A Publication of the FRSA ◆ Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals
R-38, Bingo! Election 2014 Recap Differing Job Site Conditions (Pt II of III) Photography Tips for Residential Roofing Contractors Understanding Your Employees’ Perception: Individual Subsidies and Employer Penalties Code Changes and Sealed or Unsealed? Sunniland: An Old FRSA Friend What is a “Certificate of Insurance?”
DECEMBER 2014
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R-38 Bingo!
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Differing Job Site Conditions (Pt II of III)
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Photography Tips for Residential Roofing Contractors
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Understanding Your Employees’ Perception: Individual Subsidies and Employer Penalties
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Sunniland: An Old FRSA Friend
Election 2014 Wrap Up
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Code Changes and Sealed or Unsealed?
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What is a “Certificate of Insurance?”
A Publication of the FRSA ◆ Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals
On the iPad
FRSA Executive Director, Lisa Pate, CEM ◆ Editor, Christopher Homer
For display advertising inquiries and all feedback including Letters to the Editor and reprint permission requests (please include your full name, city and state) contact Christopher Homer at: christopher@floridaroof.com (800) 767-3772 ext. 127 RFM, PO Box 4850 Winter Park, FL 32793-4850 View media kit at: www.floridaroof.com/roofing-florida-magazine
Any material submitted for publication in ROOFING FLORIDA becomes the property of the publication. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the author(s) alone and do not imply an opinion or endorsement on the part of the officers or the membership of FRSA. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher.
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ROOFING FLORIDA (VOL. 5, NO. 12), December 2014, (ISSN 0191-4618) is published monthly by FRSA, 7071 University Boulevard, Winter Park, FL 32792. Application to mail at periodicals postage is pending at Winter Park, FL and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address corrections (form 3579) to ROOFING FLORIDA, PO Box 4850, Winter Park, FL 32793-4850.
Burt Logan ◆ President’s Column
Remembering the Year and Saying Thanks In last month’s issue, I stressed the importance of family and being thankful for all that you have been given in this life. In this article, I will do the same exact thing, just because it is that time of the year, but I will try to keep it brief. With this being the final column for 2014, it is appropriate for us to look back and reflect on this past year’s events. We are a culmination of these events and it should be used as a learning experience to discover how we have gotten where we are. As with any yearend closing, we should all consider those projects, business opportunities, and customers that produced successful results. We should also remember the projects, business opportunities, and customers that have produced unsuccessful results and how we handled those situations. Bill Courtney, a football coach and successful entrepreneur has said that, “The true measure of a person’s character is how one handles one’s failures, not successes.” I think this holds some validity. We must look at how we have failed, picked ourselves up, and dealt with the situation. Only strong people can overcome and thrive. With that being said, the take away is that you should focus on the big picture, not just on success, not just on failures, but everything together. Since this is the time of year for thanks, it is important to remember that saying thank you does not cost you any money, but it has the potential to make you money. Imagine receiving a hand-written thank you note from someone you have worked with. Assuming that the job was a successful one; would you want to work with this person again? Would you want to go to that place for business again? Obviously you would, and it shows the power of thanks. If you want to create an environment of gratitude in your workplace, it must start at the top. Employees need to hear “thank you” from the boss first. Letting employees know that they are valued can affect their level of engagement, as well as the loyalty they feel toward you and your company. This can create a more conducive environment for productive work and can ease on-the-job stress. Make sure to praise your employees. Thank them in person, smile, keep eye contact, and add sincerity to your voice. Tell them what they are doing right and why you are so thankful for it. Do not just go through the motions and give them thanks because you do not know what to say. Also, have an end of the year get together; treat your employees. This is the perfect opportunity to show your thanks by highlighting the exemplary acts of 4
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the previous year and praising people’s good work. You could even make a toast highlighting these points. As for this past year, a good course of action is to send your thanks out to those that have helped you; whether it is a colleague, another business, a publication, and especially your customers. It is easy to send thanks and it is done most simply by a well thought out, personable email. You could go the extra mile and write out thank you cards, which really show your thanks. If you get the opportunity to, say thanks in person. Tell them that you appreciate what they did, the job they did, and how it was such a relief that you had them this year. Another more modern way to give thanks is through social media. Engage users by communicating with their positive reviews, post photos about work you have done, and even praise other businesses that have worked with you. Just remember to take this time of the year, as everything starts to slow down, to give thanks. I want everybody to close out this year strongly. If you have had a successful year, be thankful for it. If your year was less than stellar, stay strong and persevere. Not every person can be successful every year. Within this past decade, our country has suffered tremendous economic turmoil, but we are now bouncing back. Be resilient and tough, you can make it through this. I want to thank all of you who have helped me this year, especially my family. Thank you. I want to wish all of our members a safe and happy holiday. Have fun, but be responsible. Surround yourself with loved ones and enjoy the time you have with them. Happy Holidays!
