San Francisco and the Uprecedented Building Permit Backlog

 If you have a new building project (or an existing building project needing modification in mind) that requires the involvement of the San Francisco Planning Department (http://sf-planning.org/), make sure that you take into consideration the following essential factors.

The City of San Francisco Planning Department has a current historic backlog of hundred of projects, which means that if you decide to apply for a new building permit and it requires a Planning review, chances are, you are in for a long wait. How long? If the project does not require Preservation (http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=1825) to determine the impact your project will have on the neighborhood, you probably are in a 6-9 month waiting period (or longer).

... And what if you have neighbors that do not approve of the proposed project you've submitted to the San Francisco Building Department (http://sfdbi.org/)? Chances are, when Planning finally posts your proposed project in front of the project property for 30 days and notify your neighbors, your neighbors will more than likely be requesting a Discretionary Review (DR).
Anyone can file a DR Application on any building permit, and have that project brought before the Planning Commission for a public hearing and review (http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=1891). There is a backlog of historical proportions for the Planning review process and there is a backlog of historical proportions as well for the scheduling of Discretionary Review hearings.

The current conditions of the Planning review process are a reality in the present construction landscape of San Francisco.

In addition, there has been an increase in residential single-family building permits in San Francisco, reported in the Federal Reserve Beige Book of March, 4, 2015 (read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-beige-book-march-4-2015-3#ixzz3TSmiF7aM)


My advice to you: Don't delay, file your new building permit as soon as you can.

Maryline Linares, Co-Owner (http://on-shoreinc.com)

HIRING A LICENSED OR UNLICENSED CONTRACTOR IN SAN FRANCISCO

Very often, the question comes up.

Your water heater or furnace breaks down, your toilet is clogged and you just need to call someone to fix it.
It's not a big deal but you need to make a service call. And you want to save some money.
 
Should you hire an unlicensed contractor? A friend of a friend knows somebody cheap.
 
Well, here are the two scenarios at hand to consider:
 
1) Hiring an unlicensed contractor:
 
Anyone has the right under the law to advertise for work and or be employed by any company, or individual.
As a homeowner, you have the right under the law to hire and employ any person deemed qualified -that person does not have to be a licensed contractor.
You also can and have the right under the law to buy workers' compensation insurance from the State of California if you have the legitimate concern that the individual you are planning to hire may get hurt while working on your home.
Now, the work is done  You are satisfied. All is well.

Or,

The work is done but a while later (let's say a few hours, days, months), you still have the same issue or have more problems -your heater still does not work well, your toilet overflows... You called the guy you hired but he is not answering your calls, or he is telling you that your heater needs to be replaced, your sewer line needs to be replaced...

What recourse do you have? NONE
 
2) Hiring a licensed contractor:
 
A licensed contractor working in the State of California is regulated and licensed by the California State Licensed Board (http://www.cslb.ca.gov/). He or she is to carry liability insurance, which is to protect you in case of any damage caused by the licensed and insured contractor you've hired.
And don't count on your homeowner’s policy to cover you unless you have additional coverage for in-home employees.
The California State License Board also requires any licensed Contractor to be bonded, which is a guarantee that the licensed contractor you've hired will perform the work you've hired him or her to do to code.
Workers' compensation insurance: If the licensed contractor you've hired has no employee, then workers' compensation insurance is not needed or required. On the other hand, if the contractor has employees working at your property and one of them gets injured while working and the contractor did not carry workers' compensation insurance, then what?
Your homeowner’s insurance policy might help cover the cost to pay that worker’s claim, after you meet your deductible, but that claim could result in an increase in your rates and make it more difficult for you to get insured in the future.
 
An unlicensed contractor is neither bonded or insured which is placing you, the homeowner, at risk in case of trouble.
 
It's your project, your call. I hope this blog will help when you have trying to make a hiring decision for your next project or the emergency that just popped up today.

Maryline Linares, Co-owner - On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com)
A local and experienced licensed plumbing and heating contractor in San Francisco. We provide free estimate 7 days a week.

 

DRY ROT - NOT WELCOME!

San Francisco is famous for its fog, its cool sometime "freezing" summers when everyone else is burning hot in the Bay Area. San Francisco is also famous for its many beautiful Victorian homes, which are the pride of many homeowners.
Many of us forget the stagnant moisture and water rich air which will find its way through any structure, any wall that is being left unprotected, if you give it enough time.

At On Shore Construction and Mechanical (415-259-1133, www.on-shoreinc.com), we just completed a dry rot repair project of a property in San Francisco.

