spring issue
DESCRIPTION
Quarterly publication of the Bitterroot Building Industry AssociationTRANSCRIPT
2015 SPRING ISSUE
BITTERROOT BUILDING NEWSWe Build Community
Page 2 BBIA Newsletter
mbia Lobbying Saves you
PER HOUSE$19,761energy code coStS
2012 AMENDMENT MATERIAL COSTS LABOR COSTS TOTAL COSTS
R-5 Insulation defeated $1071 $1300 $2371
Air Exchanges & Blower Door Test PASSED $0 $200 $200
Duct Sealing PASSED n/a n/a n/a
Building Cavities as Ducts defeated - - $600
Hot Water Piping defeated $288 $175 $462
Total $1,359 $1,675 $3,634
reSidentiaL code coStS2012 AMENDMENT MATERIAL COSTS LABOR COSTS TOTAL COSTS
Stair Geometry defeated n/a n/a n/a
Guardrails defeated n/a n/a n/a
Foundation Anchorage defeated n/a n/a n/a
Window & Door Flashing defeated n/a n/a n/a
Construction Documents PASSED n/a $700 $700
Fire Protection For Floors defeated $644 $483 $1,127
Fire Separation Distance defeated n/a n/a n/a
Residential Fire Sprinklers defeated - - $15,000
Total $16,827
CONTENTSTHE BITTERROOT BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATION NEWS 4 A Word From Our President 5 Membership Minute * Spike Club - The true champions of the BBIA! Check out your current spike ranking and see how you stack up with your fellow members!
* View New & Renewing Members
6 BBIA Event Calendar View Upcoming Events & Committee Meetings
7 Member Spotlight We are featuring Fred’s Appliance.
8 Misc News * Showcase BBIA on HOUZZ * Bitterroot Tour of Homes
EDUCATION 13 11 Social Media Mistakes 14 GRIP Safety 15 HERS Training
STATE & NATIONAL UPDATE 16 2014 Housing Start Data 18 NAHB Online Course Schedule
Page 4 BBIA Newsletter
In the construction industry today so many of us wonder where to best put our marketing dollars to work, where do you get the best bang for the buck so to speak. Is it TV, radio, telemarketing, internet, trade shows, mailers, the paper... who knows. One technique is relationship marketing. What is relationship marketing? It is pretty simple really, it is a strategy designed to encourage strong long lasting connections between you and your customers. The goal is once you have developed a contact with your customer, you do a terrific job, end up with a great
end product, at a reasonable price that will generate repeat sales for you via word-of-mouth at little to no expense.
In the housing & trades industry very few purchases are impulsive, in-fact often they are very strategic, well thought out & entirely based off what other people say about their good or bad experiences. So to re-cap what are some keys to relationship marketing? Well just like every long lasting “relationship” Happy emotions, be sure to stay connected with your customers after the fact maybe send a birthday card what ever just do something. Stay visible & active in the community maybe volunteer or sit on a board or committee. And finally generate a data base so that you can track your customer tree as it grows.
A Word From Our President
Tom StringhamStringLine Design & Beck Builders
2015 BBIA President
Mission Statement
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Bitterroot Building Industry Association
“Serving to unify and enhance the building industry in the Bitterroot Valley through education, community involvement and
quality construction practices.”
BBIA Newsletter Page 5
BuildersD & N SidingKent Curtiss ConstructionKearns & Sons Pigman BuildersTurner Remodeling
AssociatesAlpine Granite AccentsDarby DistributionFirst American Title Co.Grizzly Garage DoorsHomestead ExteriorsJKL ElectricK Design MarketingKlassic KabinetsLynch InsulationMeridian DrywallPayneWest InsurancePurity Cleaning & RestorationWestern Montana Lighting
AffiliatesAngela Previte, Dig It Excavating, Inc.Dale Hanson, PayneWest InsuranceKelly Boroup, Quest Insulation
Anderson MasonryJoe Sansone
2630 West Broadway406-241-1110
Crist ConstructionKent Crist
PO Box 591Hamilton, MT 59840
406-369-5338
Dean Bauder ConstructionDean & Wendy Bauder
1114 South 3rd StHamilton, MT 59840
406-563-5365
Empire Landscaping, Inc.Bob Broughton
2259 Meridian RdVictor, MT 59875
PayneWest InsuranceJohn Hermes
2925 Palmer St, Ste BMissoula, MT 59808
Membership Minute
Royal Spikes (150-249)Chip Pigman 224
Red Spikes (100-149)Tom Vanorio 134.5
Green Spikes (50-99)Angela Previte 74.5
Willie Schrock 67
Ray Tipton 69
Life Spikes (25-49)George Bingham 29
Flora Buoy 29
Rich Sargent 29.75
Blue Spikes (6-24)Glen Barnhouse 16
Paul Beck 15.5
Chuck Garber 15.5
Dale Hanson 14.5
Tom Stringham 20.5
Caleb Tipton 10
By recruiting, involving and retaining members, SPIKES
strengthen and build both our Association and the Industry!!
