Emergency Services

In an emergency, you need the problem fixed immediately. If you don't have a specialist you trust, you still need to know that your home will be safe and protected.

Imagine it is 1am and your water heater pipe bursts, causing water to spray all over your garage, making a mess, and generally upsetting everyone who is now awake.

Before you call any plumber out of the phone book, check their reputation online (it's an extra 5 minutes to visit the BBB) and ask about permits when you call. You want them there immediately; I understand. But this extra question on the phone of, "Are you going to pull a permit for this work and will I get a copy of the final?" could save you hundreds of dollars down the road if the work was improperly done.

Permit Expediting

Ideal For: Local business owner's or architect's with one or two projects. We help get all their permits for their local locations.

We will conduct:

• Due Diligence: We will research all requirements, time frames, fees and approvals needed for you to understand what must be done then coordinate with your architect or construction manager a permit plan to get your permits in the quickest time possible.
• Submit: We will attend plan check, fill out all paperwork, manage your receipts and payments to the local jurisdiction, negotiate with the city or county on your behalf and manage your corrections as a member of the development team.
• Get Project Ready To Issue: After all the corrections have been made, we will reapply and then fight to get everything ready to issue.

Source: Permit Place

Relocating a Washer/Dryer

I'll start with the obvious question.
Yes, you will need permits for this project.

Some things to look out for:

• Relocating your dryer will require moving the vent for proper air quality.
• It will likely also cause you to upgrade the electrical outlet in the new location, and possibly at the breaker box.
• Relocating your washer will require you to run sufficient plumbing to the new area and cap off the existing pipes. 
• You will also need to be sure the flooring is secure in the new area, as these are heavy pieces of equipment, especially when full of water. 
• You will also need a proper air vent in the room to remove humidity that can cause mold to grow in the walls or ceiling.

When NOT to DIY

Moving advises you when to call a professional for your home improvement projects:

The move went well and your new home is perfect - except for a few little projects you have in mind. Some of them you can do yourself, like painting the bathroom. Others are more challenging, like installing a new exterior door. Do you accept the challenge and start shopping for a door, or should you hire a professional for your home improvement? Before you get in over your head, ask yourself these questions.

Do I have the time?

Many home improvement projects take weeks rather than days, especially if you're doing it yourself in your spare time. If you're planning to change out kitchen cabinets or countertops, know that your kitchen could be out of commission for a while. Measure the inconvenience against the cost of hiring a professional installer.

Do I have the right tools?

Rather than look at it as an opportunity to add to your tool collection, consider what special tools you'll need for the home improvement project. For example, installing a tile backsplash or floor calls for a tile saw. If you have more than one tile project, the saw is a good investment. If not, you might be better off calling a professional and using your tool money for one that will get more use.

Do I have the experience?

It’s true. There are lots of books that tell you how to do things. However, some home improvement projects are easier than others. Painting the bathroom requires little more than a bucket of paint, a brush and some time for prep and cleanup. Installing a hardwood floor calls for more, including knowing how to use power saws, nailers and sanders. Before you invest a lot of time in trial and error, consider calling a professional.

Since you just moved into the neighborhood, you might not know who to call for a reliable professional installation. Ask your neighbors or check with the experts at your local home improvement center. Many times, the folks who sell you the products can also help you with a licensed, insured installer. They can probably help you with financing, too.

Here are some home improvement projects that could benefit from a professional installer:

Outside

• Exterior doors
• Garage doors
• Garage door openers
• Roofing
• Siding
• Storage buildings
• Stand-by generators
• Water heaters and windows

Inside

• Carpet
• Tile
• Hardwood and laminate flooring
• Vinyl flooring
• Kitchen cabinets
• Kitchen countertops
• Window treatments

Expedite

Expedite your process by using Your Permit Solution. We will be your go-between in:

• Picking up permits from the City
• Getting them signed off by your contractor
• Arranging inspections
• Arranging re-inspection if necessary
• Handling all the scheduling
• Making every trip to the City so you don't have to
• Standing in line so you never will
• Seeing your project completed quickly and successfully

Replacing a Tub

Replacing a bathtub is a decision no one comes to lightly. Once it's been resurfaced and that surface begins to chip, unsanitary bits can fall into the bathwater and the tub will need to be replaced.

Costs

• Replacing your tub will cost a couple of hundred dollars, just for the tub itself. 
• Installation is the expensive part and can cost you well over a thousand dollars.
• Replacing the hardware (faucets and spout) are generally around $100, depending on your style.
• Replacing the tiles at the floor and wall can vary greatly depending on your style.
• Another large part of this cost is permitting. 

Permits
Permits need to be pulled on any job involving plumbing. It is not advisable for the common homeowner to attempt to replace a bathtub as it is heavy, grimy work. The complications potentially involved include broken pipes, flooding, broken tiles at the wall and floor, and damage to other parts of the house (such as doorways) when attempting to remove the tub from the house.

