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Random Reinspections Are Used To Check Contractors' Work
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Published: May 17, 2008
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TAMPA - My Safe Florida Home provides some oversight of its approved contractors through random reinspections and grant work inspections.
At least 5 percent of all completed projects must be reinspected, said Tami Torres, program administrator.
The program uses grant work inspections to randomly check gable end bracing work and to ensure improvements were properly made in cases in which a contractor didn't pull a permit or a homeowner alleged shoddy work.
Torres said 452 grant work inspections have been done.
In March, the program sent an inspector to evaluate work performed by Apollo Renovations and Development on My Safe Florida Home customer Jay Simon's Margate home.
The contractor had one complaint on file but remained active in the program.
"The cost to the homeowner for nailing 4 (four) 2x4s was $4,000. Well, at $1,000 per board, I think a rip-off took place here," Applied Research Associates inspector Steve Warter wrote in an e-mail after the inspection. "The state certified contractor not only ripped off the [homeowner], but did the job incorrectly, and the bracing was not needed."
Apollo Renovations and Development was removed from the list after the inspection.
Keith Powers of Apollo Renovations and Development referred questions to his attorney, William Hanlon of Tampa. Hanlon declined to comment.
Sometimes, however, the program doesn't take the advice of its inspectors.
In February, Applied Research and Associates sent an inspector to Dennis Fayant's house in Homestead.
Fayant had been told by his contractor not to reinforce two doors because they were hurricane-rated. But the inspector disagreed, saying the doors weren't hurricane-rated and should have been reinforced.
Grant applicants must reinforce all window or door openings to be reimbursed. Approved contractors are expected to know what is allowed and what must be done to get money back.
Antonio Bischoff, manager of A1 Sun Protection, said the homeowner has to read the grant documents. But if a customer asks to do less than what is required, Bischoff said he doesn't argue.
"If My Safe Florida Home requires 12 windows [and] you want to do 10, OK, fine," he said.
Rick Vaughn, director of building evaluations with Applied Research Associates, wrote an e-mail Feb. 11 to My Safe Florida Home officials asking that the contractor be investigated.
Two days later, Vaughn wrote another e-mail: "I hope this instance is isolated and does not reflect the level of knowledge of the majority of contractors working in the program. Please make it a priority to review the quality and competency of each MSFH-approved contractor working with this program. I plan to report all discrepancies found by our field inspectors concerning questionable decisions or business practices of MSFH approved contractors."
Torres said the program did not investigate, despite Vaughn's request. A1 Sun Protection remains active on the contractor's list.
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