Thank You to Our Renewing Members
1st Quarter 2015
I’m glad I got involved or I would have missed a world of opportunities. Being an ACTIVE member of my local Association gives me an edge over my competition and a forum to meet builders from my area. Each meeting held by the association is an opportunity to spend quality time with the
builders, and being present at those events is one of the greatest benefits of membership.
Welcome to Our New Members
1st Quarter 2015
CalendarApril 2015
May 2015
June 2015
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Page 6 BBIA Newsletter
16 BBIA Board Meeting 3pm
16 BBIA General Membership Meeting 6pm Big Sky Builders of Montana Office on Meridian
23 Tour of Homes Committee Meeting Noon at the BBIA Office
10 Happy Mother’s Day14 Tour of Homes Builder & Committee Meeting 11:30am BBIA Office Lunch Provided
14 BBIA Board Meeting 3pm
14 BBIA General Membership Meeting 6pm
15 Tour of Homes Entry Deadline; Homes entered after May 15th incur a late penalty.
20-27 BBIA Office Closed; Spring Nationals Lincoln, NE
4 Tour of Homes Builder & Committee Meeting Noon BBIA Office
18 BBIA Board Meeting 3pm
18 BBIA General Membership Meeting 6pm
21 Happy Father’s Day25 Ad Deadline for the Tour of Homes magazine. ALL ads must be received!!
25 Tour of Homes Committee Meeting Noon at the BBIA Office
July 2015 4 Happy 4th of July7 Tour of Homes Builder & Committee Meeting Noon BBIA Office
9-17 BBIA Office Closed; National Tour Packwood, WA
20 Taste of the Bitterroot Tour tickets go on sale!
23 BBIA Board Meeting 3pm
28 Tour of Homes Committee Meeting Noon at the BBIA Office
TBD BBIA Annual Golf Tournament, Stevensville
Member SpotlightASSOCIATION NEWS
BBIA Newsletter Page 7
Fred’s Appliance carries all the top brands of appliances. From your first home to your dream home, Fred’s is there for you. With Fred’s Appliance’s, well stocked local warehouses you can
get your new appliance the day you buy it. Since opening in 2013 in Missoula and Kalispell Fred’s Appliance has been welcomed by the community. Contact Wayne or Doug at your
Missoula store for all your appliance needs.
APPLIANCE
Providing banking solutions to build on!
Farmers State Bank
Member FDIC
www.farmersebank.com406-642-3431
GRIP OFFERS YOU...
■ FREE SAFETY TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS. Have GRIP safety personnel certify your employees for forklift, PAT, scaffolding and First Aid/CPR. Once a month a GRIP safety specialist conducts free 1-hour OSHA compliant safety meetings on a variety of useful topics. Training is hands-on, very informativeand is conducted in nine local association cities.
■ FREE ONSITE CONSULTATION TRAINING. GRIP safety consultants will come to you for any site specific training needs and can inspect your work site for hazards and/or any potential OSHA violations.
■ FREE WRITTEN SAFETY & HEALTH PROGRAMS.
GRIP offers written safety and health programs that can be tailored to fit your company.
For more information or for an application call: 406.442.4479
Page 8 BBIA Newsletter
ASSOCIATION NEWS
2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD
RAKE IN UP TO $6,000 IN SAVINGS. Example savings on a Silverado/Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab:
+$1,000Private Offer1
for NAHB Members
$4,000National Fleet Purchase Program (FVX)2
UP TO
=$1,000GM Accessory Cash Allowance3,4
$6,000In potential value
+
A private offer that will boost your bottom line.As the exclusive automotive manufacturer of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), we’re pleased to extend to our association members a private offer1 of up to $500 toward the purchase or lease of most new GM vehicles. NAHB members who are business owners can now qualify for up to $1,000 and also add on incentives from the National Fleet Purchase Program2 and Business Choice3 to get the best value on vehicles that run your business. To get this offer, just visit your local dealer, choose an eligible GM vehicle, and present your NAHB proof of membership form. For private offer details, visit nahb.org/gm.1Private offer amount varies by model. $500 offer for retail deliveries and up to $1,000 offer for fleet deliveries. Valid toward the purchase or lease of eligible 2013, 2014, and 2015 model-year vehicles. Customer must take delivery by 1/2/15. Not compatible with other private offers. Not valid on prior purchases. Compatible with many current incentives. Incentives are subject to change without notice. Excludes Buick Regal (2014); Chevrolet Corvette (2014), Sonic, Spark, SS, Volt; all Cadillac models. FAN number required. See dealer for complete details. 2Offer eligible for non-CAP customers only through 12/31/14. See dealer for details. 3To qualify, vehicle must be used in the day-to-day operation of the business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business. For complete program requirements, including information regarding offers, vehicles, equipment, options, warranties, and ordering, consult your dealer or visit gmbusinesschoice.com. Take delivery by 9/30/14.4Not valid with all offers. See dealer for details. Take delivery by 9/30/14. Amounts include parts and labor.©2014 General Motors. All rights reserved.