President@floridaroof.com
R-38, Bingo! By Mark Zehnal, CPRC, FRSA Director of Technical Services Are you still having issues with reroofing and the 2010 Florida Energy Conservation Code? Is it a nightmare scenario where you’re stuck playing bingo and you keep hearing that mystical number R-38 called out. You keep staring at your card, but you just can’t seem to find that number; however, sitting across the table from you is your inspector and he yells out at the top of his lungs, “BINGO!” Well, good news, not every building will have a playing card that will require R-38. Recently, I’ve had the occasion to assist contractors, design professionals, and inspectors dealing with existing buildings, navigate through the 2010 Florida Energy Conservation Code (FECC). So, I thought it might be helpful to share a few tips that I’ve learned with contractors that could be useful when engaged in discussing differences of opinion with a design professional or roofing inspector when it comes to code compliant R-values on a commercial reroof project. Bygone Words of Wisdom Over the past 37 years, my father-in-law has passed along some good nuggets of wisdom and fortunately, a few took hold. One was a Native American proverb, “Don’t criticize a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins.” I’ve found following this premise extremely helpful when involved in confrontational situations and found the other party is usually grateful when they realize, through our conversation, that I took time to put myself in their position. They also value that I, to the best of my ability, tried to see the surrounding circumstances from their viewpoint. Of course, we didn’t always agree, but at least we were able to understand each other’s ideas and possibly find an acceptable solution. Don’t make the mistake of assuming the inspector or plan reviewer is aware of the project’s particular conditions and how those conditions are used to achieve required R-values established by the FECC. Remember, you’re not the only contractor they have dealings with on a daily basis. Unfortunately, most building department staff are suspicious of roofing contractors they know and even more so of those they don’t know. These guys have probably heard almost every excuse known to man about why and how this was done instead of falling back on the code, product approval, or manufacturer’s specifications. Where I come from isn’t the right response. Treat the inspectors with respect, hear them out, and always ask for the code reference if there is reason for a work stoppage, or if a code violation citation is issued for future reference. From what I’ve heard, it would seem that there are a few, not unlike some roofing contractors, who either haven’t received training or were not clear about what training they may have participated in, especially in relation to energy code compliance. It makes one wonder at times
if the building d e p a r t m e n t , As roofing contractors, or even some we know all too well how roofing contractors, own hard it is to keep up with code books all of the code changes, and if they do product approval upown the books, dates, OSHA guidelines what decade updates, and changing they were printed in. All local ordinances. Not all kidding aside, I inspectors have access to would encour- current roofing system age roofing and installation educacontractors to tional opportunities that keep up with the Florida would help them with Building Code their understanding of updates. No roofing system basics. matter whether you prefer the paper or electronic version, make sure you have a current copy of the code on hand to refer to with staff, a design professional, or for guidance when on that rare occasion, an installation may be questioned by an inspector. Look for good training resources, like those associated with and including the FRSA. As roofing contractors, we know all too well how hard it is to keep up with all of the code changes, product approval updates, OSHA guidelines updates, and changing local ordinances. Not all inspectors have access to current roofing system and installation educational opportunities that would help them with their understanding of roofing system basics. That’s one of the reasons the FRSA provides continuing education classes at no cost for building officials and inspectors. In fact, just before the 2014 Convention, the FRSA became an approved Building Code Administrator and Inspectors Board (BCAIB) continuing education provider, which allowed the FRSA to provide BCAIB licensed inspectors who completed the three courses, three continuing education credits towards their licensing requirements. Now back to R-38. The answers you seek can be found in the Members Only section of the FRSA website. This is where you can find the 2010 Florida Energy Conservation Code FRSA Member White Paper. The White Paper was developed to help FRSA members understand the energy conservation code differences from previous codes, and make the necessary adjustments for compliance with the changes that came with both new construction and reroofing in the 2010 FBC. So, you ask when we can expect the next change? Well, I’m glad you Continued on Page 11
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Cam Fentriss ◆ FRSA Legislative Counsel
Election 2014 Recap Now that our eyes and ears should be rested and recovered from the months of campaign TV ads, billboards, and yard signs, we can recap the election events of Tuesday, November 4, 2014. First, the obvious – Republicans did well, Democrats did not. For Florida, the overall balance of power did not change since the Governor, Cabinet, House of Representatives, and Senate were all Republican or Republican majority before the elections. The only change is that Florida’s House picked up about 6 more Republican members for a super majority of 82 out of its 120 members. It is interesting to note that, the Florida Senate did not change at all – every single member stayed the same, and this made history. Governor’s Race The win for Governor Scott is definitely something to celebrate, but I doubt anyone is feeling enormous confidence because the results were very, very close with only one percentage point difference between Governor Scott and former Governor Crist. That’s a difference of about Big majorities, 70,000 votes out of nearly of either major 6 million votes. I am sure the campaign and political party, do not alexperts can tell you that this ways translate could have easily been into accomplish- result just the opposite if turn out in ment of campaign just a few counties had been promises about the reverse of what it was on viewpoints imElection Day. I understand that Governor Scott’s camportant to the paign was and remained very voters. They do, right up to the closhowever, almost focused, ing bell, and the hard work always translate paid off well.
into accomplishment of things important to the politicians.
