NARI News & Press Releases

• Ask the Experts
  
  Attendees are encouraged to bring their design plans, pictures and remodeling-related questions to ‘NARI SA Booth” and "Ask the Experts" from the San Antonio chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (http://www.narisanantonio.com) for free advice on their next project. Pre-appointments are being accepted now by calling 210-366-8725, please leave your name and number and a volunteer member will get back with you.
  
  
• Silent Auction
  
  Again, NARI SA will be holding a silent auction to raise money for their ‘building fund’. The local chapter public relations director; Rudy Nino with SA Building & Remodeling, Co., reported that last fall one gentleman place the highest bid on a kitchen faucet for about $89.00 with the retail value of $300.00 (a savings of $211.00) that was donated by Fergusson’s Bath & Kitchen Gallery.
  
  All members and non-members are invited to donate a new building product or any item related for the home improvement consumer.
  
  Other members that have donated silent auction items are: Home Depot, Stone Appliance Galley-KIVA Kitchen & Bath, SA Building & Remodeling, Co., and Southwest Exteriors.
  
  Monetary donations are being accepted, if you would like to make a monetary donation for the NARI SA building fund. You may do so by mailing your check to: San Antonio Chapter of NARI, 1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700, San Antonio, TX 78213. Payable to: NARI SA Building Fund.
  
  
• Volunteers
  
  Members who would like to volunteer are asked to sign-up today. Member remodelers and suppliers are asked to volunteer just a few hours for the ‘Ask the Experts’ at the NARI booth.
  
  A brand new member David Schulz has already asked if they can help out with the help of his team of loan officers Monica Varisco and his wife Tracy.
  
  He mentioned that they are ‘excited about the opportunity to volunteer at the NARI booth this year at the Home and Garden Show’. He continued by saying ‘it is our privilege to work with such an ethical and professional group of business-people that are committed to upholding high standards’.

As the Voice of the Remodeling Industry, NARI, through its Government Affairs Committee, plans to develop a position paper on this proposal and provide comment to the EPA. The Call for Comment period is open for 90 days from December 29, 2005. All NARI Members and Chapters will be encouraged to provide comment to the EPA regarding this rule. It will be critically important that the points of concern be consistent and unified.

Other strong lobbying groups, including the NAHB, are expressing grave concern that the proposed rule does not provide further protection for children and only significantly elevates the burden, time and cost of renovation and remodeling. NARI is also examining opportunities for coalition partners.

The Government Affairs Committee is meeting on January 17. Members of the Board and Chapters are highly encouraged to review the proposed rule (attached to this message below) and provide constructive comment as to how children may not be protected, how this will impact your business and work practices, and how the extra cost will be passed on to consumers and homeowners.

All comments may be submitted to Mary Busey Harris at mharris@nari.org by February 1 and will be reviewed and considered by the Government Affairs Committee in its position paper. The position paper will be shared with Members and Chapters.

For more information please click here.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which trashed the U.S. Gulf Coast in August and September, now are rustling America's $233 billion-plus remodeling industry.

Industry representatives say supplies of building materials have tightened, and prices are rising because petroleum facilities in Louisiana and Texas are damaged and reconstruction is under way in storm-stricken southern states.

"Price hikes and supply problems I'd say it's pretty widespread already," said Gwen Biasi, marketing and communications director for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry in Des Plaines, Ill.

How big are price increases? "I've heard anywhere from 5 percent to 15 percent, depending on where you're at," she said.

Milwaukee is feeling the ripple effects already, Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council members said Thursday. Contractors reported getting supplier notices in recent weeks of price increases for PVC pipes the solid, rigid white plastic pipes commonly used for household plumbing roofing and electrical wiring, said spokesman David Pekel, who owns Pekel Construction & Remodeling Inc. in Wauwatosa.

"Nominal increases, most contractors will absorb. I wouldn't say these increases are more than nominal, nor do I believe the full implications of the hurricanes' impact have reached us," Pekel said.

He expects full-force impact in 2006, complete with work delays.

"Spring and summer, that's what I'd think. It's forthcoming, no doubt," he said. His company has taken defensive action, with a clause guaranteeing contract costs for only 20 days.

"I don't know whether others are doing this, too," Pekel said, "but a contractor with any prudence would take this into consideration."

Material suppliers are feeling the pinch, said Ron Hager, outside sales representative for Quality Building Products Inc. in Milwaukee.

"There is no price protection anymore," Hager said. "We used to get a month or two notice on increases. This time, it was less than a week's notice. Cement and vinyl siding, roofing, windows they all went up 6 percent to 15 percent this fall. For roofing shingles, we've had four, five increases this year."

Tom Callen, co-owner of Callen Construction Inc. in Muskego, reported in a Milwaukee/NARI survey that, aside from signed contracts, his company is passing on its higher costs to new customers.