BBIA Newsletter Page 9
ASSOCIATION NEWS
It’s easy to showcase BITTERROOT BUILDING
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONHouzz has made it even easier to add our affiliation badge to your profile. Just visit our Houzz profile page: http://www.houzz.com/pro/bitterrootbia - and click “Add as Affiliation” under the Members area. Our logo will appear as an Affiliation on your profile.
Please add our badge so that you are listed in our chapter’s profile directory, which can increase your visibility on Houzz.
Houzz has become the leading online platform for home
remodeling and design. With more than 25 million homeowners using Houzz every month, we know that using Houzz can help you build your brand and grow your business. The Badge Program will let you showcase your professional affiliation right on your profile. If you don’t have a profile, you can create one at: http://www.houzz.com/pro
Bitterroot Tour of Homes Headed Your Way
Coming off a successful 20th Anniversary Tour last year, the 2015 Tour is shaping up to be our biggest event since 2008!
We have had several builders in our office with smiles and interest about the 2015 Tour. This more than most economic reports speaks volume to me about the health and return of the home
building industry in the Bitterroot Valley. In addition, we have had commitments from our devoted builders for homes this year, out pacing the BBIA Tour for entries at this time since I started in 2009.
I encourage you, that if you have not participated as a volunteer, advertiser or sponsor in the past,
this is a great year to consider jumping in! We need volunteers to help with the many events and aspects of the Tour, as well as advertisers and sponsors to ensure the sucsess of these events.
Join us as move ahead with the 2015 Bitterroot Tour of Homes August 21-23rd.
Page 10 BBIA Newsletter
BUILDER INFORMATION
COMPANY NAME ________________________________________
CONTACT PERSON ________________________________________
OFFICE PHONE _______________ CELL PHONE ________________
EMAIL _________________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS _______________________________________
CITY/STATE/ZIP __________________________________________
BUILDER WEB SITE WWW._________________________________
INSURANCE AGENT/AGENCY _______________________________
MONTANA CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION #____________________
HOME ENTRY INFORMATION ADDRESS _______________________________________________
CITY/STATE/ZIP __________________________________________
DEVELOPMENT NAME (IF APPLICABLE)
_______________________________________________________
STYLE OF HOME _________________________________________
# OF BEDROOMS ___________ # OF BATHROOMS _____________
# OF LEVELS ______________ TOAL SQUARE FEET ______________
VALUE OF THE HOME (EXCLUDING COST OF LAND) $_________________
DIRECTIONS TO HOME ______________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
ENTRY FEE: $1375 first entry, $975 each additional entry (Entry will not be processed without deposit payment. Deposit is non‐refundable after May 15th. Applications submitted after May 15th will be subject to an additional late entry fee of $375) Deposit due with this application; per home $500
Final Payment due by May 15th * Builder must be a BBIA Member in good standing. Non‐Members should
submit a member application in addition to the Entry Commitment. * Builders are responsible for attending the first builder meeting on Thursday, May 14th, 2015. As well as
additional meetings as scheduled. * A complete builder packet will be presented to each entrant which will include the 2015 Builder
Agreement, Homeowner Agreement, Important Dates/Deadlines and other important information for a successful Tour of Homes.
PLEASE COMPLETE ONE ENTRY FORM PER HOME. RETURN THIS FORM ALONG WITH DEPOSIT TO THE BBIA PO BOX 1299 HAMILTON, MT 59840. FULL BUILDER CONTRACT AND TOUR INFORMATION WILL BE MAILED UPON RECEIPT.
BENEFITS: Attendees personally experience your
craftsmanship and learn about your company in the best environment possible – one of your homes.
Over $20,000 worth of media advertising spent in the areas of TV, Radio, Direct Mail, Billboard, Newspaper, and online.
Two full pages in the Tour of Homes magazine featuring you, your company and your home along with your list of subcontractors & suppliers. The program will be distributed throughout the area and be available in each Tour Home.
Your home featured on our website www.BitterrootBIA.com as well as our custom Tour of Homes app
Directional signage provided to lead attendees to your home.
