Category: Construction Related

When requesting bids for public works projects, there are times when local governments are uncertain which contractor they need to specify for the project because more than one category of licensure is legally authorized to perform the work. That said, local municipalities may not prohibit any contractor that is qualified, licensed, or certified as required by state law from bidding on public works projects, pursuant to section 255.0992, Florida Statutes. Additionally, section 489.113(9)(a), Florida Statutes provides that a contractor may act as a prime contractor where the majority of the work to be performed under the contract is within the scope of his or her license and the remaining work is subcontracted to other licensed contractors. For more information regarding the scope of work for contractors please review DBPR’s License Types. Contractors may wish to consult their local government attorney regarding the foregoing.

Here are some common abbreviations and Definitions for the Florida Construction Industry.

Now if you test for a General, Building, or Residential Contractors license in Florida, TAKE THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS EXAM. The state will hold General Contractors scores indefinitely so if you are only able to activate a residential license, in 4 years you can use the same scores to upgrade to a General Contractors license, without taking any additional exams. Unfortunately, they are going to take your money but no more testing involved.

Call Gail at 1 – 877 – 542- 3673 with any questions!

When requesting bids for public works projects, there are times when local governments are uncertain which contractor they need to specify for the project because more than one category of licensure is legally authorized to perform the work. That said, local municipalities may not prohibit any contractor that is qualified, licensed, or certified as required by state law from bidding on public works projects, pursuant to section 255.0992, Florida Statutes. Additionally, section 489.113(9)(a), Florida Statutes provides that a contractor may act as a prime contractor where the majority of the work to be performed under the contract is within the scope of his or her license and the remaining work is subcontracted to other licensed contractors. For more information regarding the scope of work for contractors please review DBPR’s License Types. Contractors may wish to consult their local government attorney regarding the foregoing.

When you go to renew your license it’s only $5.00 for the 2020 renewal!

Home Inspectors in the 2020 renewal have ZERO renewal FEES! Go FLORIDA

An Emergency Order has been issued in response to Hurricane Irma applicable to counties identified by FEMA.

This Order, valid for 90-days, allows Division 1 contractors, including general, building, and residential contractors to self-perform roof installation and repairs for wood shakes, asphalt & fiberglass shingles, tiles, metal, and flat roofs within their respective contracting scope. 

The Order also allows building departments, if needed, to issue local specialty roofing licenses to roofers who are qualified in other localities within the State. These specialty licenses would be subject to local disciplinary oversight like other local specialty licenses.

If your cedar fence posts are rotting at the bottom, like most will, you need to replace them with new post that will last for years to come. The rot probably developed because the posts were not installed properly. If you install the new posts the same way the old posts were installed, you’ll just have to do the whole thing over again a few years from now again.

Cedar has a reputation for durability because it’s one of the naturally durable woods, but unless a few guidelines are followed, cedar posts can fail in as few as five years. Three factors contribute to this early failure: poor drainage, low-quality wood and poor protection against insect damage.

To get the most out of your new posts, here are five things you can do:

1. Soak the bottom of the posts in a wood preservative containing copper napthanate, such as Cuprinol. Available at some paint stores and home centers, this wood treatment is specifically designed for in-ground applications.

2. Place about 6 in. of aggregate in the bottom of the posthole to allow for drainage. The bottom of the post should extend a few inches into the aggregate as shown.

3. Pour the concrete so that it’s above the soil level. Trowel the top smooth and slope it so that water runs away from the post.

4. Apply high-quality exterior acrylic latex caulk, or silicone specifically designed to adhere to concrete, at the base of the post. This will seal the gap between the concrete and post that’s caused by freeze/thaw cycles.

5. Don’t use posts that contain sapwood. Sapwood is lighter in color (usually yellow) than heartwood, which is dark. Instead, use heartwood, because it’s denser and more insect-resistant.

Florida blower door Testing / Training

The Florida Legislature has delayed the effective date of certain sections of the Florida Building Code, 5th edition until June 30, 2017. (http://laws.flrules.org/2015/222)
The included sections are:
a. R402.4.1.2 of the Energy Volume relating to mandatory blower door testing for residential buildings;
b. 403.6.1 of the Building Volume requiring a second fire service access elevator; and
c. R303.4 of the Residential Volume requiring mechanical ventilation for residential buildings.

Florida Building Code Binding Interpretation Report Number 134

Date: 04/26/2017
Report: 134
Edition: 2014? Fifth Edition
Sections: 454.1.2.5.3; 454.1.6.5.3.1; 454.1.6.5.3.1.1

Question:

Whether a section of a public pool?s open-type perimeter overflow gutter which abuts the top of the pool’s entry stairs, is subject to the Florida Building Code?s gutter specifications or stairs specifications.

Comment:

For health and sanitary reasons, the Department of Health has required a perimeter overflow gutter system for public pools for over 30 years without incident and without having to fully comply with the specific stair specifications found in Section 454.1.2.5.3 of the Florida Building Code. The addition of the stair specifications Code as they relate to public swimming pools were added to Chapter 4 of the Florida Building Code in 2002 without being properly coordinated with the gutter system requirements when creating the state unified building code. The next edition of the Florida Building Code (6th Edition) has been amended to clarify the language in the Code, by adding an exception from the stairs requirement where a gutter is used as a top step in a pool stair. The exception states:? Where a gutter is used as top step, the gutter’s 2″ slope from lip to the drain shall be continuous for the full length of the stairs, and the riser from the gutter to the next tread need not be uniform with the remaining risers and treads.   

Answer:

A public pool’s open-type perimeter overflow gutter which abuts the top of the pool’s entry stairs, is subject to the Florida Building Code’s gutter specifications and not the stairs specifications except where the gutter is used as the top step, the tile on the gutter for the width of the steps shall be slip resistant. ____________________________________________________________

Notice:

The Building Officials Association of Florida, in cooperation with the Florida Building Commission, and the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation provides this interpretation of the Florida Building Code in the interest of consistency in the application of the Building Code statewide. This interpretation is binding and not subject to acceptance and approval by the local building official.