Journal of Light Construction: Coastal Contractor Codes & Regulations

Florida County Counts 1,900 Chinese Drywall Houses

Sun, 26 May 2013 02:36:39 EST

Lee County, Florida has 1,900 Chinese drywall-tainted houses on its tax rolls (officially). The true number is uncertain.

BP Oil Spill Effects Linger in the Gulf

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:55:06 EST

The oil stopped flowing two years ago. Much of the money hasn’t started flowing yet. And the Gulf Coast, some reports say, is still hurting from the effects of BP’s disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform blowout.

Fixing Chinese Drywall: A Tampa Builder Hits Top Gear

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 02:29:53 EST

Carelessness helped create Florida’s Chinese drywall disaster. Cleaning it up is a job for a very careful builder.

Watching the Money: Post-Sandy, Authorities Eye Fraud and Mismanagement

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:24:57 EST

From small-time scams to major misappropriation of relief money, government is on the lookout for crooked use of rebuilding funds.

NFIP Demands its Money Back from Flooded Staten Island Homeowner

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 03:55:56 EST

The NFIP paid a Staten Island homeowner $10,000 for flood damage to her first floor. Now they say the space was a basement — and they want their money back.

After Sandy, a Debate about Dunes in New Jersey

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 07:55:59 EST

Sand dunes saved some houses from Sandy's storm surge. But some beachfront homeowners still won't sign off on raising the dunes.

New York Issues Tickets to Beach Walkers, Taxes Rebuilders

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 10:23:13 EST

“I cried all the way home,” said Staten Island homeowner Emilya Malkin after encountering New York City Parks Police on the beach near her house. Malkin says police threatened her family with arrest as she strolled with her husband and children.

On a Florida Beach, a Tree House Crosses the Line

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:40:41 EST

If you want to know how big a deal coastal construction and zoning regulations can be, you don’t have to look further than the tree house at Angelinos Sea Lodge, a bed-and-breakfast getaway at Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island, Fla.

Negligence? Or Gross Negligence? Federal Trial Starts in BP Gulf Oil Spill

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:41:29 EST

BP and its partners in the oil platform are facing a civil trial in a New Orleans federal courtroom, as Gulf Coast states and the U.S. government seek to recover the costs of the cleanup, compensation for economic and environmental damage, and likely additional penalties for negligence.

Baton Rouge Builder Jailed on Felony Charge for Nonpayment of Subs

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:42:03 EST

Baton Rouge police have leveled felony theft charges against a Louisiana builder after more than 30 unpaid trade contractors filed liens against four homeowners.

Judge Okays Huge Settlement in Chinese Drywall Suits

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:35:48 EST

Federal Judge Eldon E. Fallon has okayed a massive settlement that will cover thousands of houses whose value was degraded by sulfurous emissions seeping out of contaminated Chinese-made drywall.

Ex-NOLA Mayor Ray Nagin Indicted on Corruption Charges

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:38:23 EST

Ray Nagin, who was the mayor of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina flooded the city, has been indicted by federal prosecutors for alleged corruption during his term as mayor.

Following FEMA Rules, Florida Keys Building Officials Deny Downstairs Apartment

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:38:58 EST

A personal hardship is not enough to justify enclosed living space to be allowed below the flood elevation, Monroe County, Fla., commissioners ruled in early January. The reason: FEMA has advised the county that permitting construction below the flood line jeopardizes the whole county’s access to flood insurance.

Congress Passes Measure to Regulate Chinese Drywall

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 03:29:31 EST

Congress has passed a bill that limits the amount of sulfur permissible in wallboard products.

Southern Pine Grade Changes: Action Coming Soon?

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 03:07:31 EST

Authorities may come to a final decision this month about new design values for Southern Pine lumber.

After Repeat Floods, Rebuilding Better

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:29:36 EST

Rebuilding will not mean simply putting back what was there — in many cases, homes will have to comply with tougher standards than before.

Oh, Can You Get Stucco?

Fri, 7 Dec 2012 04:50:01 EST

Buyers recruited at get-rich-quick seminars like this bought Myrtle Beach properties at inflated prices using sketchy documentation, then defaulted, banks alleged.

South Carolina Economy: Resting on Defense

Fri, 7 Dec 2012 04:50:15 EST

South Carolina's coast has some good markets for homebuilding

FEMA Audit Questions Florida Non-Profit's Wind Retrofit Work

Fri, 7 Dec 2012 04:50:28 EST

A Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's audit of the non-profit's practices says that Rebuild Northwest Florida paid a hand-picked contractor too much to manage the work.

Chinese Drywall: Taishan On the Hook for Bad Drywall, Judges Rule

Fri, 7 Dec 2012 04:50:45 EST

Another Chinese drywall maker must face Florida and Virginia state court jurisdiction in lawsuits over defective drywall, Federal and state courts have ruled this month.