Rendering and professional photography of your home
4 complimentary tickets to the Builder Bus Tour & BBQ
Awards Luncheon
“TheamountofadvertisingandmarketingexposureacompanycangetintheTourof
Homesoutweighstheminimalcoststoenterbyhundreds,ifnotthousandsofdollars.”
‐SchrockConstruction
August15-18, 2013
TourÉy Homes™U|ààxÜÜÉÉà
Brought to you in part by:
Builder Entry Commitment August 21‐23rd, 2015
BBIA Newsletter Page 11
Contact InfoAngela Previte
BBIA406-375-9411
Kim KinsingerK Design Marketing
406-273-6193kim@kdesignmarketing.
com
DeadlinesSpace Reservation
June 25th
Ad Copy Deadline June 30th
Ad FilesAcceptable file formats include, PDF, EPS, JPG or
TIFF, 4 color images should be built in CMYK mode at
300 dpi.
The BBIA and K Design Marketing accept all advertising copy and
artwork from the advertiser and/or agency with the understanding that it is
authorized to publish the entire contents and
subject thereof.
Bitterroot Tourof Homes
2015 Magazine Ad Rates & Information
AD SIZES & RATES
BBIA Non Member MemberBack Cover (Full page w/ Bleed) 10.125 X 11.125 $1,500 N/AFull Page Ad (No Bleed) 9.25 X 10.125 $1,150 $1,3501/2 Page Vertical 4.5 X 10.125 $ 795 $ 9451/2 Page Horizontal 9.25 X 4.94 $ 795 $ 945 1/4 Page 4.5 X 4.94 $ 495 $ 6451/8 Page 4.5 X 2.35 $ 295 $ 445
BECOME A SUPPORTER!! Save 20% off your ad when you purchase your tickets in advance for the Taste of the Bitterroot Tour.
Taste of the Bitterroot $35 each __________
Advertising Commitment
Back Cover 1/2 Page Horizontal 1/2 Page Vertical Full Page 1/4 Page 1/8 Page
Interested in Sponsorship Opportunities? See our 2015 Sponsorship Brochure for benefit and marketing information!! Contact the BBIA Office at 375-9411Company ______________________________________________________________________________
Contact Name _________________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________________
City ______________________________________________ State __________ Zip___________
Phone___________________________________ Email ____________________________________
Ad Layout I will supply an ad created to the specs listed above and provided in the accepted file format by June 30th. Please contact me about creating an ad for my business.
All Payments are due in Full by June 25th. Submit payment (check, Visa or Mastercard) to the BBIA PO Box 1299 Hamilton, MT 59840
Signature _________________________________________________ Date _____________________
Page 12 BBIA Newsletter
BBIA Newsletter Page 13
Page 14 BBIA Newsletter
EDUCATION
11 Social Media MistakesAre You Avoiding Them All?By Chad Davis, NAHB, Senior Director, Online Services & Digital Media
In the early days of social media, brands explored the bounds of what consumers would tolerate in interacting with a company online. What emerged was a set of best practices grounded in user engagement. Although social media platforms are constantly evolving, we can now see that there are some fundamental guidelines that brands should adhere to when adding social media to their marketing mix. Below are 11 of the most common mistakes that companies involved with social media make. Any one of them may not be a fatal flaw, but in combination they begin to magnify each other.
MISTAKE #1:Avoiding Social Media Because It’s Too Hard Humans are social creatures, so the best rule of thumb for launching your company into social media is to be human. Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from exploring these opportunities. If you are judicious and deliberate in your approach, it needn’t be harder than any other marketing challenge. That’s not to say that it doesn’t require work and that there aren’t some key concepts to master, but social media isn’t calculus or microeconomics.
MISTAKE #2:Not Knowing Where You Brand is OnlineMost people assume that if they have not started any social media accounts for their brand, that none exist. But LinkedIn and Yelp are two examples of platforms that may have your business listed – even if you never listed it
yourself. Does your company have a Wikipedia entry? Did LinkedIn create a page for your company? Have people pinned anything from your website? When kicking off your social media strategy (and periodically thereafter) scan and see where your brand lives online.
MISTAKE #3:Thinking Social Media Can Replace Your Website or BlogSocial media platforms can change the rules of their game at any time. What works for you today may not work for you tomorrow, and when you put all of your marketing focus on a platform you don’t ultimately control, bad things can happen. Instead, opt for a hub and spoke model. That hub should be a platform over which you have almost total control (i.e., your website or blog), and your social media channels should be the tools to drive traffic (and hopefully customers) to your site.
MISTAKE #4:Not Having Goals for Your Social MediaWhile the measure for success for social media may be different than for other marketing strategies, you should still have SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals for your social media. These goals should be an extension of your overarching marketing plan, your company’s strategic plan, or, at the very least, an extension of your business goals.
