Florida Construction Law

The number of Chicago homes that got solar installations in 2015 almost tripled from 2014, with 80 new locations. Roughly 2,100 people registered with Solar Chicago, a company that helps property owners buy solar panels in bulk to reduce costs. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Researchers have created a glass coating for solar panels that allows it to absorb light from many angles and repels dust. The coating consists of fused-silica packaging glass with nanorod structures and honeycomb-shaped nanowalls. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

The Boys Town village near Omaha, Neb., is getting replacements for hail-damaged terra cotta roof tiles on 27 buildings for $3.1 million. Renaissance Roofing is performing the repairs using handmade tiles shipped from Turkey. The contractor specializes in historic buildings. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized New York's Tompkins County as a Green Power Partner thanks in part to its use of rooftop solar. The county generates more than 84,000 kilowatt hours of green electricity each year with a 147-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system on its library. Other initiatives include installing solar panels on almost all county facilities and becoming a leader for the state in installed solar capacity. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Arched roof trusses were recently put into place on North Dakota State University's new Aquatic Center. The $11 million project is close to being completed. The facility, which is nearly enclosed now, is set to open next summer. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

The 2016 Dodge Construction Outlook estimates that commercial construction will increase 11% next year, compared with a 4% increase this year. Multifamily housing, which was up 18% this year, will fall back, likely increasing a more modest 7%. Construction of religious buildings was up 2.3% this year and could increase 3.2% next year, according to the report. However, construction of manufacturing plants will likely decline, while public works projects will be little changed. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

William Niendorff, an alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin, is researching ball moss as a potential green roof material. "One of the greatest things about [the plants] is that they don't need soil at all, which means that if you're using them for a type of green wall or green roof, you don't have to worry about that extra weight on the structure," Niendorff said. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Eighty-three construction projects in Boston worth $7 billion are changing the city. The work signals a demographic shift, as populations move to the core of the city. Projects include apartment buildings, retail space and hotels. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

The Akron, Ohio, Department of Planning and Urban Development announced an emergency roofing repair program that will provide grants and deferred loans to residents with leaky roofs. Homeowners can use the funds for roofing, sheeting, downspouts and gutters if they qualify. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Construction crews are continuing work on the retractable roof over the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center's Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, N.Y. These photos capture the project from a variety of vantage points. The roof should be completed in 2016. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Over the last 18 years, the value added by the private construction industry as a percentage of real (inflation-adjusted) national gross domestic product declined from a high of 6.17% in 1997 to a low of 3.66% in 2014 (the latest year for which annual data are available). Prior to 2014, the previous low percentage of GDP for the construction industry was 3.7% in 2011, inching up to 3.77% in 2012 and 2013 as both economic and construction activity increased. Although not included in these figures, the U.S. economy also benefits from purchases related to construction projects, such as equipment for a new factory, furniture for an office or residential property, and appliances for commercial and residential units. These additional purchases add at least 2-3% to the impact of the construction industry on the economy. From ABC Newsline Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606

Black Rock Congressional Church in Fairfield, Conn., received a 132 kW solar installation on its new building. The installation has 418 ReneSola panels and 104 Hanwha panels on Ecofoot 2 racking. The racking was selected for its flexibility in tilt angle. Four Solectria string inverters were installed to protect the system in the event of a single point of failure. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Bordner Installation Group of Raytown, Mo., will install a free roof for Tami Dickerson after she received more than 50% of the votes in a No Roof Left Behind contest. Bordner also secured local companies to help with gutter cleaning and tree trimming. Dickerson suffers from a rare immune disorder that made it financially difficult to get a new roof for her home. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Forecasters have predicted a wet winter for the San Francisco area, prompting a surge in property owners seeking roof work in advance of the rain. R.E. Roofing is fielding three times its typical number of service requests. However, "there's not enough workforce to get to all the jobs when the calls come in, it's such a large amount," said Yale Proctor of R.E. Roofing. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Engage with fellow roofing professionals and learn about the latest roofing industry issues at NRCA's Roofing Industry Regional Summit Oct. 15 in San Francisco. Roofing professionals from the region are encouraged to participate, regardless of their affiliation with NRCA, and take advantage of this one-day learning experience, which will provide in-depth information about the most critical safety, risk management, technical, building code and legislative issues affecting roofing businesses. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Method, a cleaning products company, will soon have the world's largest rooftop greenhouse on one of its factories. The 75,000-square-foot greenhouse is expected to produce 1 million pounds of greens annually. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

