fall protection on a small project may put the worker more at risk than if they quickly completed the job. Furthermore, using a harness at heights below 14' is not effective (see fall distance chart below) and those that do use a harness at lower heights may feel a false sense of protection, possibly making them more careless. Cal/OSHA has yet to adopt these new regulations, but their enforcement of current trigger heights (15' residential and 20' commercial) is becoming stricter. Many roofers have greatly benefited from using fall protection at the 15' and 20' trigger heights, but the verdict is still out on Federal OSHA's new stricter regulations. We are closely monitoring Cal/OSHA's fall protection regulations for any changes in the upcoming months. If Cal/OSHA does decide to adopt the 6' trigger height there may be an even higher price increase to roofing projects than what are already seeing.

Bee Hive Tips
June 18, 2010

Caution tenants
Call beehive extractor
Be aware that the insects will linger for a few days before they all die off
Call your licensed roofing company to repair any roof or exterior wall damage

Bee sting safety tip: If you get stung by a bee do not pull out the stinger; this action will release even more bee venom. Instead, scrape the stinger off using a credit card or any small, sturdy and flat item. Then, wash the stung area with soap and water frequently throughout the next couple of days. If the area is swollen apply a cold pack or ice. Carefully monitor the stung area and be sure to seek medical attention if inflammation worsens. Always consult a doctor or medical facility if you are allergic to bees or experiencing an allergic reaction.

Accidental and Negligent Roof Damage: Who done it
December 21, 2009

Satellite Dish Installers
Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors
Painters
Termite Fumigators
New tenants installing heavy rooftop equipment (Dry Cleaners, Laundry Mats, Restaurants)
Rented rooftop space (Cell Towers, Billboards)
Unlicensed, inexperienced or sloppy roofers

Any traffic on the roof increases the likelihood of damage. Keep it to a minimum and when it has to be done, hire professionals.
Keep tenants and owners informed to minimize accidental and negligent roof damage!

So you have a warranty, eh? 6 questions to ask about every warranty:
October 27, 2009

Do you have a manufacturers' warranty? Contractor's warranty? Both?
Did each give you an actual warranty or just tell you that it exists; most manufacturers' require a warranty application to be filled out by the contractor and both should give you physical or digital copies.
What does the warranty require of the manager/owner? Most require annual maintenance and inspection of any new rooftop equipment (Satellite Dish, AC, etc.) These requirements should be published.
Do you have a copy of the manufacturer's maintenance requirements, the contractor's? Does your contractor have published requirements? Maintaining your roof is a must to maintain your warranty, those guidelines must be followed.
Does it cover labor? Materials? Both?
When does it expire? This is last for a reason, a 20 year warranty means nothing if the contractor is out of business in 2 years, if the contractor never gave you a physical warranty, if the warranty's rules have been violated... you get the idea. Take a 10 year warranty from a reputable source over a 20 year shot in the dark.

There is hope, ask these questions! Fontaine Weatherproofing performs warranty repairs for the manufacturers, we supply our clients with our warranty and the manufacturers' warranty and we keep a copy in our software allowing us to track your warranty with changes in management or ownership. Our warranty sample and maintenance guidelines are published here.

Dealing with clients small and large, we've seen the gamut of vendor compliance/verification programs. Here are some of the items different companies are asking for:
September 18, 2009

Contractors License and Classification verified by the CSLB (make sure the class code matches the work they are doing)
Workers' Compensation and Bonding verified by the CSLB (look at history and confirm there are no gaps)
Full background check of company principals
A BBB company report (look for A+ rating)
An A.M. Best rating of insurance providers (look for A+ rating)
Many of the above services are free, Fontaine Weatherproofing would be happy to assist any client in using them, we can walk you through the process (and show you how we are top rated in every category!)