Medicinal Marijuana Amendment The opponents did a fantastic job of creating doubt about this amendment that was “scheduled” to win big. It is likely that there are two main reasons for the defeat: 1) Creation of doubt as to the limitation of the use to “medical” and the ability of the government to control this so long as it was adopted as an amendment to the constitution; and 2) The fantastic job of increasing Republican voter turn out. Having said all that, it is important to keep in mind that the measure won 57% of the vote and may well have passed if the language of the amendment had not included some questionable provisions (any of which 6
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is easily fixed next time around) – the general idea still has a lot of support among Florida voters. Legislative leadership for 2014-2016 This was essentially known before the elections in that we all expected Florida’s House and Senate to keep Republican majorities. While there can be true contests for top jobs in the House and Senate, even among legislators of the same political party, we knew that was not going to be the case this time, but beware 2016-2018 – that may be a different story. The incoming Senate President will be Senator Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and the incoming House speaker will be Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island. Impact on our construction-related issues It is tempting to think that Florida’s Republican majorities and leadership will be very pro-business and that we should see some good results on topics like workers’ compensation and reducing government. Instead, we should probably keep our expectations a little lower. Big majorities, of either major party, do not always translate into accomplishment of campaign promises about viewpoints important to the voters. They do, however, almost always translate into accomplishment of things important to the politicians. While the Florida political landscape has experienced little to no change, I welcome any thoughts and questions you have – please contact me at afentriss@aol. com. Anna Cam Fentriss is an attorney licensed in Florida since 1988 representing clients with legislative and state agency interests. Cam has represented FRSA since 1993, is an Honorary Member of FRSA, recipient of the FRSA President’s Award in 2002 and received the Campanella Award in 2010. She is a member of the Florida Building Commission Special Occupancy Technical Advisory Committee, President of Building A Safer Florida Inc. and past Construction Coalition Chair (1995-1997).
Trent Cotney ◆ FRSA Legal Counsel
Differing Job Site Conditions (Pt II of III) This is the second part of a three-part article discussing differing site conditions. Last month’s article discussed differing site condition clauses in general. This month’s article begins a discussion of the two types of differing site conditions recognized by the courts. Case law has developed descriptive names to distinguish between the two types of differing site conditions. They are known as either a Type 1 or a Type 2 differing site condition. There are significant differences between the two types, and contractors would be well served to be familiar with the distinctions, because each type requires different proof. Under a Type 1 differing site condition, the conditions actually encountered must differ materially from what is shown in the contract documents. More specifically, to recover for a Type 1 differing site condition, the claimant must prove that: the existing conditions differ from those shown in the contract documents, the conditions must not have been reasonably anticipated, the claimant must have relied on the contract documents, and prompt oral or written notice of the condition must have been given to the owner. A popular misconception argued convincingly by owners is that for a Type 1 differing site condition to exist, the contract documents must make an express or A popular misconexplicit representation of ception argued the conditions to be enconvincingly by owncountered. This is not what ers is that for a Type 1 the law requires. In fact, to differing site condition establish a Type 1 differing site condition, the “conto exist, the contract tract indications” need not documents must make be specific or explicit, but an express or explicit need only be enough to impress or lull a reasonable representation of the bidder into the belief that conditions to be encountered. This is not the conditions would be different than those actuwhat the law requires. ally encountered. An example of how a contractor can be “lulled” into a belief regarding the conditions to be encountered can be seen in the case Metropolitan Sewage Commission of the County of Milwaukee v. R. W. Construction, Inc., 241 NW2d 371 (Sup. Ct. Wis. 1976). On that project, the contractor determined that extensive dewatering would not be required because the owner’s design specified that the sewer was to be installed on only one side of an existing street. The Court agreed that the owner’s design reasonably indicated that only partial dewatering 8
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would be necessary, because there was insufficient room provided by the owner to allow the contractor to engage in extensive well pointing. Accordingly, when it was discovered during construction that extensive dewatering was required; the Court ruled that the conditions encountered were different than those reasonably indicated in the contract documents. An example of a Type I differing site condition in the roofing context can be seen where a consultant or engineer makes certain representations regarding the substrate or deck prior to construction in the bid documents. For example, the specifications may state that the deck is suitable to receive roofing materials. However, once the roofing contractor removes the roof, it encounters rotted or deficient decking which requires extensive replacement. This discovery, in turn, creates extra work which should warrant a change order barring provisions in the contract to the contrary. Next month, I will conclude this discussion of differing site conditions with examples of Type II differing site conditions. Trent Cotney is Florida Bar Certified in Construction Law, General Counsel and a director of the Florida Roofing Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA), a director of the West Coast Roofing Contractors Association (WCRCA), and a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), and several other FRSA affiliates. For more information, contact the author at 813-5793278 or go to www.trentcotney.com. Author’s note: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.
Photography Tips for Residential Roofing Contractors Christopher Homer, Editor RFM Photography and videography can be extremely daunting terms to those who have little acumen in technology or the arts. Though, through the dissemination of these tools, people are more comfortable with them because of the advancements in cellphones. This does not mean, that you can shoot a professional looking video or take galleryselling photos from your phone. This does mean, that one could easily transfer format, from a camera phone to an actual camera with a little amount of effort. Any residential contractor will tell you that word-of-mouth is a valuable asset in determining how successful your business can be. Another component that can drive clients to your services is great photography and videography. These two visual components are immensely valuable because they are a manifestation of your abilities. This is especially true for a roofing contractor. For example, take a reroof project. You can show the vast difference that you are making just by taking a before and after photo. You can even do this over the life of your jobs, with the permission from the resident of the domicile. You can show how your work handles the test of time, and weather. N o w , there are a couple of ways to get photography d o n e t h a t showcases y o u r work. You can either h i r e Branding is an important part of business photogsomeraphy. Try to capture your logo in some of your one to photos. take the pictures for you, which is the more expensive route in the long-run, or you could buy a camera and learn how to do it yourself, which has a higher up front cost, but works out to be cheaper. I’ll break down the two, and then break down what you should look for when you start taking your own photos. Hiring a Photographer Hiring a photographer is like hiring anybody else for a job that they will do for you. You have to hire someone that you think will do the best job that they can do. Now, photography is very subjective, because not everybody has the
When capturing photos, include some action shots for your website. same tastes and styles, so you have to narrow your search down. First, you want to look for someone that has a specialty in architectural photography. It would make little sense to hire a photographer who specializes in children’s portraits; it would be like hiring an electrician to fix your plumbing. Once you have found a couple of photographers, look at their pricing and what they offer. If they offer a lot, as in shooting time, amount of shots you can keep, and extra incentives, for a little amount of money, then they are not the ones you want. This is a common sign of a newer photographer and you will probably not get the quality you want for the amount of money you will be paying. This is not a hard, steadfast rule. This is your call; if you see quality that blows your socks off, go with that selection. After you have selected to a few solid prospects, contact them. Talk to them while looking at their portfolios. Their portfolios should contain a varied style of pictures. If they have an architectural-specific portfolio, all of the photographs should not look the same. They should retain a certain look, but every photo should not look exactly like the one before it. You want to look for variety, which is more of a mark of a professional. While talking to them, ask them about previous jobs, how they have handled them, have they done something like this before? Treat this as a job interview of sorts; compare their qualifications to your taste and needs. While talking to them, ask if they also do videography and/or drone photography. These are less common in the photography specific community, but they are starting to gain traction and are becoming extremely valuable to have.