MISTAKE #5:Not Measuring Your Progress Once you have those goals, it’s crucial that you measure your progress toward them. Most social media platforms have
some form of analytics and you should take advantage of those to determine if your posts are helping you meet your goals. Also, Google Analytics recently expanded its social media tracking capabilities. Make sure to take full advantage of all this service offers.
MISTAKE #6:Giving Up Too SoonAs anyone who has ever moved knows, establishing yourself in a new community takes time. And what takes the most time is building trust. The same is true online. The rule of thumb is that it takes at least 18 months for a social media strategy to deliver consistent results. In part, this is because social media is a numbers game and it takes time to build up a rich network of followers on any platform.
MISTAKE #7:Spreading Yourself Too ThinNewsflash: unless you’re doing this full time, you can’t do it all and do it well. On top of maintaining a website or blog, there are at least five key social media platforms in which you can engage right now. When starting out, it is easy to get excited and open up accounts across multiple platforms. However what works best for each platform varies. If you want to do social media right, start slowly. Pick one platform, and when you feel like you have it under control, pick another. The time between those two could be a week or a year. Also, resist the urge to link up accounts. Posting once across all platforms should be done sparingly, because social media users view it like cutting a corner.
EDUCATION
MISTAKE #8:Not Having a Content StrategyOne way to help stay the course with social media and not overex-tend yourself is to implement a con-tent strategy. Like your social media strategy, your content strategy should stem directly from your business goals or strategic plan and should extend to your website, blog and offline marketing initiatives. Start by outlining your goals and figur-ing out which content works best each platform. From there, determine where you will source your content from, and decide how much of that content will be created by you versus curated from oth-ers in your industry or community. Most importantly, set up a content calendar that allows to you plan your posts over time.
MISTAKE #9:Making it All About YouNo one likes to be in a room with some-one who only talks about themselves. The same is true in social media. The general guideline in social media is to follow an 80/20 rule. Only talk about yourself 20% of the time and spend the remaining 80% talking about your industry, your community and the great people or companies with whom you have the good fortune to work.
MISTAKE #10:Not Understanding Your Platform of ChoiceAs social media platforms face increas-ing pressure to make a profit, they are evolving in ways that impact your ability to reach your followers. The mathemati-cal soul of any social media platform is its algorithm for surfacing content to its users. You have to understand how these platforms choose to show your content to truly understand which platform is
best for you. For example, Facebook publicly states that the average post only reaches about 10% of a page’s total followers. Under-standing the nuanc-es of each platform will help you set realistic goals and get the maximum
value out of the time spent marketing via that platform.
MISTAKE #11:Not Having a Social Media PolicyFor both large and small companies, establishing rules for how your brand will be represented and interact with oth-ers online is extremely important. Like any written policy, it protects your brand and your employees. Even if you are an army of one, having a social media policy helps you determine how you will handle negative situations before they arise, and defend your response by showing fore-thought and not a reaction in the heat of the moment.
But don’t just take my word for it...Here are some other lists worth consid-ering from around the web:
“Top Social Media Mistakes, According to the Experts” by Baochi Nguyenhttp://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/top-social-media-mistakes-according-to-the-experts/
“10 Social Media Mistakes Small Businesses Can Avoid” by Pamela Springerhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/
ciocentral/2011/08/04/10-social-media-mistakes-small-businesses-can-avoid/
“The Seven Biggest, Counterintuitive Social Media Mistakes You May Be Mak-ing” by Belle Beth Cooperhttp://blog.bufferapp.com/7-big-social-media-mistakes-and-the-counterintu-itive-advice-that-can-help-you-avoid-them
“Top 10 Mistakes Businesses Make on Social Media” by Scott Ayreshttp://www.postplanner.com/top-10-mistakes-businesses-make-on-social-media/
“10 Mistakes We’ve All Made on Social Media (and How to Fix Them)” by Al-bert Costillhttp://www.searchenginejournal.com/10-mistakes-weve-made-social-media-fix/91549/
“The Seven Biggest Mistakes in Social Media Marketing (and How to Avoid Them)” by Krista Neherhttp://www.clickz.com/clickz/col-umn/2224663/the-7-biggest-mistakes-in-social-media-marketing-and-how-to-avoid-them
“10 Biggest Social Media Mistakes Com-panies Make” by Megan Berberichhttp://drakejournalism.com/socialclass/2014/01/21/10-biggest-social-media-mistakes-companies-make/
BBIA Newsletter Page 15
GRIP Safety
Page 16 BBIA Newsletter
EDUCATION
Free OSHA Posters & Publications
Mike RocchioGRIP Safety Program
We continue to receive calls and complaints from employers who have received “official looking” an-nouncements and in some cases threatening notices, messages, or telephone calls from various companies requiring that employers pur-chase OSHA documents from them in order to remain in compliance with OSHA rules and regu-lations. The most popular document being offered for sale is the OSHA Work-place Poster.We have also learned of a few cases in which indi-viduals; falsely identify them-selves as Department of Labor or OSHA employees, contact employ-ers threatening fines if they do not purchase specific materials.