Home builders, who tend to have long-term contracts with materials suppliers, haven't reported any price jumps or shortages here, said Chellee Siewert, chief operating officer of the Metropolitan Builders Association in Waukesha. "We've heard a lot about" the industry fallout from Katrina, "but we haven't seen it," she said.

Remodelers aren't as insulated from market fluctuations, Pekel said.

"We typically see one or two price increases a year but have had as many as four on some materials this year," he said.

More are coming in 2006: drywall, windows, roofing, siding, panel products, cabinetry and possibly lumber, remodeling contractors reported in the Milwaukee/NARI survey.

That unhappy pattern is playing out nationwide, said national industry spokeswoman Biasi.

Even with higher prices and work backlogs, however, "I haven't heard of anyone canceling," she said.

Remodeling is expected to be a $250 billion business this year, up from $233 billion last year, Biasi said.

Hurricanes are no match for devoted homeowners, she said.

"I haven't seen spending drop in a decade, and many contractors are still reporting (project) backlogs," Biasi said.

"I'd say we'll do as well or better than 2005 next year," she said.

For more information please click here.

v Before work begins, sit down with your contractor and discuss details that will affect your daily routine. For example, ask that the workers do not block the driveway without checking whether the homeowner’s car is out of the garage. Also, find out what their schedule will be so you know what to expect, and if the schedule falls behind, be sure to ask why to keep that line of communication open.

v From day one, be honest with your contractor about your expectations. Open communication establishes trust and is the basis of a good working relationship. Discuss problems or irritations as they occur so you and your contractor can devise alternative solutions.

v Be sure to let your contractor know if you are planning a vacation or business trip so they can make their own chedule. If you decide to let them work while you are away, give them a phone number so they can reach you in case there is a question.

v Allow plenty of time for your project, keeping in mind that delays due to weather, material shortage or other problems cannot be predicted ahead of time.

v Remove your personal property from the construction areas, and declare all work zones off limits to children and pets.

v Always put changes in writing, especially if the plans are modified while the work is being done. Have both parties agree on the changes and sign a written copy of them before the work begins.And remember, changes will often cause delays, so if you decide a change is in order, be patient with the extended timeline.

v Keep all paperwork related to the job in one place so that if there are any questions on the plans, you have an easy reference for clarification.

v And remember, be patient and keep your mind on the end result. In due time you’ll be cooking your first meal in your new kitchen or soaking in your new bath, and you will have forgotten the noise and dust, and you can relax in your newly remodeled home.

# # #

Historic New Protections for Homeowners
(AUSTIN) All homebuilders and remodelers in Texas must now offer new mandated warranties and building performance standards for home construction as outlined by the Texas Residential Construction Commission.

The new warranties and standards, adopted by the commission in January, detail how the components of a newly built home or remodeled home should perform while under warranty. The new requirements for builders and remodelers are the first written minimum warranties and building and performance standards ever required in Texas.

The rules, for construction that begins on or after today, apply to work done by home builders and remodelers if the interior renovations exceed $20,000 or change the size of the home’s living space. The warranties are one year for workmanship and materials; two years for plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning delivery systems and ten years for major structural components of the home.

There is also a 10-year warranty of habitability, which addresses defects that could not have been reasonably discovered during the one- and two-year warranty periods, but later become apparent and negatively impact the habitability of the home.

"For the first time in Texas, homeowners will know what to expect from their new home or remodeling project and how it should perform. By following these standards, builders will be able to improve the quality of construction," said Stephen D. Thomas, executive director. "The commission’s goal is for all home buyers in our state to be satisfied and confident in their decision to purchase or remodel their home."

The commission will use the standards when it considers post-construction disputes between builders and homeowners under the new state-sponsored inspection and dispute resolution process. This process must be undertaken before either party in a dispute can proceed with further legal action.

The development and implementation of the limited warranties and building and performance standards is one of the primary roles of the commission, which was created by the Legislature in 2003.

The standards were developed after months of research and input from consumers, builders, remodelers, associations and government and industry experts. Additionally, Texas A&M University’s Construction Science Department assisted the agency in the development and review of the standards.

Copies of the standards are available on the commission’s Web site, www.trcc.state.tx.us.

For more information please click here.

Dark skies and a threat of thunderstorms couldn't stop the annual golf tournament of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry-San Antonio Chapter.

"The weather probably kept some folks away,' Rudy Nino, chapter member services director. "But we're still seeing some good golf here today."

"We felt this was a way to get our builders, suppliers and contractors together to relax and network and to support a worthy cause," Nino said.
Among the day's competitors was Jeff Coyle, reporter and troubleshooter for WOAI-TV's News 4 San Antonio.

Proceeds from the event went to an education fund to educate consumers on remodeling and how to choose a professional contractor.

The San Antonio NARI chapter has 55 member companies and 20 supplier companies in the local area.

Tournament winners were:
1st place team:

• Dominick Along