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Ansel Adams, so there is no point on spending money for schooling or buying the top-of-the-line camera and lenses. What you need is a standard DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) kit. A point-andshoot might have a high megapixel count, but a DSLR has a better build and photo taking quality, so stay away from the point-and-shoots. The DSLR Kit normally includes the camera body, standard focal length lens that is normally an 1855mm, battery, strap, guide, quick-start guide, and CD’s. Brand new, you are looking at paying between $400 and $600, with the $600 kits having the ability to shoot HD video. Initially, the up front cost is high, but you will never have to spend that money again. A perfect camera would be a Canon T3i kit, or a Nikon D3100 kit. Now, your approach to shooting your work is to showcase what you have done, or can do, for your customers, or potential customers, respectively. Subjects in your photos have to be neat, your exposure has to be correct, and the photo cannot be A before and after side-by-side will show your client the quality of blurry. These should be the three items you check work that you can provide. off your list for every photo you take. This can easily be done in Full Auto or P mode (Program). This By now, you should be confident in who you makes the computer in the camera do all of the work, all should be selecting. It can be a lengthy process, the first you have to do is choose a focus point and click the shutter time you do it, but I am sure the photographer would welbutton. Check the LCD to ensure that your photo turned come your repeat business if you enjoy the product you out how you wanted it to and move on to the next one. are given. Make sure that a contract is signed, and that Resist the urge to use flash, natural light provides a betyou have the rights to the images, as far as publishing ter color for this style of photography. This style is a fairly goes. You should ask to receive a physical copy, a CD or straightforward process, and you should not have to inflash drive, and a digital copy of your images. If you apvest in any photo-editing software. preciated the job done by the photographer, reach out and As far as video is concerned, you want the same tell them. Let them know that you will possibly require thing to check off in the photography aspect, but rememtheir services again. ber, things are not frozen around you. Make sure that As far as pricing for the photography is concerned, everything on the job site is neat and your workers, inI cannot give you a definitive figure. That is dependent on cluding yourself, are abiding by standards and rules, variable factors: location, time of year, length of job, serincluding OSHA. Use your video to give your customers vices offered, and who you are hiring, to name a few. I can a walkthrough. Explain what they are seeing. Show them give you a ballpark figure though; your minimum should the problem areas, how you are going to fix them, or how be more than $100 with a maximum close to $600. This you have fixed them. Also, do a video walkthrough before is also not a steadfast rule. There are some awesome phoand after the project is done. This will be perfect for all of tographers that you might want that will charge more or your prospective clients. less. As a photographer and videographer, I recom One thing to consider is that this is just for one mend buying and owning your camera equipment. The job, one time. The photographer might discount you if initial up front payment will be greater, but you will learn you have multiple jobs, but it still adds up. If you plan on new things and not have to keep paying someone. Your photographing your projects, for record keeping and for photography and videography can adapt to every job you advertising, I would suggest buying your own camera and do, increase your online presence through social media learning to use it. and search engine optimization, earn you new clients, and ensure your quality of work. Also, if you have a camBecoming a Photographer era, you can update your customers with pictures of their It is fairly simple to become a photographer, as far as your respective projects. This will keep them happy, knowing business is concerned. You are not looking to become an that work is getting done. If you would like to go above Continued on Page 19
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From Page 5
R-38, Bingo!
asked because the landscape changes again on June 30, 2015, when the 2014 Building Code Fifth Edition takes effect. Get ready to go through the ringer. Brace yourselves for impact. Buckle your seatbelts because it is going to be another bumpy ride through an ever changing and tumultuous terrain. R-38! BINGO!
Social Media Spotlight Is Facebook open all the time? Does it provide you with the best and most current news? Are you a tweeting fool that cannot be separated from Twitter? Can you express anything in 140 characters or less? Or are you the laid back person watching cat videos on You Tube. Or really, any other video. We know you are, so why don’t you connect with us? facebook.com/flroof -ortwitter.com/flroof -ortwitter.com/ROOFINGFLORIDA -oryoutube.com/user/FloridaRoof
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Understanding Your Employees’ Perception: Individual Subsidies and Employer Penalties
Jeffery Moxley, Frank H Furman Inc.