These are a few tips you may want to follow in order to avoid hefty repairs:

1) Make a routine inspection of the exterior and interior of your house every year if not twice a year. Look for water intrusion characterized by color stains noticeable on ceiling and walls, wood decay, and fungus especially in siding, basements, and decks.
2) Check for water leaks around windows, trim, baseboards, doors, and stairs. A small water leak can become a major problem over time if left unchecked and may cause structural damage.
3) Even check your crawl space!

DRY ROT CAUSED BY WATER INTRUSION

By Maryline Linares, On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com)

Water Conservation For All!

Conserving water is everyone's responsibility, and an urgent one.

Please read these simple water-saving tips below. If you have any questions or need service, you can always call On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com) at 415-259-1133.

1) Make sure that your faucets are turned off tightly.  If they are still dripping, you may need to replace the washers. A leaky faucet or shower head may just need to be tighten with a wrench.
Also, you may want to install water-saving faucet aerators.
2) Make sure that your toilet is not running water after you flush and the flushing cycle is complete. If you hear your toilet flush longer than what it used to, it could be that the flapper is not working properly and may need to be replaced. You may also replace your old toilet with an energy-efficient, low flush toilet.
3) Reduce the amount of water you use while taking a shower (under 5 minutes is ideal.) Turn off the water while washing your hair. Don't just let the water run.
4) While you are brushing your teeth, make sure you don't just let the water run when you are not using it.
5) Insulate your domestic hot water pipes, thus saving on your heating and water bill.
6) When you wash your car, make sure you turn off the water when you are not using it. Also, only wash your car when absolutely needed.
7) Replace your existing water heater by installing a flash water heater to heat your domestic water, thus saving water and energy.
8) Recycle the water you've used whenever you can.  Used water from the dog bowl or fish tank may be reused for your plants and flowers.
9) While doing the laundry, make sure the level of clothes selected match the level of water selected.  Also, if you have an old washing machine, you may consider replacing it with an energy-efficient model (energy star), which will save water and you, money!
10) When you are washing your hands in the sink, turn off the water while you lather.

Then, check your water bill and see how much water and money you've saved!

By Maryline Linares, On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com)

Yosemite, California - February 16, 2014

Why You Should Hire a Licensed Contractor?

When you hire an experienced licensed contractor, chances are the work is done right, according to State and local building codes.   

The work will also be insured since a licensed contractor is bonded and insured. In addition, if any of the work is not performed in a professional manner, you always have the recourse to contact the California State License Board (www.cslb.ca.gov) and file a complaint as a last resort.  You may also go online to the California State License Board and verify the status of the license of the Contractor you've hired or you are about to hire.  The longer a contractor has been in business, the longer the experience. Always take the time to verify that the contractor you've hired is licensed and has a license in good standing.

This is a laundry room remodel project performed by On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com), an experienced licensed plumbing per the homeowner's specifications and San Francisco local plumbing codes. 

When you don't hire a licensed contractor because you want to get the work done and believe that anyone's a plumber and can get the work done, this is what may happen (see photograph here below.)
This photograph was taken on a project On Shore Construction and Mechanical was hired to do.  We were contracted to install a green, energy efficient boiler and radiant heating system.
We came across these corroded copper pipes improperly soldered a few ago in the garage ceiling resulting in leaks and having to be replaced.  Unfortunately, adding to the homeowner's original cost by having to pay twice for the same work.

Please don't let this happen to your project!

by Maryline Linares, On Shore Construction and Mechanical (www.on-shoreinc.com or 415-259-1133)

Save Money! Don't Wait Until It Is Too Late to Repair or Upgrade your Boiler!

Do you ever wonder why this season (September 20 till December 19) is the prime season for heating contractors?

Because most folks out there have had a boiler that has shown signs of needing repair for months and have delayed all costs (and headaches) associated with having to address boiler issues until something HAS to be done!  At that time, cold temperatures are there and it becomes imperative to fix the problem at best, change the boiler at worst.

Scheduling a visit from a local licensed contractor before it becomes an emergency is always best giving you the peace of mind to choose the right company to do the job.

Maryline Linares, Co-Owner of On Shore Construction and Mechanical
http://on-shoreinc.com

Did you know?

When you do a Google search of the word "clogged", the first group of words that come up associated with the word "clogged" is "clogged toilet"?! 
That's how common of a plumbing problem it is!
An advice to all of you out there: NEVER place baby wipes in the toilet and then, flush the toilet. 
A few years ago, we had to replace a residential sewer line due to baby wipes being stuffed in the toilet. When you add roots growing in the sewer line over time, you end up with a real mess and an emergency plumbing call! 
And when that happens or no matter what happens with your overall plumbing systems, contact your local plumber, On Shore Construction and Mechanical at 415-259-1133!

Maryline Linares, Co-Owner at On Shore Construction and Mechanical