It’s important that all employers do not become victim of misleading solicitation practices or incur unnec-essary costs.OSHA’s publications and posters are available free to anyone simply by visiting the publications page on OSHA.gov. The publications,
posters, fact sheets, etc., can be ordered through the publications of-fice or, in most cases, downloaded directly from the Web site. As a reminder, employers are
required to continu-ally display a poster pre-pared by the Department of Labor that informs employees of protections afforded under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The poster must be dis-played in a conspicuous place where employees can view it. Private em-
ployers may use the poster avail-able from OSHA’s Web site.
Please don’t become of a victim of these companies deceptive prac-tices charging for documents that are FREE to you. Please do not hesitate to contact the Montana Building industry association with any questions or concerns that you might have at (406)442-4479.
BBIA Newsletter Page 17
OSHA to Inspect Trenches and Excavations
EDUCATION
Because of the continuing incidence of trench collapses and accompanying loss of life, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have determined that an increased enforcement presence at worksites where such operations are being conducted is warranted.Trenching and excavation work creates hazards which can be extremely dangerous to workers. Compliance with OSHA construction standards applicable to such operations is frequently bypassed due to budget or time constraints. A belief that compliance is unnecessary or that the short term project will go undetected give operators the excuse they need to forego safe work practices. Most employers do not adhere to shoring or sloping requirements.
Currently OSHA is conducting an emphasis program in the area of excavations. OSHA compliance officers have been instructed to be on the “lookout” for trenching or excavation jobsites. Each observation will possibly be noted and possibly inspected. Even if work is not in progress at the time of the observation, citations could be written for violations present at the site.
If the trench is less than 5’ deep or work is in compliance with OSHA standards, an inspection will not be conducted.
Do you have a certified “Competent Person” or person with professional degree on site? Does your crew use a trench box or do you bench the trench walls back? Do you have a ladder or other means of access and escape within 25 feet of
every worker in an excavation? Do you have a competent person plan, inspect, correct and record actions at the start of every shift? What soil class has your competent person deemed present at the project A, B, C, stable rock?
If you are unsure on the complex OSHA requirements governing trenches and excavations please do not hesitate to contact us.
Page 18 BBIA Newsletter
EDUCATION
WHEN: May 11-15, 2015 8am - 5pm; the National Rater Exam will be administered from 3-5pm Friday. The CAZ online exam will be scheduled later at a date and test proctoring site of your choosing.
WHERE: Best Western Grant Creek Inn, Missoula 5280 Grant Creek Rd (406) 543-0700
COST: $1500 per person for training. Participants who intend to operate in the NorthWestern Energy utility service area are eligible for a reduced registration fee of $500. No exam costs are included in the training fee. If you would like to take the test you willuse your credit card to pay RESNET $100 for the online test before testing begins.
TO REGISTER: Go to the NCAT website www.NCAT.org. On the top of the screen click on “Energy” and then on “Residential Energy Services.” From there you can go to the NCAT Training and events registration page (https://www.ncat.org/events/). Under events select “Home Energy Rater and Energy Star for New Home Training” and choose the appropriate training date. The training session will be limited to 12 people.
For more inforamtion about the training contact Dale Horton via email [email protected] or by phone at 406-494-8653.
