Free, 1 hr. CEU webinar on Raised floor construction and insulation is now available at Southern Pine Council e-classroom.  Other webinars of interest also available here.

While on the site, you might find other webinars of interest

The findings of an 18  month study on 4 different types of insulation is now available at the LSUAgCenter.com publications catalogue link:

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/communications/publications/Publications+Catalog/Home+Improvement/construction/Insulating-Raised-Floors-in-Hot-Humid-Climates.htm

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, & FHA/VA have now printed a form for appraisers to use to give value for energy efficient features in new homes.

We are in the process of obtaining the form so you can give it to your appraiser.

You will need to get the home verified by a 3^rd party Energy Rater using the HERS rating program.

As a result of the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina, a major effort is underway with the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to raise homes above projected possible flood levels.

The question often arises, which contractors can legally raise, level, and shore homes?

The only contractors that can legally raise, level, and shore a home, where the cost of such jobs is $7,500 or more, are holders of state commercial licenses with the following classifications:
• Building Construction, and/or
• Rigging, House Moving, Wrecking and Dismantling, and/or
• Raising and Leveling of Residences and Buildings, and/or
• Foundations and Pile Driving, and/or
• Sidewalks, Retaining Walls, Patios, and Foundations, and/or
• Foundations for Buildings and Tanks, and/or
• Foundations for Buildings, Equipment or Machinery, and/or
• Foundations, Caissons, and Slurry Walls
Residential Building Contractors may bid on such jobs, but must hire a subcontractor holding one of the classifications above to do the work.

Home Improvement Registrants are excluded from either bidding or working on such lifting and elevation jobs except for renovations below $75,000 for work done after the raising, leveling, and shoring work has been completed on the home.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has added insurance and bonding requirements for any contractor eligible for raising and elevating homes, including a general liability riggers insurance endorsement.
________________________________________

Properly licensed and qualified contractors…It’s the Law!

For any questions or further information, please visit our website at www.lslbc.louisiana.gov or contact us by phone at 225-765-2301 Ext. 213 or send an email to newsletter@lslbc.louisiana.gov

AT MID YEAR, ONE THING’S
CERTAIN: TIME FLIES

By Chad Deshotel, 2011 LHBA President

Wow! It’s truly hard to believe that half of the year has gone by so quickly. Time definitely does fly. I hope everyone has had a great first half of the year.  LHBA’s Spring Meetings in Baton Rouge were extremely successful, with more than 100 members in attendance for the legislative briefing on May 4.  Afterwards, more than 500 members and state legislators attended our annual crawfish boil after visiting amongst each other at the state Capitol. I would like to personally thank every member in attendance for taking time out of their busy schedules and, in some cases traveling long distances, to show allimportant support for our industry. While 2011 marked a fiscal year in the state legislature, it was a very busy legislative session for us nonetheless.  We monitored several bills and were incredibly successful in our efforts to look out for our mutual best interests. We worked closely with our lobbyist, Michelle Shirley, and called upon you, our members, with legislative alerts. We urged you to contact your legislators when we needed your voice to sound clearly. Our network is an impressive one indeed.  There are a couple of new developments for members that I would like to point out and encourage you to consider, as appropriate to your business. First, LHBA has partnered with an insurance company to offer builders’ risk insurance to our builders. With this program, builders are able to save money while helping to support LHBA. It’s a win-win situation for all of us. If interested, please contact your local insurance agent. If you are unable to find an agent to write this builders’ risk insurance, please contact your local association and they can put you in contact with a representative. Secondly, LHBA has a new feature on our website (LHBA.org) that offers builders the opportunity to feature homes for sale. Contact your local association to find out how you can put your homes for sale on our statewide site. As we all know, a multiple exposure approach is key to selling off inventory. To all of the members of this great association, I urge you to remember that this is your association. Without your support we cannot exist. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Summer Meetings in Sandestin.  In closing, I want to thank you for being an LHBA member. I hope each and every one of you has a pleasant and productive summer. Take time to smell the roses and enjoy the important things in life. And until next time, if you need to reach me, call (337) 912-0366 or e-mail  jcdeshotel@aol.com. n