Let’s be honest. You and your employees are both as equally confused about what options you collectively have in the current health insurance world. Rightfully so… Recently, at an open enrollment meeting for a large employer- over 100 full-time employees- I fully grasped how complicated this complex situation had become. While I was going through the various options available to you and your employees, and the prices associated with these programs, the individual voices started becoming louder and louder with the same confusion you feel now. So, in the middle of the presentation, I decided to break protocol and try to get a feel for the scattered talking points. Many of the employees, looking at the deductions for purchasing one of the programs, started discussing how they are getting free or heavily subsidized health insurance through the exchange, and how these programs being offered by their employer were so much more expensive. What they haven’t found out yet, is that those subsidies and programs are no longer available to them. We sometimes discuss the “unintended consequences” of some laws. This is one of them. You see, under The Affordable Care Act (ACA), these employees were eligible for a premium tax credit- a subsidy- to help purchase health insurance through the Exchange Marketplace. They were able to accomplish this because their employer did not offer them health insurance in the past. To be eligible for subsidies, these employees simply must have had a household income between 100%
and 400% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) based on the taxpayer’s family size. Now, because their employer is offering them plans that meet the affordability and minimum value standards, these subsidies are not available to them, or their dependents. The real tricky part is that the employer did not have any participation in this matter. Starting on January 1st, 2015, the “Pay or Play” provisions under the law come into full effect. Under the “Pay or Play” rules, an applicable large employer with an average of 100- 50 in 2016- or more full-time equivalent employees must offer health coverage meeting certain coverage and affordability requirements or be subject to a penalty. Specifically, there are two different scenarios that trigger penalties for these employers. First, if an employer offers a plan, but that plan is not affordable or does not provide minimum value, the monthly employer penalty is equal to 1/12 of $3,000 for each fulltime employee who receives a premium tax credit. Second, an employer not offering coverage to all of their full-time employees, including their dependents will have a monthly penalty equal to the number of fulltime employees, multiplied by 1/12 of $2,000. In 2015, employers with 100 or more full-time employees may reduce their full-time employee count by 80 instead of 30 when calculating the penalty. So, the employer has no choice but to offer an affordable, minimum value plan. The risk of these penalties is far worse than the cost of offering a health program. Employer-sponsored coverage is not considered affordable, generally, if the employee’s cost for self-only coverage exceeds 9.5% of the employee’s income for the tax year. The employee’s choice, though, is much different and more difficult, and in a lot of cases, more expensive. As a result of this shift, the government determines affordability, not the employer now. To break down all of the minutiae and intricacies, I’ll end our conversation with a quick example: Joe Roofer is making $15.00 an hour, but has never been offered health insurance through his employer, until now. Last year, in 2014, he bought a health insurance program through the Exchange Marketplace for himself and his 3 kids, who are in college, and paid a subsidized amount of $143.00 monthly for a “Silver” program. This year, he is being offered health insurance from his Continued on Page 19
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Code Changes and Sealed or Unsealed? Christopher Homer, RFM Editor Problems are ever changing in the world of residential roof contracting, and this can cause an immense amount of undue stress upon contractors and your clients. Sometimes, it is hard to know something with the utmost confidence because it seems as if the rules change with the seasons or a new method of building has been adopted. This does not inspire confidence in many, while others seem to ignore the rules and just keep trucking. That is not advised, it can cost you a lot of time and money, and it is better to be an honest person with your client. Adapting to this changing landscape is difficult, but a professional contractor should be able to navigate it. Code Changes The primary change that a residential roofing contractor must look out for is changes in codes. This is the most impactful to you and can completely change how you approach any project that you undertake. One code that changes, and continues to change with advancements in research, materials, and technology, is the Florida Energy Conservation Code (FECC). The FECC changed, and continues to undergo change, in order to make Florida a safer and more energy efficient part of the States. But with these changes, comes problems. Most of these problems, stem from the changes to the FECC, and manifest themselves in the area of education. A business, especially a contracting business, needs to be working in order to be successful. A change in the FECC can cause work to slow down, or in some cases, even come to a stop. This may happen because workers need to be reeducated, you have to be reeducated, or you might not have code compliant materials for the current job. This only hurts you, and can limit your route to success. This is not saying that changes to codes are magically decided overnight, it is normally a formal, months long process; but, jobs can be planned out in advance. You can order your materials months ahead of time, but then the code can change and throw a proverbial monkey wrench into it. Also, a continued education course must be found and taken in order to really understand what has changed. One could buy the revised edition of the FECC, and understand the change from there, or take a course. Both of these options can cost you time and money, some of which you cannot spare. So, it is best to keep an eye on the playing field and make sure that you are always ahead of any code changes before they go into effect. Do not allow yourself to get behind on your work, and in turn, become entangled in code violations. Sealed or Unsealed Attic? That is the question. Another problem to be wary of is attics: mainly, problems arising from sealed or unsealed attic systems in the Florida climate. The state of Florida experiences some of 14