A plumbing inspector will be called out a few times to insure your tub was properly uninstalled, and that the new one is properly installed. Doing this step will save you from any potential leaking in the walls (which can lead to foundation damage, wall damage, mold, and more) and you will know that your new tub will last a long, long time.

Allow Your Permit Solution to run all your permits for smooth and quick project completion.

Permitting Made Easy

Let us take the hassle out of permit applications.

From the smallest of jobs, such as trimming a tree, all the way up to the multi-million dollar high-rise project, we at Your Permit Solution handle all aspects of permit requirements from beginning to end.

Start your project by clicking our online application form HERE.

You May NOT Need a Permit

You May Not Need a Permit for: 

• Laying in a new roof.
• Parking your roll-off dumpster on your own property (however, if you happen to live in an association-controlled neighborhood, make sure you do not run afoul of your own housing association's rules).
• Putting in hardwood floor.
• Installing carpeting.
• Replacing doors or windows on a one-for-one basis.
• Upgrading your countertops.
• Freshing up the exterior with new siding.
• Minor electrical work, such as replacing an electrical outlet.

Source: About Home Renovations

You MAY Need a Permit

You May Need a Permit for: 

• Moving a sink.
• Demolishing a load-bearing wall.
• Changing the house's roofline.
• Punching in a new window or door.
• Altering the footprint of your house.
• Installing new electrical wiring.
• Parking your roll-off dumpster on a public street.

Source: About Home Renovations

Xeriscaping

Most landscaping will not require permitting, with the exception of adding/removing trees. However, many neighborhoods are now requesting that you consider xeriscaping if you are going to change your landscaping. Xeriscaping requires less fertilizer, less water, and is more environmentally friendly, not to mention friendlier on your wallet!

Seven Principles of Xeriscaping:

Planning and Design - Have a Plan.
Take a look at your garden’s topography, exposure and soil. Don’t try to fight your site. Create planting zones and group your plants by their needs. For example, groups tough, drought tolerant plants in areas exposed to full day sun, give less tolerant plants some partial shade and keep the more delicate or demanding plants for a spot near your water source.

Choose Appropriate Plant MaterialYou may choose to incorporate a few plants that will need to be coddled, but for the most part, selecting plants that thrive in your area during low water conditions will give you the best results. This often includes native plants that we so often take for granted. The choice of plants will vary by region, even within a single yard. You may also be surprised to see how many plants are considered xeric, once they have established themselves and when properly cared for.

Soil ImprovementThe old adage that if you take care of the soil, the soil will take care of the plants, is very true here. The key, as always, is incorporating generous amounts of organic matter. This will improve water penetration and retention in any type of soil. Rich, loose, water holding soil will encourage good root development and lessen the plant’s need for supplemental water. It is best to amend your soil before planting and to regularly use organic mulch.

MulchMulching is a naturally occurring process, but as gardeners we tend to want things tidy and we rake away all the leaves and debris that coat and decay into the soil. So we have to bring in more aesthetically pleasing mulch, such as shredded bark and compost.

However it gets there, mulch adds a great deal to your garden. It moderates soil temperature, holds moisture, slows erosion and suppresses weeds that would compete with your plants for food and water. It also gradually decomposes and feeds the soil. Apply about 4 inches of mulch at the initial planting and check it each season to see if it needs to be replenished.

Practical and Appropriate Turf AreasMost of us still want some areas of lawn in our landscape and many of us want way too much lawn. Think about how much water, fertilizer and gasoline it takes to keep your lawn green throughout the summer.

Where to place the lawn should be part of your initial design plan, taking into consideration what you plan to use your lawn for. If you are using grass as a ground cover, there are other options that would be less labor and water intensive. Choose an appropriate grass seed for the lawn’s exposure.

Efficient WateringNot all plants need the same amount of water and those needs may change with the seasons. If you have followed the steps above, you have your plants grouped by their water needs, including your lawn, and can water only where it’s needed.

Drip irrigation systems are often recommended for efficient watering. These systems allow you to control when and how much water a plant gets and to direct the water only to the plants that need it.

Base your watering schedule on the needs of the plants and not on an arbitrary schedule. All plants will require more supplemental watering for the first year or two that they are becoming established. However after they have acclimated and developed a good root system, supplemental watering should become much less frequent.

Appropriate MaintenanceYes, even a xeriscape garden will require some maintenance. Watering, weeding, pruning, deadheading and sensible pest management will all factor into the quality of your garden.