BBIA Newsletter Page 19
STATE & NATIONAL UPDATE
Montana Single Family Housing Starts 2014
County Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2014 2013 2012 Comparison to 2013 Comparison to 2006Beaverhead 4 0 1 2 4 2 4 1 7 5 6 4 40 43 33 -‐7.0% -‐33.3%Big Horn 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 8 9 10 -‐11.1% -‐57.9%Blaine 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 7 13 0 1 -‐ 1200.0%Broadwater 3 1 0 2 2 5 2 2 5 4 1 0 27 10 23 170.0% -‐63.0%Carbon 0 0 5 1 5 4 5 4 3 9 3 2 41 44 43 -‐6.8% -‐60.6%Carter 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 1 -‐60.0% 0.0%Cascade 15 1 5 3 11 8 5 9 9 8 7 4 85 56 61 51.8% -‐15.0%Great Falls 4 10 3 4 3 8 7 10 7 7 10 5 78 61 44 27.9% -‐59.4%Choteau 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 0 2 0 1 9 6 8 50.0% 28.6%Custer 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 0 1 0 11 11 22 0.0% -‐56.0%Daniels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 4 5 -‐50.0% 0.0%Dawson 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 4 0 1 1 11 12 17 -‐8.3% 37.5%Deer Lodge 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 1 5 1 1 0 15 13 10 15.4% -‐42.3%Fallon 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 7 4 6 75.0% 40.0%Fergus 1 1 4 0 2 2 4 0 4 4 3 1 26 23 31 13.0% -‐40.9%Flathead 20 26 33 42 62 59 65 43 59 61 36 30 536 512 299 4.7% -‐50.5%Gallatin 36 14 28 44 48 42 46 46 37 97 32 45 515 365 270 41.1% -‐15.4%Belgrade 0 3 0 10 3 7 0 3 8 2 4 7 47 44 10 6.8% -‐33.8%Bozeman 18 9 29 33 34 47 50 27 17 29 15 16 324 432 282 -‐25.0% 33.9%Garfield 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 2 3 150.0% -‐28.6%Glacier 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 3 -‐80.0% -‐83.3%Golden Valley 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 100.0% -‐60.0%Granite 2 0 0 1 1 1 4 4 3 2 4 1 23 17 16 35.3% -‐32.4%Hill 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 3 2 2 1 0 12 10 13 20.0% -‐42.9%Jefferson 4 0 4 1 4 6 10 10 4 6 3 2 54 55 51 -‐1.8% -‐46.5%Judith Basin 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 7 6 3 16.7% 250.0%Lake 2 3 6 8 4 2 6 5 5 2 4 2 49 63 63 -‐22.2% -‐69.0%Lewis & Clark 11 8 14 27 22 20 24 14 12 29 12 10 203 257 212 -‐21.0% -‐48.7%Helena 0 3 2 4 9 6 2 4 6 5 2 5 48 60 67 -‐20.0% -‐53.4%Liberty 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 100.0% 100.0%Lincoln 4 4 7 11 6 18 17 10 14 15 9 6 121 139 115 -‐12.9% -‐49.6%Madison 4 1 1 2 5 4 6 4 1 2 5 5 40 48 57 -‐16.7% -‐76.2%McCone 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 6 4 5 50.0% 100.0%Meagher 0 0 0 3 0 2 2 1 0 2 0 1 11 16 8 -‐31.3% -‐26.7%Mineral 0 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 9 10 19 -‐10.0% -‐82.0%Missoula Cnty. 1 1 11 16 32 32 11 12 18 14 8 6 162 80 98 102.5% -‐34.7%Missoula City 4 7 15 14 24 19 13 11 16 12 9 11 155 144 115 7.6% -‐50.0%Musselshell 0 2 0 1 2 0 1 1 2 2 0 3 14 13 14 7.7% -‐33.3%Park 5 1 3 4 10 13 10 8 6 11 4 1 76 62 79 22.6% -‐58.5%Petroleum 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 -‐75.0% -‐66.7%Phillips 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 0 0 8 5 6 60.0% 33.3%Pondera 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 7 6 7 16.7% 75.0%Powder River 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 5 1 -‐40.0% 50.0%Powell 1 0 3 1 1 4 3 0 2 6 1 0 22 12 5 83.3% -‐12.0%Prairie 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 6 -‐50.0% -‐50.0%Ravalli 10 8 9 14 24 14 17 18 19 14 16 10 173 137 85 26.3% -‐57.0%Richland 2 1 0 2 1 2 3 5 7 3 1 1 28 33 45 -‐15.2% 154.5%Roosevelt 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 7 10 27 -‐30.0% 75.0%Rosebud 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 11 11 -‐63.6% -‐42.9%Sanders 1 0 3 3 10 6 5 2 9 6 1 2 48 47 43 2.1% -‐68.2%Sheridan 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 4 5 6 -‐20.0% -‐Silverbow/Butte2 0 1 6 3 6 4 4 0 5 1 2 34 48 55 -‐29.2% -‐37.0%Stillwater 2 2 1 4 7 6 5 8 5 4 3 2 49 69 41 -‐29.0% -‐45.6%Sweetgrass 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 2 1 1 1 10 9 7 11.1% -‐66.7%Teton 2 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 9 14 -‐11.1% -‐74.2%Toole 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 3 14 0.0% 0.0%Treasure 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 2 -‐75.0% -‐Valley 0 1 2 0 2 2 0 1 4 1 0 1 14 21 13 -‐33.3% 16.7%Wheatland 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 5 -‐71.4% 0.0%Wibaux 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 -‐ -‐Yellowstone 6 6 14 26 20 20 34 16 19 33 5 7 206 246 192 -‐16.3% -‐10.4% Billings 20 12 36 37 32 29 42 38 29 56 29 32 392 409 355 -‐4.2% -‐6.4%
Total 191 127 248 372 391 384 402 386 360 475 244 241 3821 3749 3062 1.9% -‐38.7%
County figures represent housing starts in unincorporated areas. Aggregate county totals are determined by adding together city and county numbers.