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the harshest weather in the United States. Hurricanes, rainfall, and harsh sunlight can cause a roof to decay faster than in other places. These factors can also cause decay in a poorly insulated attic through trapped moisture and poor ventilation. This is where the sealed vs. unsealed attic debate kicks in. Homes have been built for centuries with unsealed, or ventilated, attics. This ventilation, normally in the form of screened vent holes under the roof eaves, long slot vents under the overhangs, or openings at the gable ends of exterior walls are part of the system that moves air though the attic. This kind of ventilation can keep the house cooler in the hot and humid Florida Summer while also keeping moisture from building up in the attic space. The problem that can lead to attic decay is the hot, humid outside air, coming in to contact with the cold surfaces in the attic. These surfaces are normally the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) supply ducts, but can also be the metallic penetrations- nails, screws, or any other fastener- and drywall. This discrepancy in temperature will cause condensation to form, which will lead to rust and decay. Also, an absorption process can and will occur that will warp anything that comes in contact with the condensation. This process is worse on coastal areas of Florida, where the temperature fluctuates and there are more penetrating factors: wind, rain, hurricanes. During the summer months, the heat trapped in the ventilated attic space will act upon the central HVAC equipment. If the house’s central HVAC equipment is poorly insulated it will work harder to cool the house because of the trapped heat in the attic warming the unit and duct work. This can be remedied by making sure there are no leaks in the ducts and che cking the insulation on The main difference between a sealed and the HVAC unsealed attic system is the location of the insulae q u i p - tion. Photo Courtesy of ment. The homeenergysaver.ning.com ventilated attic system is more popular and efficient in temperate climates where humidity is not high and the sun is not as
more electricity. This could lead to a longer roof life barring other elements from acting upon it. When contracted on a roofing project, make sure to consult the homeowner about the benefits and drawbacks of each approach. If they want to keep their ventilated attic, make sure they are not trying to convert it into a living space, that the attic is sealed around ventilation points and sealed off from the living space, and that the current or renewed attic ventilation prevents moisture buildup. If you see active A vented attic does have its faults and can easily be switched out to a unvented attic. Photo courtesy of moisture, conhomeenergysaver.ning.com densation, or decay in the atbrutal. In order to combat the moisture and heat problem tic, you should let the homeowner know that their current of humid climates, the installation of sealed or unventisystem is not working and that they may want to consider lated roofing systems became more commonplace. a move towards installing a sealed attic system. As far as Besides the obvious difference of a sealed and ununventilated attics are concerned code wise, you should sealed attic system, the sealed attic system uses the house’s look to Section 0806.4 of the International Residential central HVAC to cool your attic space. Unlike a vented atCode (IRC), which presents the ways to prevent moisture tic space, an unvented attic space’s insulation lies within build-up on the roof in between insulation and roof deck. the underside of the roof instead of on top of the ceiling. In order to help relieve yourself from stress, make Also, all ventilation points are sealed with a foam insulasure to keep up on your continuing education. You will tor, in order to reduce moisture trapping. The advantage know about possible changes before they happen and can of having a sealed attic is that the temperature of the attic address those changes months ahead of time. Also, talk is closer to the temperature of your house, so that conto your client. Tell them what you think would be best for densation is less likely to form. A negative is the fact that their specific situation. Let them know the pros and cons more square footage of the house has to be treated by the and do the job to the best of your ability. Great work adair conditioner, making it work a little harder, and using vertises itself.
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Sunniland: An Old FRSA Friend Christopher Homer, Editor RFM & Larry Pressley, Director of Marketing Sunniland It is said that most businesses fail within their first couple of years. Well, Sunniland, based out of Sanford has survived two World Wars, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and many economic recessions. Their wildly successful business has dominated the Florida agricultural landscape for over a century and been a member of the FRSA since the 1970’s. Their perseverance should be noted and studied by businesses looking for a successful role model. Their story starts in the latter half of the 19th Century.
of Chase & Company’s packing and selling operation, which grew to be their bread and butter for quite a while. Chase & Company grew and became one of the largest organizations of its kind in Central Florida. Sanford was credited with being the largest orange From Humble Beginnings shipping point in In 1878, a man by the name of Sydney Sunniland has survived two World Wars, Florida before the O. Chase arrived in Sanford, FL. At this Prohibition, the Great Depression, and many eco- 1894 freeze. The optime, Florida was a desolate place. There nomic recessions and still remains a successful erations weathered were no railroads, no paved or gravel family business. several minor freezes, roads, and all freight for Central and which destroyed part South Florida moved down the St. Johns River, then over of the crops, but the two great freezes of December 1894 land by a horse team. This land was prisoner territory, and February 1895 almost annihilated the Florida Citrus uninhabitable and dangerous. In May 1884, Joshua C. Industry. The shipments from Florida were reduced from Chase joined his brother Sydney in Sanford and the Chase over 5,000,000 boxes per annum to less than 150,000 & Company was founded. boxes. The economic result of the freeze had a marked Chase & Company’s first activities were fire insur- effect on Chase & Company, for the sources of its revenueance and selling fertilizers and other grower’s supplies. from packaging, shipping, and marketing, and from the The Chase brothers also bought some orange groves and sale of fertilizer and other growers’ supplies- was almost successfully sold their crops. Their operations proved so eliminated. Most people were not even able to pay their successful that other orange growers came to them and insurance premiums on their crops. By sheer perseverasked them to help sell their crops. This was the beginning ance, the strictest economy, and remarkable ingenuity
Clyde Line Seamer leaving for Jacksonville. Produce moved down the river and was transferred to ocean-going steamers for the Northern markets 16
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Sunniland’s newest sign, to commemorate their century long company, can be seen from either direction of US 17-92 in Longwood, FL. in developing new activities, Chase & Company survived. Because of economic conditions in this area, Joshua C. Chase took a position in California with the Earl Fruit Co., and later with the United Fruit Co. in St. Louis, acquiring experience which proved to be a real value to Chase & Company when he returned in 1904 to open an office for the company in Jacksonville. Just before the turn of the century, William Randolph Harney became a partner in Chase & Company, and he was instrumental in developing much of the vegetable business from the lower east coast. By 1904, the citrus business had developed to such an extent, plus the vegetable business from the lower east coast and the infant celery business in Sanford, that the Jacksonville office proved most expedient. The business grew with the rapidly expanding citrus and vegetable industries, and, in 1914, the Company became incorporated.