Source: About Gardening

Needs Permitting

The following common alterations or improvements require a building permit:

• Making a structural addition
• Installing a new roof
• Blocking off or adding a door or window
• Adding or relocating electrical outlets
• Adding or relocating plumbing fixtures (sinks, toilets, showers)
• Converting a garage or storage area to an air conditioned occupied space
• Installing or replacing an air conditioning system

Source: Real Estate Inspections

Hurricane Safe

We’re not as safe as we can be from hurricanes

 

BY LESLIE CHAPMAN-HENDERSON

WWW.FLASH.ORG

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida in the middle of the night of Aug. 24. When residents from Key Largo to North Miami walked outside their homes the next morning, they gasped at a level of devastation that had never been seen before.

Much has changed since then in Florida and around the nation. We have made great progress in the past 20 years to strengthen our coastal areas against the unstoppable reality of hurricanes. But we cannot become complacent simply because time has allowed memories to fade.

Mitigating the damage of natural disasters and, in some cases, actually preventing damages, is a proven money-saver. A 2005 study by the National Institute of Building Sciences found that, on average, a dollar spent by FEMA on hazard mitigation saves the nation $4 in future benefits. We believe the savings for property owners are even greater.

There are three fundamental building blocks to improved mitigation:

•  Stronger building codes. The creation of the International Code Council in 1994 gave us a single entity to draft model building codes that can be, and are, used as guidelines for local codes worldwide. Stronger building codes help drive the creation, and adoption, of better building products and practices. Alabama, for instance, this year adopted its first-ever statewide residential code.

Many hurricane-exposed states, unfortunately, still are lagging. Alarmingly, there have been efforts to weaken building codes in some states.

An Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) study last December found that, on a 100-point scale, only seven of 18 coastal states scored higher than 80 points when ranked for “strong statewide residential building codes and comprehensive regulatory processes for the building code officials, contractors, and subcontractors, who translate building code requirements into actual homes.” Bottom of the pack? Mississippi, Delaware and Texas.

•  Incentives, both public and private. Financial incentives work wonders in improving mitigation and reducing losses. Florida, for instance, has the nation’s most robust system of insurance incentives. Residents are supposed to receive a significant discount off of hurricane insurance if their homes were built after 2002 under the newer Florida Building Code.

Older homes also can get credits for mitigation features ranging from storm shutters, water barriers and impact doors and windows. Insurers are required by law to provide mitigation incentives in Florida, Louisiana and Maryland. Incentives are voluntarily offered in Alabama, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

But we need more incentives. Local governments should consider property-tax relief for homeowners who invest in mitigation. Governments also should waive taxes and fees on specific mitigation work, such as shutter installations. Sales-tax holidays could be implemented for all hurricane-protective devices. None of these efforts are particularly onerous, but provide the incentives to promote action.

•  Education about mitigation and prevention. Understanding the positive impact of mitigation and damage prevention remains the biggest challenge to our efforts. People lose their lives because they either don’t know or underestimate the dangers of natural disasters. While the media have done an exemplary job of providing useful tips in advance of storms, there is so much more to do. A troubling example: Nearly seven of 10 homeowners think masking tape on windows somehow will help prevent damage, according to a Harris Interactive survey this year. It doesn’t.

Massive losses to the insurance industry from Andrew, Katrina and other storms have resulted in more homeowners being forced to turn to government-backed “insurers of last resort’’ for coverage. That means we increasingly are placing these risks on our own pocketbooks.

Again, we have made great progress. But by no means are we as safe as we can be.

Leslie Chapman-Henderson is President and CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH).

Source: Miami Herald

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/14/2951750/were-not-as-safe-as-we-can-be.html#storylink=cpy

Building Code FAQ

The Florida Building Code can be a little tough to decode if you don't speak contractor. Here is the plain and simple translation of your most commonly asked questions from the source.

How often is the code updated?
Every 3 years.

Where does the code come from?
The Florida code is based on the International Building Code, or the "base code", and adapted for state-specific needs.

Can I read the code?
Yes. It is available here. You can even see previous versions at that site.

What requires a permit?
I talk about this all the time. Here's the official stance:

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any impact resistant coverings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.

Wall Removal

Gee, it might be nice to open up that space between the kitchen and dining room. You would just have to remove that pesky wall...

Long before you pick up a sledgehammer, consult with a contractor. The wall may be load-bearing - meaning it holds up your roof - or it may have items inside that are more delicately removed - like electrical cables or plumbing pipes. Prevent a major disaster by checking with a contractor before doing any wall removal.

The same goes for removing part of the wall, as in to make a window, bar, or pass-through from one room to another.

If the wall is merely cosmetic, it may not require a permit, but that will rarely be the case.

Hurricane Season

Be prepared. Plywood is a last resort. For safety, you will need to cover your windows with hurricane shutters or replace your windows with hurricane-resistant glass.

Hurricane Shutters
Shutters do require a permit. Permits are used to ensure that your materials are going to stand up to the winds and protect your home. Your homeowner's association may have restrictions to the types of panels you can use. Check with them before purchasing materials. They may also require you to paint your shutters to match your home. The most common shutters are made from aluminum, but there are other materials on the market, including some which are clear.

