6/15/2011 - This week, I attended a seminar on new California "green" building codes. "CALGreen," as it's called, is a body of new, mandatory building codes that went into effect in California this past January, 2011. This code mandates new requirements in new commercial and residential construction. To date, many of the new codes do not apply to remodels/re-construction, but it was said that that within 18 months, most if not all will apply there as well. Some of the code that affects the work we do at Cypress Construction includes:
*Plumbing - New ultra, lo-flow toilets, shower heads, etc.
*Wastewater/storm drain design and implimentation
*Construction waste reduction and recycling
*Low VOC paint
*Etc.
As the green-building movement gains traction in both building departments and the general public, the need for a standardized, comprehensive set of new codes has been slow to take shape. Municipalities draw from the standards set up by private, governmental, and non-profit organizations including the following: Build It Green - (through which I was certified as a "Green Building Professional") CALGreen - The state's Building Standard's Commission LEED - The "gold-standard" of green building, from the U.S. Green Building Council
This seminar was well-organized and informative, and was put together with the help of the Monterey County Business Council and the Institute for Innovation and Economic Development.
Last Friday, Dec.17th, we held our "annual" Christmas party at Peachwoods/Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz.
After having to cancel last year's party due to the economy, we were long overdue celebrating the good year we've had in spite of these difficult times for so many. Our crew, now 15 employees strong, was there as well as half a dozen girlfriends/spouses. In addition to the festive room and tasty lunch provided by Peachwoods, we enjoyed our Secret Santa gift exchange, employee awards, a mercifully short speach by yours truly, and a new video I put together chronicalling the 15-year history of Cypress Construction.
The year was 1995. I moved to Santa Cruz to go to UCSC and study psychology. Faced with limited options for part-time work, I chose to put the skills that my parents had taught me to good use as a handyman, rather than slinging coffee at Starbucks. And Cypress Construction Services was born.
Last week, I put together a video history of Cypress - "From the Beginning." Enjoy!
Cypress Construction Services - "From the Beginning" - 5minutes 17seconds
On April 22nd, 2010, a new law will go into effect that will drastically affect the way a contractor or handyman or anyone that works on homes built prior to 1978 for compensation does their work. Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. To protect against this risk, the EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Last month, Cypress Construction Services sent Mark Steinhauer and Juan Acosta to a training course in Fresno, CA, and they both completed the course and passed the test and were Certified. Last week, we had a company-wide training meeting, in which Mark, Juan, and I taught the crew about the new rule, and how we will work differently to comply with these new standards. We created a 42-minute video of the training, and here you can watch a 2-minute sample of the video:
Requirements for Renovation Contractors Include: Certification and Training Requirements ■ All firms performing renovation, repair or painting work must become certified. This can be accomplished by applying to EPA or to the State, if it has an EPA-authorized renovation program, and paying a fee. ■ Firms must have one or more “Certified Renovators” assigned to jobs where lead-based paint is disturbed. To become certified, a renovator must successfully complete an EPA or State-approved training course conducted by an EPA or State-accredited training provider. ■ All renovation workers must be trained. Renovation workers can be trained on-the-job by a Certified Renovator to use lead safe work practices, or they can become Certified Renovators themselves.
Contractors, property managers and others who perform renovations for compensation in residential houses, apartments, and childoccupied facilities built before 1978 are required to distribute EPA’s Renovate Right lead hazard information pamphlet before starting renovation work to occupants and owners of homes, and owners and parents of child-occupied facilities.
Renovators must use work-area containment to prevent dust and debris from leaving the work area. ■ Certain work practices are prohibited. Open-flame burning, using heat guns at greater than 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit and the use of power tools without highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) exhaust control (to collect dust generated) are prohibited. ■ Thorough cleaning followed by a cleaning verification procedure to minimize exposure to lead-based paint hazards are required. ■ Generally, minor repair and maintenance activities (less than 6 square feet per interior room or 20 square feet per exterior project) are exempt from the work practices requirements. However, this exemption does not apply to jobs involving window replacement or demolition, or that involve the use of any of the prohibited practices listed above.
Exemption from the RRP Rule The training, certification and work practice requirements do not apply where the firm obtains a signed statement from the owner that all of the following conditions are met: ■ The renovation will occur in the owner’s residence; ■ No child under age 6 resides there; ■ No woman who is pregnant resides there; ■ The housing is not a child-occupied facility; and, ■ The owner acknowledges that the renovation firm will not be required to use the work practices contained in the rule.
Homeowners Working in Their Own Homes The RRP rule applies only to renovations performed for compensation. If you work on your own home, the rules do not apply. Even so, EPA encourages homeowners to use lead safe work practices, in order to protect themselves, their families, and the value of their homes.
Landlords Working in Their Own Property Landlords receive rental payments and maintenance personnel in rental property or child-occupied facilities receive wages or salaries derived from rent payments. This is considered compensation under the RRP rule. Therefore, renovation and repair activities performed by landlords or employees of landlords are covered by the rule. Work performed by landlords or their employees in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities must be performed using lead safe work practices, if lead-based paint or presumed lead-based paint is disturbed.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding this program, or how to comply with the new regulations.
01/15/10 - Cypress Construction attended the GraniteRock Contractor's Expo at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Seaside, CA. Michael attended classes in Project Management, Mechanic's Liens, etc. Other classes offered included landscaping, retaining walls, pervious concrete, LEED point system, et al.
Our thanks to GraniteRock for the invitation, the great classes and display booths, and great (free!) food buffets.
May 15-16th, 2008- 5 employees of Cypress Construction attend a 2-day trade convention held in Long Beach, sponsored by the Journal of Light Construction. Juan, Levi, Jose Garcia, Adrian, and Jose Gallardo went to the convention to learn about the latest building materials, tools, new building techniques, and to brush up on their trades skills.
Signing in to the convention on the first day, they waste no time in getting started making the rounds. Here a vendor demonstrates a new siding shingle product.
New building products, such as hi-
tech vapor barriers, shower drains,
shingle siding panels, solar technology, new framing materials and methods (as shown here)...
In fact, when put to the test, the Cypress crew entered a race against the vendor with the shingle siding panels, and actually installed the old-style shingles as fast as the vendor installed the panels!
Here, they share the spoils of war...
So, despite a flat tire, some glitches checking in, and some interesting stories about the hotel swimming pool, the men learned a lot, and had a great time together. Hats off to you all !
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