next five years, crops from the Chase groves were marketed through the Florida Citrus Exchange. From then on, Chase & Company resumed the marketing of citrus. During this period, the vegetable, fertilizer, and growers’ supply business was developing rapidly and extremely profitable under the direction of W. A. Leffler, who joined the company in 1908. Among the many activities, which for many years Mr. Leffler guided so successfully, was that of the wholesale building supplies, which has grown to
Diversifying their Strategy Shortly after World War II, the insurance business was sold in order to dedicate more time to the fruit, vegetable, and growers’ supply business. In the late 1920’s, the vegetable operations on the lower east coast were discontinued. The rapid population growth was absorbing some of the fields and many of the groves; the most notable of which was Coral Gables. For years, Chase & Company marketed fruit for the Merricks, who were the developers of Coral Gables. Just before 1930, most of the citrus business was disposed of; the company retaining only the few groves it owned outright and the packing house in Sanford. For the The Sunniland warehouse was completed in 1984 and is still in use today.
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This photo, from 1984, commemorated the 100th anniversary of Sunniland in Florida. include a presence in more than 16 locations throughout the state of Florida, reaching into southern Georgia. Chase & Company helped pioneer the development of different vegetables in Florida. First, was the introduction of sweet corn production during the late 1930’s. The 1940’s saw growth in celery and sugar cane production in Zellwood and Belle Glade. In 1957, Randall Chase became President and served in that capacity until 1965, when he was replaced by S. O. Chase, Jr. Randall Chase continued to be active in the company as a director and member of the Executive Committee until his death in 1971. Lee P. Moore joined the company as a director in 1957, was appointed Executive Vice-President and General Manager in 1965, and elected President in 1975. It was during the 1960’s and 1970’s that more emphasis was put on increasing the activities of the wholesale building materials and chemical-fertilizer departments. By 1978, vegetable production, citrus production, and sales from these commodities had been phased out almost completely. In September of 1979, the company was purchased by Reichold, Ltd., a publically held Canadian corporation. The name was changed to Sunniland Corporation and Lee P. Moore continued as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer until March of 1982, when he purchased the company outright. Mr. Moore also served as the Mayor of the City of Sanford from 1969 to 1984.
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Movement towards the Future Since Mr. Moore’s purchase of the company, sales, and profits have grown under his leadership. To further continue the familial lineage of Sunniland, Lee’s son, Tom, purchased the company from him in 2006. Since then, Sunniland has kept on expanding. The two operation departments, building materials and chemical, have evolved from the company’s early desire to fulfill their own needs in the farming business. Now these two departments are the life of the company and fulfill the needs of other companies throughout Florida and the Southeast. Sunniland really personifies their slogan, “From Roots to Roofs.” Their impact on the fertilizer and roofing industry in Florida is massive. While they have remained a family-centric operated business, they have expanded throughout an entire state. Larry Pressley, Director of Marketing for Sunniland, stressed the value of family within the business. Larry also stated that Sunniland has had three generations working at the business, continually delivering positive results. Positive results, which have just led them to open another branch office, bringing the total up to 19 throughout two states. Larry also stressed the importance of togetherness, and how it has made Sunniland such a strong company. In order to encourage strong relationships within its customer base, Sunniland has a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas, each year, when they reach a goal in purchases. Five years ago, when Sunniland launched its cruise promotion, there were only 54 cabins booked. Now in its 6th year, there are almost 300 cabins booked. The
cruise promotion drives home the fact that Sunniland’s family and customers always come first. During their 130 years of growing experience, the company has done many things from selling insurance to running trolley cars. Some have done well and prospered, others fared not as well. All things considered, the company has been ever mindful of the integrity of the founders. It is this type of high ideal that has earned the respect of the communities in which the company serves and has created a way of doing business that has become an integral part of the organization since it beginning, more than 130 years ago.
Photography Tips for Residential Roofing Contractors From Page 10 and beyond, you could hire an aerial photographer or you could purchase a drone to take photo and video of your project from the air, but that is another topic for another issue. If you have any photography related questions, feel free to contact me. Also, if would like to advertise or have any ideas for an article ROOFING FLORIDA Magazine, my email is christopher@floridaroof.com.
Understanding Your Employees’ Perception: Individual Subsidies and Employer Penalties From Page 13 employer, due to the penalties his employer would have to pay in the “Pay or Play” provisions. The employer, who is now offering a minimum value plan, asks the employee to contribute 9.5%, or $185 a month, for employee only coverage. He also now needs to buy insurance for the 3 kids totaling $600 a month. Going from $143.00 monthly to $785.00 monthly is an astronomical jump for that employee’s budget. I can certainly see why they would be confused, distracted, and upset about the whole thing. No matter your political opinion or affiliation, the law has some positive points, but at this point we are starting to see the ugly truth about how this can adversely affect some of our most valuable assets, our employees.
