Permitted Play

Your backyard is meant to be the family's oasis. How much of it needs a permit depends on how big, how permanent, and how intensive a project it will be.

A blow up kid's splash pool does not need a permit.
A swimming pool (above ground or below) will require a permit.

A swing set will most likely not require a permit, though it may.
A full play land will most likely require a permit. Also, you need your HOA's approval.

When in doubt, your city's Building Department is happy to answer a question. It is better to ask first than pay fees from skipping the permit process altogether.

Asphalt Shingle Weathering

"Weathering" is a general term used to describe the effects on shingles of long-term exposure to the elements.

Weathered shingles aren’t necessarily damaged shingles, although weathering will eventually damage shingles. Weathering is a natural process that causes shingles to deteriorate over time. The rate at which shingles weather can be affected by a number of things.

Shingle Quality
Low-quality shingles will fail before high-quality shingles. Quality can vary widely among manufacturers, and even within a single manufacturer’s product line.

Structure Orientation
South-facing roof slopes have shorter lifespans due to increased thermal cycling and UV exposure. Some portions of the roof are affected by prevailing winds more than others.

Degree of Roof Slope
Flatter roofs have shorter lifespans because they shed moisture more slowly and are more directly exposed to UV radiation than roofs with steeper pitches.

Climate
Harsh climates shorten roof lifespans. Wind, moisture and thermal cycling all contribute to deterioration of roofing materials.

Thermal Cycling
Climates with large daily temperature swings shorten roof lifespans because they cause greater amounts of expansion and contraction. This increases the roof's rate of deterioration.

Roof Color
Darker roofs absorb more heat, which shortens shingle lifespan by accelerating the loss of volatiles and increasing thermal cycling.

Elevation
Homes at higher elevations are exposed to more UV radiation, which deteriorates most roof-covering materials, including asphalt shingles.

Roof Structure Ventilation
Poor ventilation of the roof structure shortens shingle lifespan by failing to keep shingles cool, resulting in accelerated loss of volatiles and greater amounts of thermal cycling.

Quality of Maintenance
Failure to repair damage and keep roofs clean can result in damage and deterioration from moisture intrusion and wind.

Source: National Association of Certified Inspectors

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

Permit Fees

Like the cost of everything else, permit fees have increased over the years at a steady pace with the inflation rate, but, during the last year, and in the worst recession in decades, the fees charged by municipalities, has in many cases, increased by 100 percent. With local Florida governments looking for additional revenue sources, one of the first places they targeted was permit fees.

Estimate your permit fees to be 3-5% of the cost of your project, or as much as 10% in Key Biscayne and Weston. There are a few municipalities that have held their permit fees at pre-recession levels but they are few and far between. 

Please continue to use the proper permitting process and don't skip doing work under permit as it protects you from fees of up to 150% after the fact, and ensures the work was done properly and will last you a long time.

What We Do

We at Your Permit Solution.com handle all aspects of permit requirements from beginning to end. 

• We complete all the required forms
• Ttrack & monitor the plans as they are approved, ready for inspection, fail and need reapproval
• Submit plans to T.C.O/C.O of the property

Your Permit Solution.com enables clients to avoid the costs and headaches that could stem from acquiring a property plagued by hidden problems!

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.

About Us

Your Permit Solution.com ensures a smooth permitting and inspection process for your development and a satisfactory experience with your building officials. We process any plans, no matter how big or small the project may be.

Our company has worked closely with the building departments through out the counties.We are committed to offer our customers (you) the best service possible, we know the system in & out and with our professionalism and expertise that we will serve you; we can assure you that you’ll be completely satisfied with our services and turn around time. We at Your Permit Solution.com handle all aspects of permit requirements from beginning to end. Completing all the required forms, tracking & monitoring the plans, submittals of plans to T.C.O/C.O of the property. Your Permit Solution.com (Roy,Inc.) enables clients to avoid the costs and headaches that could stem from acquiring a property plagued by hidden problems. By offering a host of beneficial services, we are able to assist attorneys, real estate agents, processors, closers, contractors, home owners, title companies, and lien search companies to help them expedite their work and provide clients with peace of mind. I welcome you to see for yourself that I have experience and provide excellent customer service (meaning that you are number one to us) and that I can help you with your entire permit needs. So don’t wait any longer, give us a call and a professional representative will assist you ASAP. 

We will be happy to assist you and look forward to working with you.

Hurricane Impact Windows

Many methods of protecting a home against hurricanes exist. The current gold-standard in testing is the Miami-Dade County hurricane impact test. Be clear that products that meet or exceed this test are appropriate for all areas that may be impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes or other high wind situations. Remember, it is your life and your property. Essentially all of Florida, and all the coastal regions of the United States should prepare for possible wind speeds of 110 mph or greater.

The impact tests do not guarantee the windows will survive a hurricane, but they do test specific conditions that they should survive. Impact survivability certainly helps home survivability. If you can maintain the structural shell of your house or business, you are significantly more likely to save the structure. Once wind enters a building, it becomes much more likely that the structure will be significantly damaged. Therefore it becomes imperative to protect all the openings in your building.

THE IMPACT TEST, from the Miami Dade office of Code Compliance
The Miami-Dade Building Code requires that every exterior opening - residential or commercial - be provided with protection against wind-borne debris caused by hurricanes. Such protection could either be shutters or impact-resistant products. There are two types of impact-resistant products: large-missile resistant and small- missile resistant.

Large-missile resistant A product is tested as large-missile resistant after it has been exposed to various impacts with a piece of lumber weighing approximately 9 pounds, measuring 2" x 4" x 6’ (no more than 8') in size, traveling at a speed of 50 feet per second (34 mph). Then the product must pass positive and negative wind loads for 9,000 cycles, with impact creating no hole larger than 1/16 x 5" in the interlayer of the glass. If you live in a building where doors and windows are located 30 feet or less above grade (e.g. above ground level) then the products must pass the large-missile test. If the doors and windows are more than 30 feet from the ground then they must be either large or small missile compliant.

Small-missile resistant A product is declared small-missile resistant after it has been exposed to various impacts with 10 ball bearings traveling at a speed of 80 feet per second (50 mph). The product is then subjected to wind loads for 9,000 cycles.

Hurricane Windows

Hurricane impact resistant windows provide continuous protection from wind borne debris. The advantages are numerous: 

• no shutters to put up.
• no plywood to cut and put up.
• continuous protection. 
• the windows are structurally part of the house so it is much more difficult for wind to get behind the windows and pull them off which can occur for shutters and plywood. 
• while clear shutters do exist, they are less common so impact resistant hurricane windows provide the added advantage of letting light in.

In our experience, hurricane windows are somewhat more expensive than good according shutters. This is primarily due to the labor costs of removing and re-installing windows in your home.

Source: Hurricane

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

Lower Insurance From New Roof

A discrepancy between the date a home was built and a roof's age increases the chances for insurance carriers to miscalculate risks and rates.

Homeowners who have had a new roof put on their house since 2002, when a new Florida building code was adopted, should ensure their home- and property- insurance agent or company knows. It could lower your insurance premium payments.

Insurance carriers and reinsurance companies factor in roof age when determining the probable maximum loss of a home due to a catastrophe and when setting premium costs. If a company does not know that an older roof was replaced, then the date of the home may be used when calculating risk. That could mean homeowners and insurance carriers are paying higher rates.

— Bob KoslowSource: Daytona Beach News Journal

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

Science and Wind

Phys.org is doing new studies that feature a man-made wall of wind to test wind resistance on buildings. This has an immediate effect on our building code and that of other locations as Florida is leading the way in wind-resistance and building ordinances! Read the article here.

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