www.onthebeamremodeling.com
On The Beam Remodeling, Inc. E-Newsletter  April 2008
*This newsletter has been rated "R" for read*

What have you done to reduce your "carbon footprint"?  Have you started recycling something you never recycled before?  Are you reusing something you used to throw away?  Send us your solutions and good ideas at otbeam@sbcglobal.net and we'll put it in next month's newsletter.

Steve and Lisa Schliff
General Contractor, Owners
In This Issue
Where asbestos hides
Problem with Contractor?
Where could asbestos hide in your house?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occurs naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers and can be separated into thin, durable threads. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many industries.

In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products could be released into the environment during use.  Asbestos is connected to several diseases including a form of lung cancer called mesothelioma.

Exposure to asbestos can occur in a number of construction and home improvement-related operations. For example:

· In sprayed-on asbestos insulation in a ceiling;

· In pipe coverings;

· In shingle siding.

Especially if your home was built before the late 1970's, asbestos could be lurking in these places.  Stay calm:  if it is not released into the air, in a "friable" condition, it will not harm you.  Once a remodel begins and it gets cut into, this is when the danger begins.  If you suspect hidden asbestos, before the remodel begins, contact a certified asbestos consultant.

lew kitchen 1

If you have a problem with your contractor

Some years ago our neighbors had a major remodel done on their home.  It seemed to be going dandy, then all of a sudden came to a halt.  Six months later we were all still staring at the same pile of debris on their front lawn that had been left behind.  Nothing at all had been done in that time, and no sign of the contractor or his subs could be detected.  I finally broke my professional code of silence and counseled my neighbors to write a letter to their contractor.   In that letter, I advised, let them know that if they don't return and complete the job, you will notify the Contractor's State License Board in Sacramento.  They wrote the letter, sent it to the contractor, and the following week the crew was back finishing what they had begun.

The lesson for homeowners is twofold:  Stay in touch with your general contractor even if he doesn't stay in touch with you.  And secondly, don't be afraid to allow the organizations to back you up that are in place for just that thing.  The CSLB is very protective of the homeowner, and will cancel a contractor's license if a justifiable complaint is verified. 

By the way, this is one excellent reason to hire licensed general contractors only.  He without a license cannot be threatened with termination of one.

On The Beam Remodeling is dedicated to excellent craftsmanship and care of your home.  We design and build your heart's desire.  Please visit our website and contact us for your remodeling needs.
(510) 412-9964 
 
855 Marina Bay Parkway, Suite 28
Richmond, CA  94804
n craftsmanship and care to your home.  We design a
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