Save the Date for the Convention! July 16-18, 2015 Hyatt Regency Orlando Orange County Convention Center
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Membership has its Benefits! Not a member of FRSA? Here are just a few of the items you’re missing out on. ♦♦ Roofing Loan Program offered to customers of FRSA member companies up to $15,000 for roofing projects. FRSA Credit Union – a banking facility created by members for members. The Credit Union can compete with any banking institution for vehicle, equipment and auto loan rates and offers online banking and debit cards. ♦♦ Human Resources services to advise you on employment issues. ♦♦ Human Resources booklet providing valuable information for employers. ♦♦ CAP (Customer Assurance Program) Seals, which indicates your company conforms to all licensing regula- tions, workers’ compensation and liability insurance ♦♦ Access to FRSA Library, a full library of hands-on education for your employees ♦♦ FRSA Training Center available for seminars and hands-on classes ♦♦ Vendor coupon program that allows you to introduce your company’s products or services to member contractors ♦♦ 2015 FRSA Membership Directory, your once a year opportunity to market your products and services to the largest group of highly-qualified, professional roofing and sheet metal contractors in the State of Florida. Your company will be seen by the people making the purchasing decisions in one of the largest roofing markets in the United States. ♦♦ Access to FRSA Self Insurers Fund for workers’ compensation insurance. Over the past year, SIF returned $6 million in dividends to its policy holders. Safety consultants help policy holders establish good safety practices for keeping your workers up to date with safety measures.
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ROOFING Florida
December 2014
What is a “Certificate of Insurance?” Brett Stiegel, FRSA-SIF Administrator Contractors know that they are often required to provide a Certificate of Insurance for municipalities, other contractors, and property owners to show that they have secured Workers’ Compensation coverage on their employees, as required by Florida law. But what is a Certificate of Insurance really? A Certificate of Insurance is a document that simply shows that workers’ compensation coverage was in effect for a particular company at a specific range in time. It is not an everlasting document, and does have some important limitations that you should be aware of. First, it does not guarantee that coverage will continue to remain in force. For instance, in a situation when an insured person fails to pay their premium and is subsequently canceled. The issuer of the certificate, most often an insurance agency, will also include a disclaimer that they have no responsibility to notify you as a certificate holder that the coverage may have been canceled. For coverage provided by a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to an employer, their client, there is also a very important disclaimer on their Certificates of Insurance that you should be aware of. The Certificate will often stipulate that coverage is provided only to “active” employees of the PEO and their client company and “does not apply to statutory employee(s) or independent contractor(s) of the Client Company.” The term “active” employee means that if the PEO’s Client did not report promptly the current wages paid to employees, that the PEO may take a position that an injured employee is not covered by Workers’ Compensation. The disclaimer that they do not cover “statutory employees or independent contractors” is a further weakness in the actual Workers’ Compensation coverage that the PEO supposedly assures. If you have sub-contractors who provide you with Certificates of Insurance, you should understand the potential limitations of Certificates and periodically verify that proper coverage is continually in place. If you are covered by or use sub-contractors who are covered by a PEO, you should understand the limitations of the evidence of this coverage and protect yourself accordingly. The best way to do so is to compile a list of currently covered employees of the Client from the PEO for every employee on your job site, and ensure that only those employees are actively working.
RCASF Endowment Pledge Mike Reed, CPA FRSA With their $2,000 contribution in December, the Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida, RCASF, has completed funding their Governor level pledge to the FRSA Foundation Endowment Program. The contribution places RCASF alongside other FRSA Affiliates like the Central Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, CFRSA, and the Southwest Florida and Sarasota-Manatee affiliates who have also fully funded their Endowment pledges. The Endowment Program was established in 2003 and now has over a $1 million invested which provides funding for scholarships, industry research, contractor education and any other purpose deemed worthy by the Endowment Board of Governors and Educational Foundation Trustees. The program is Continued on next page
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intended to provide a steady source of income for both donor-stipulated and undesignated purposes. To that end, over $55,000 has been distributed in college scholarships to an impressive list of students during the last seven years from Endowment earnings. Now is a perfect time to make a pledge and contribution to the FRSA Endowment. The Educational Foundation is a 501Š (3) organization making donations tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. As you make your year-end tax plans, please keep the FRSA Endowment in mind as a way to lower your taxable income for 2014. For more information contact FRSA Controller Mike Reed, CPA at (800) 767-3772 ext.167 or reed@floridaroof.com.
In Memory of... It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ramona Thompson, wife of FRSA Past President, Life Member and Campanella Award recipient, Eddie Thompson (pictured). Ramona passed away on the night of November 23rd, surrounded by her loved ones. A celebration of life will held in January. Condolences can be sent to Eddie at 2535 SW CR 778, Ft. White, FL 32038.
Interested in Advertising in ROOFING FLORIDA?
Contact Director of Media Services: Christopher Homer | (800) 767-3772 ext. 127 | christopher@oridaroof.com 22
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See, Touch and Experience All the Roofing Industry Has to Offer • Expand your knowledge through a selection of 42 educational sessions designed to increase productivity, sharpen your skills and help you grow your business. • Advance your career with CEUs from Florida’s DBPR/CILB and RCI, Inc. • Gain immediate ROI with a myriad of cutting-edge products, solid ideas, techniques, demonstrations, resources and connections. • Connect with industry peers and gain endless inspiration at special events including the Keynote, Welcome Party, Community Service Day and more. • Maximize your learning with classes and events at the NRCA Annual Convention.
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During the online registration process, enter ADC when asked to enter a discount code. Discounts apply to new registrations only. Discounts not applicable to MA or NEM registrations. No refunds issued for pre-existing registrations.
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ROOFING Florida
December 2014