Total does not include new homes built within city limits of Belt, Big Sandy, Broadus, Chester, Chinook, Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Darby, Deer Lodge, East Helena, Forsyth, Fort Benton, Glasgow, Glendive, Hamilton, Harding, Harlem, Havre, Hot Springs, Hysham, Laurel, Lewistown, Libby, Livingston, Malta, Miles City, Pinedale, Plains, Polson, Red Lodge, Ronan, Roundup, St. Ignasius, Shelby, Sidney, Stevensville, Three Forks, Townsend, Troy, West Yellowstone, Wolf Point.
STATE & NATIONAL UPDATE
NAHB EducationLive Online Course Schedule for 2015Members who are interested in working towards a designation, such as Certified Graduate Builder or Certified Graduatae Remodeler, or who need to take continuing education credits to maintain their designation, may do so now thanks to a series of live, online webinars.
All webinars are slated to occur from 11am - 1pm MST. Registration for these courses
is available at www.nahb.org/elearning.
The courses selected for delivery in this format are scheduled as follows:Marketing & Sales for Building ProfessionalsApril 7, 14, & 21
Estimating for Building ProfessionalsMay 5, 12, & 19
Project ManagementJune 9, 16 & 23
Financial ManagementNovember 3, 10, & 17
Advanced Green Building: Project ManagementDecember 1, 8 & 15
Page 20 BBIA Newsletter
Right now here in Montana our legislature is back in session and the Montana Building Industry Association is working hard to make sure the voice of building industry professionals is being heard. We are dedicated to promoting and protecting the building industry and your business here in The Treasure State.
One of the best tools we have in our toolbox is the NAHB BUILD-PAC. By becoming a BUILD-PAC member, you are helping to secure the foundation of the housing industry for future generations.
Lock in Your Vote for Housing, Join the BUILD-PAC Community by contacting the BBIA Office Today!!
BBIA Newsletter Page 21
NAHB WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED$6,882
Add up the dollar value of NAHB’s advocacy victories and you’re talking real money – an average of $6,882 per housing start for a typical home builder in 2014. That’s a big number, and a big step toward success. Below are selected advocacy victories in 2014.
$767Extending energy tax
credits stimulates new construction and
remodeling.
$1,125Homeowner Flood
Insurance Affordability Act saves business
for builders and remodelers.
$510Delayed Affordable
Care Act requirements saves costs for the building industry.
$347Extending mortgage
insurance tax deduction preserves
new home sales.
These numbers represent the value
per housing start a typical builder will see as a result of
key NAHB advocacy victories in 2014. Some
members will experience more of these benefits
than others.
Learn more at
valueofnahb.org
$808U.S. Supreme Court Clean Air Act ruling benefits multifamily
builders.
Page 22 BBIA Newsletter
THIS & THAT
2015 BBIA Board of Directors & Leadership PresidentTom Stringham, StringLine Design
1st Vice President Lester Gerber, Quest Enterprises
TreasurerGeorge Bingham, Bingham & Associates, CPAs
Immediate Past PresidentCaleb Tipton, Big Sky Builders of Montana, Inc.s
DirectorsPaul Beck, Beck Builders
Rod Turner, Turner Remodeling
Patrick DeBuff, The Closet Guy
State DirectorsState Life Director . . . . . . Tom Vanorio
State Life Director . . . . . . Chip Pigman
State Director . . . . . . George Bingham
State Director . . . . . . Willie Schrock
State Director . . . . . . Tom Stringham
NAHB DirectorsNational Life Director. . . . Tom Vanorio
National Builder Rep . . . Chip Pigman
Alternate Builder Rep . . . Paul Beck
BBIA CommitteesHome & Ranch Expo . . Vacant
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . Ray Tipton
Membership . . . . . . . . . . Paul Beck
Tour of Homes . . . . . . . . Vacant
Government Affairs . . . . . Tom Stringham
Golf Tournament . . . . . . Lester Gerber
Helping Hands . . . . . . . Rod Turner
Trap Shoot . . . . . . . . . . George Bingham
FULL PAGE $951/2 PAGE $751/4 PAGE $55BUSINESS CARD $25
The Bitterroot Building News is published quarterly and distributed to BBIA Members in print format as well as published online.
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING
The Bitterroot Building Industry Association is located at215 Marcus, Suite 105Hamilton, MT 59840406-375-9411www.BitterrootBIA.cominfo@bitterrootbia.comOffice Hours: Monday - Wednesday 9-2:30pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Closed Fridays
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