The Randolph County Courthouse in West Virginia will receive about $25,000 in repairs to its clay tile roof this fall. The structure has missing tiles and water damage on interior walls. "The general condition of the roof itself is not bad, but if we don't do something and do something quickly, it could deteriorate to the point that it causes us major problems," said Mike Taylor, Randolph County Commission president. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Lancaster, Ohio, will get a new slate roof for the first time in 150 years, requiring 17,400 pieces of slate. The original steel nails are now rusted, and there are also problems with the roof's ridges and copper flashing. Rogers Roofing of Westerville, Ohio, will install about 56 tons of slate for about $336,000. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Recent business developments in the solar industry are signaling high value to investors. "One (rooftop solar company) priced in the middle of its range and another sold for $2.2 billion. Things are very good in residential solar," said Shayle Kann, an analyst at GTM Research. Kann said there are about 16 million homes that could use solar and are owned by people with high credit scores. So far, about 700,000 systems have been installed. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

The Rankin School District in Illinois is replacing a 60-year-old metal roof with red colonial-colored steel and is also replacing two flat roofs. The flat roofs will get 1-inch-thick Styrofoam insulation before a rubber membrane is applied. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

William Cahill, a master thatcher, has found a niche offering U.K.-style thatched roofs for residential and commercial clients in the U.S. Cahill has done work at the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at Kinstone in Fountain City, Wis., and the Chicago Botanic Garden. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Redwood Valley High School in Minnesota is getting a new roof for $3.7 million. The roof will have layers of rubber and insulation that range from 4 inches to roughly a foot. The gymnasium will require an additional layer consisting of thin sheets of fireproofing. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

An oculus mock-up roof was installed on New Atlanta Stadium, being built in Atlanta, to test the exterior roofing and glazing. "It includes metal framing, the support metal panels themselves, a section of glass and will also include a section of the ETFE, (which stands for) the exterior material," according to a report from the stadium. "This allows the many different parties on site to have a chance to see not only the visual component, but also how everything connects." From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Nonresidential construction could reach $360 billion this year, an increase of 8.9% year-over-year, according to the Consensus Construction Forecast from the American Institute of Architects. The group predicts that could rise further -- to nearly $390 billion in 2016. Manufacturing, hotel and office building are contributing significantly to the increase. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Japan has decided against a retractable roof for its National Stadium because of rising cost estimates. The government is expected to opt for a fixed roof instead. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, La., is getting a new roof after years of use. Construction crews have begun working, but the expected completion date is not yet known. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Excess heat and humidity can speed the aging of roofing materials, but this can be offset with the installation of a power vent in the attic. The use of aluminized roof coatings can help reflect the sun while renewing oils and sealing cracks. It can also be a good idea to replace asphalt rolled roofing with membrane roofing, which is more weather resistant. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

NRCA has made available NRCA Guidelines for Rooftop-mounted Photovoltaic Systems, 2015 edition , which contains NRCA's latest best practices for rooftop-mounted photovoltaic (PV) systems, including applicable code requirements. It also includes figures graphically depicting building code requirements and illustrating proper PV system installation. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

NRCA programs to advance rooftop solar include certifications, technical programs and best practices for installation. Meanwhile, solar equipment manufacturers are making improvements to simplify installation. This piece offers several considerations for rooftop solar installations, such as minimal roof-surface contact. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Great Lakes Roofing hopes to build a 13,278-square-foot facility for its new headquarters in Menomonee Falls, Wis. The building would house 13 corporate staffers and 30 field employees. The village's architectural control board is considering the design of the proposed two-story building. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Beacon Roofing Supply will purchase distributor Roofing Supply Group for $1.1 billion, which includes the company's debt. The deal is expected to close Oct. 1. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

The roofing process at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, has begun with the raising of a 650-metric-ton truss. The stadium will be expanded to three tiers, boosting capacity by 8,500 people. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com

Green roof designs should take maintenance needs into account with careful plant selection and sustainable plans for irrigation, fertilization and weed control. Plant selection should include hardy local varieties and drought-tolerant plants like Sedum and mosses. Installing a thin-layered waterproof membrane system with synthetic water-retention layers can help prevent weeds and cut down on maintenance requirements. From NRCA Trenton H. Cotney Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Trent Cotney, P.A. 407 N. Howard Avenue Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33606 www.trentcotney.com