Hurricane-Resistant Glass
This glass is thick, much like bullet-proof glass, and will require a permit before installation. Many companies are offering this as an alternative to putting shutters up and down each storm season. This can be a time- and money-saver, especially for people who are not able-bodied, such as the elderly who might otherwise have to hire someone to help them protect their home. Also, the glass allows the homeowner to watch the storm in progress and will not darken the house.

Working with your HOA

Before you do any construction on the exterior of your home, check with your Home Owner's Association. Associations are in place to make sure your property value remains high by disallowing mailboxes shaped like giant fish, houses pained 6 shades of neon, and an abundance of trash in the neighbor's yard. However, they may have strict rules as to what type of paint you can use, how many shades lighter your trim can be, what material you need to use on your roof, or the height of your shed or fence. Before you have to undo or redo work on your home, check with your HOA first and get the information in writing.

Permit Horror Story

I was hired to assist a client who had a shed built on their property over 10 years ago, but never pulled the permits from Miami Dade County Building Department. The Miami Dade Code Enforcement Department, upon surveying the area or through an anonymous call, triggered a warning to our client because the permits were never pulled to install the shed in their home.  My client was assessed a $510.00 permit violation based on the illegal shed and really needed the help to sift through the complicated process and system. I got to work!

Based on my extensive experience with Shed violations in Miami Dade County, I know the first and most important thing to do is address the issue and look into the details with the County. I immediately followed up with getting survey and zoning details so the compliance work could be submitted. This process can be long and drawn out, and the amount of work needed to process this violation is extensive. Needless to say, I was able to get the paperwork in place, contact the required people to help in the process, and the code violation was closed and resolved.

This violation is very typical in my line of business, for over 8 years our company, Your Permit Solution, has assisted hundreds of residents and business owners with their permit violation, if you or someone you know has received a permit violation and/or is frustrated in resolving a Permit Violation for their shed or an addition to to their home, please contact me at 1-800-9730023 ext. 0 or visit our site atwww.yourpermitsolution.com.

Source: My previous blog, 2011

Elevator permit

If you own or manage a commercial property such as condos, apartment buildings, stores, or malls, did you know you need a permit to install, repair, modify, or remove an elevator?

Not just elevators. Lift devices consist of:

• elevators
• wheelchair lifts
• stairway lifts
• escalators
• moving walks
• dumbwaiters
• limited use, limited access devices

Get permits here for:
Miami-Dade
Broward
Palm Beach

Electrical Work

Planning on changing or upgrading the electrical work in your home?

When do I need a Permit?
Electrical permits are needed when installing or altering electrical service, wiring, or circuits in existing buildings. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Installing a new or temporary service
• Modifying existing service or circuits
• Relocating an electric water heater, furnace, or other electrical appliance
• An electrical plan may also need to be reviewed

Electrical permits are NOT required in the following cases:

• Appliance replacement without modification to electrical circuits, such as dishwashers
• Appliances connected to outlets with a plug
• Repair or replacement of motors, transformers, appliances, recessed or other light fixtures, switches, or control devices of the same type and rating in the same location
• Taping joints
• Removal of electrical wiring

Source: My Building Permit

Load Bearing Wall?

Simple projects do not require permits, but what about cutting a hole in the wall to make a pass through to the kitchen or living room or to change the existing space? That depends.

Can you be sure that the area you are planning to cut has no wires running through it? Slicing through your own phone, internet, or power cords sure would make your face red and be inconvenient!

Also, is the wall load bearing? What's a load bearing wall, anyhow? We asked the Natural Handyman, who had much to say on load bearing walls, and why doing anything to them is going to give rise to the need for a permit.

Look at the structure of the house and ask the following questions:

1. Is there a significant load above, such a built-up (multi-board) carrying beam or another wall? Is there a full floor above it, or just an empty attic?
2. If you can view the joists in the attic, is the wall parallel or perpendicular to them? Generally, load bearing walls are perpendicular to the joists they support. If two separate floor joists or ceiling joists intersect over a wall, that wall should be considered load bearing.
3. Is it an outside wall? You should consider all outside walls load bearing. If the house has been remodeled, a former outside wall could now be an inside wall. Examine the foundation to find these "stealth" outside walls.
4. Look at the beams and posts in the basement. In multi-floor dwellings, posts and beams in the basement indicate bearing walls above them, even up two floors. Be aware that these multi-floor bearing walls may not be directly above each other.
5. In complex, large homes, the basement can be a jungle of carrying beams and posts, crisscrossed and interlocked. Careful inspection is necessary to determine how this maze of beams supports the house, and its effect on the walls above.

If you have any doubts about the strength or loading status of the wall, GET PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE! You may even be able to get your local town building inspector to stop by and take a look around!