Bouquet Pools

Thanks to Rob at www.aphotofolio.com my website (www.bouquetpools.com) now has a mirror site that is optimized for iPad!!
The announcement from Rob…
“All A Photo Folio websites come packaged with a custom designed iPad site built using HTML5. We are committed to delivering exceptional websites on all platforms, that’s why we were the first and are currently the only portfolio website design company to deliver this for the iPad.”
As if having an awesome site out of the box with a separate site for iPhone wasn’t enough… aPhotoFolio now delivers iPad support – I highly recommend that everyone check out our site from iPad and check out aphotofolio if you are thinking about building a portfolio based website.

You heard me – if you’ve been thinking about putting in a swimming pool or renovating the yard, I am about to tell you how you can do it for FREE!

You’ve all heard about the landscaper that builds pools or the “designer” that will help you build your pool as an “owner builder” but I bet you were not aware that these same people can help you build your dream project for absolutely nothing.
In California it is illegal to build anything valued over $500 without a valid contractors license in the classification of the work performed. Contracts executed by unlicensed contractors (aka designers) or contractors advertising out of classification are not even worth the paper that they are printed on – in fact a quick google search of the Business and Professions Code of CA confirms that homeowners have actually done projects with unlicensed or out of classification contractors and then upon completion (even if the project is perfect) sued the “contractor” for the total value of the contract – and were successful. So if you have the stomach for a little litigation and don’t mind rolling the dice on a questionable contractor, this could be your opportunity to upgrade your yard at absolutely no cost (obviously this is not formal legal advice – if you have any questions, call your attorney)

Case in Point:

This contractor is clearly advertising Swimming Pools despite the written classifications noted in the advertisement itself. C27 is a Landscaping license and C29 is a Masonry license – neither license will allow you to legally build a swimming pool in California. Another tactic – the years of experience statement – in this case “Over 25 years of Experience”. A quick check of the license number reveals that it was originally issued in 1993 (17 years ago). In fact, as of the date of writing this blog this particular license is currently suspended (please visit the CSLB site for more details).

In conclusion, unless you are on the “free pool” program, you need to fully investigate your contractor and his/her claims regarding licensing, classification and workers compensation insurance. The CSLB website has very detailed information HERE and a few references don’t hurt either.

By now you must be wondering when I will have some GOOD news to report…
I was just informed by the City of Santa Clarita that they have just adopted portions of the 2007 California Building Code which pertain to swimming pools/spas. I am going to cherry pick and paraphrase – if you are interested in the exact wording, please refer to CBC2007 section 3109 (be careful, everything up to 3109.4.4 deals with State mandates, everything after that refers specifically to single family residences):

Guardian removable fencing is now approved as a barrier.
Swimming pool alarms are now approved (in lieu of door alarms at the house).

Why is this important? For starters, in the past if you wanted to have mesh removable fencing you would also have to comply with the door alarm and fencing requirements. This code change will allow you to install removable fencing without having to shell out the money for door alarms or modifying your existing gates (especially those of you who want RV gates, the current code does not allow gates greater than 48″ wide – install removable fencing around the pool and you won’t have to worry about it!).
This also eases the burden of installing (and maintaining) door alarms inside the house on ALL doors that lead to the pool area. A lot of people take matters into their own hands and remove or disable the door alarms due to the irritation factor – now you can have a little more piece of mind knowing that you are legal in unlikely event of a tragedy.

Contact me if you would like more information!

The City has decided that the demands of the County Health department were ridiculous and we were finally issued the permit.
Let the construction begin…

Still no word from the City Manager or the head of Building and Safety (I don’t think he actually exists) yet I am still optimistic.

Still no resolution from the City –
It’s hard enough to find work in this economy, does the County Health Department really need to make things this difficult???

Well…. The Department of Urban Forestry managed to take time out of their busy day (Santa Clarita is heavily forested) and give me over the phone approval.
I wish I could say the same for the Sanitation inspector who is requiring the following conditions to be met for a swimming pool installation:
1. Homeowner must demo his existing patio to show the inspector the exact location of the septic tank (about $2,000 expense to homeowner).
2. Homeowner must expose the line that runs from the septic tank to the leech field, then expose both ends of the leech field. (about another $2,000 expense to homeowner).
3. Homeowner must remove the existing patio cover which happens to be within 5′ of the septic tank – both of which have been in the same place since 1968 with no problem or violation to pre-existing code (ANOTHER $4,000 to demo and rebuild the cover).
4. Homeowner MAY be required to perform a perc test to make sure the soil will continue to percolate. No idea what that will cost but I am assuming it isn’t cheap.

The moral of the story? The City is now apparently in the position of ordering homeowners to upgrade their yard from pre-existing code to new code while holding new construction hostage. In this market and economic time, you would think that they would be promoting new construction and permit revenue, but that just doesn’t seem to be the case.

***EDIT*** I almost forgot to add the $450 plan check and ‘investigation’ fee that the Sewer inspector informed me I would have to pay before he comes out again. $450 for plan check and inspection and we are not altering, changing, removing, relocating or even working remotely near the septic tank. ***EDIT***

Meeting today at the residence with the L.A. County Sewer District permit guy to look around.
Apparently if you own a home with a septic tank, you are NOW required to have enough room on your property to install a completely redundant NEW tank AND leechfield.
Hopefully he finds enough area on the one acre property to allocate for a new 15′x40′ leechfield….
No word back yet from the Department of Urban Forestry despite daily messages – He must really be behind because his greeting states that he will be out of the office from May 11 – May 12.
Tax money HARD at work.

Still no word from the “Department of Urban Forestry” (I still can’t get over how ridiculous that sounds).
Looks like the Oak Trees in Placerita Canyon are in mortal danger from this proposed hole in the ground.

In other news our project in the City of L.A. is very close to receiving it’s final 3 inspections – All it took was a bunch of extra money and 25 inspections.

I could not be more frustrated with {insert City name} building department – Am I out of my mind or should service actually be getting better when the demand slows down??

I challenge anyone who reads this to attempt to get a building permit for ANYTHING right now and forward me the story of your experience.

I am currently on day 10 of getting a permit in the City of (insert name). Simple swimming pool and spa in Placerita Canyon – has no oak trees on the actual property and has a septic tank instead of a connection to City sewer line. Read the rest of this entry »