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Join or Die

October 1, 2019 1:33 am

RESTORATION ADVOCACY REPORT #1 – JUNE 20, 2019 An infusion of fresh thinking and younger leadership at the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) has led to the conclusion that to give members a good return on their investment of dues, RIA must advocate for the legal and financial interests of restorers. Accordingly, I am excited to report that RIA has formed the industry’s first unified advocacy team, the Advocacy and Government Affairs (AGA) Committee. Its sole purpose is to advocate for the property restoration industry. What’s more, RIA and the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and

Restoration Advocacy Report #4

September 20, 2019 2:03 pm

Join or Die If restoration companies are unwilling to unite, advocate for sustainable claims practices and take a proactive approach with insurance carrier claims policies, then the restoration industry, at least as we know it, could cease to exist within a decade. The Restoration Industry Association’s Advocacy and Government Affairs (AGA) Committee has made major strides to build unity within the industry and is moving aggressively to level the playing field for restorers, both legally and financially. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the hundreds of restorers who have invested, time, ideas and money

My Most Challenging Project

September 18, 2019 2:36 pm

My Most Challenging Project is a series in which we ask members to share their most difficult projects and lend advice on how others can solve similar challenges. Thomas Ollari, head of the emergency services division at Complete Restoration Solutions (CRS), based in Chicopee, Massachusetts, oversees all cleaning projects, ranging from a normal-sized house to a commercial property that could be a 200,000-square-foot warehouse, or, as you will read below, an over 100-year-old congregational church from the gothic architectural era. What was the project? On Jan. 3, 2018, a fire occurred in a centuries-old

Recognizing the Hidden Dangers of Silica Dust

September 11, 2019 4:35 am

Plumes of visible dust can signal that respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is likely present, especially if restoration professionals are engaged in dust-generating activities. RCS is one of the most common and serious occupational hazards to workers’ health, and silicosis could be the next occupational lung disease crisis to affect Australia, according to Brian Murphy, Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)® and managing director at EHS Assess. It is crucial that restoration professionals know how to recognize silica and adopt dust control measures to reduce exposure. Murphy discussed how dust-generating activities can affect restorers’ health and the

Roof Replacement Leads to Full Remodel

September 4, 2019 12:23 pm

The owner of a skilled nursing facility in Lynnwood, Washington, contacted Charter Construction at the end of 2016 to assist in an investigation of a small portion of a hallway that appeared to have water intrusion problems. We addressed this expected subsequent repair of property damage by removing the drywall at the hallway ceiling. We exposed a large amount of dry rot in this location and entered into a contract to repair approximately one-third of the roof, which included repairs to waterdamaged and heavily rotted ceiling joists and roof sheathing. The initial scope was

Restoration Advocacy Report #3

August 20, 2019 2:00 pm

The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) is riding a powerful wave after its 2019 convention in Phoenix, which had the highest attendance of any of its conventions in five years. There, the RIA rolled out its Advocacy and Government Affairs (AGA) Committee. The mission of the AGA is to develop and implement strategies to help create and maintain a fair and level playing field, financially and legally, for restoration contractors, by advocating for their interests, while working collaboratively with stakeholders involved in the restoration process. The mission will be pursued aggressively but diplomatically and ethically.

5 Questions With Josh Hobbs

August 14, 2019 3:21 pm

Josh Hobbs spent close to 30 years exposed to or actively working at Dalworth Restoration and its sister company, Dalworth Clean. He has literally “grown up in the family business,” accompanying his father on work sites as far back as he can remember. Hobbs began working full time at Dalworth Restoration in 1996 upon graduation from high school. After starting as a carpet cleaning and water mitigation technician at Dalworth, he eventually moved into project management and is currently an executive manager who oversees all sales and admin. What Is the Biggest Trend Shaping

Background Checks on Independent Contractors

July 31, 2019 3:43 pm

Q: We are about to hire an independent contractor but want to run a background check on him before we hire him. Can we run a background check on an independent contractor and make the contract contingent on the results? A: Yes, if the contractor will have access to sensitive materials or the nature of his work requires a clean background check, yes, you can make the contract contingent on that. You should also include language in the contract around confidentiality of information and nonsolicitation. But the most important component of your contract should be

Test Concrete for Moisture With Greater Ease

July 24, 2019 12:34 pm

Even if a concrete slab has cured, it is never completely free of moisture. The porous nature of concrete allows moisture below the concrete and within it to migrate up through the concrete capillaries and escape through the path of least resistance, a process known as moisture vapor transmission (MVT). Excessive MVT can cause bonding failures or flooring to delaminate. Highly alkaline liquids can condensate underneath; cracking or bubbling of a floor covering or resinous floor coating system can occur; development of uneven walking surfaces can emerge, creating slip-and-fall hazards; the lifespan of the

Restoration Advocacy Report #2

July 15, 2019 1:38 pm

The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) is stronger than it has been in decades, and now it is leading the charge to transform the industry as its chief advocate on the front lines. This is the second in an ongoing series of official reports from its Advocacy and Government Affairs (AGA) Committee. The mission of the AGA is to develop and implement strategies to help create and maintain a fair and level playing field, financially and legally, for restoration contractors by advocating for their interests, while working collaboratively with stakeholders involved in the restoration process. The Blueprint

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Join or Die

Restoration Advocacy Report #4

My Most Challenging Project

Recognizing the Hidden Dangers of Silica Dust

Roof Replacement Leads to Full Remodel

Restoration Advocacy Report #3

5 Questions With Josh Hobbs

Background Checks on Independent Contractors

Test Concrete for Moisture With Greater Ease

Restoration Advocacy Report #2

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