By educating yourself about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act tax credits, you will be able to help your customers with documentation. More
An independent designer asks about his liability exposure, and a top design/build... More
The results of this monthís Reader Panel survey show some encouraging trends in... More
Your general liability insurance policy may cover less than you think. Don't be caught off-guard. More
Remodelers are facing one of the most unforgiving insurance markets in years. Slammed by soaring premiums and multiplying exclusions, impenetrable contracts and fleeing providers, they're struggling to afford and hold onto good commercial policies that won't leave them high and dry on the rare occasions they actually need them. More
It's been nearly 15 years since Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act ó the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 ówas signed into law; a decade since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that contractors would be required to notify homeowners of the potential hazards of remodeling in areas containing lead-based paint. More
Decks collapse with disturbing regularity. In July, a 14-foot-high deck on a Montana casino gave way, injuring 52. A month earlier, the third-floor deck of a Chicago apartment filled with partying college kids collapsed onto the deck one floor below. That incident killed a dozen and injured more than 40. The same month, eight people were hurt when a deck collapsed in Des Moines, Iowa. More
The insurance crisis facing the construction industry has been well-documented and shows no signs of slowing down. The company offers a full-service plan, but according to Steve Etkin, executive vice president of AWCI, the "driving force" behind AIC's formation was problems related to exterior insulation and finish systems, or EIFS. More
Contractors and designers have stepped up to meet this demand, but many do so without a complete understanding of the risks and responsibilities they may be assuming in design/build contracts.Traditional liability insurance policies do not cover all (or in some cases, any) of these potential liabilities. The International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) has recently published a new book, Design-Build Risk and Insurance, which identifies problematic contract provisions, licensing statutes, insurance requirements, and other potential pitfalls design/builders may encounter and offers strategies for overcoming these obstacles. More
A decade of soft pricing, extravagant claims, and investment losses has the insurance industry scrambling to recoup profits, and residential construction is the first casualty.We call it the 'battlefield,'" says Susan Brodahl, a Washington-state insurance broker, confirming reports that remodelers across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to get hazard and general liability insurance. Farmers Insurance, the second-largest homeowners policy writer in Texas, announced it would stop writing new HO-B policies after August 15, 2001. More
