Greenville Magazine - April 2008 - (Page 63) energy efficiency reasons, meaning they don’t breathe the way older structures do. Mold spores, found in air and dust, grow only when moisture is present. So if there’s a leak or a water problem that isn’t taken care of, mold can grow quickly, causing allergic reactions and more serious health hazards. Carbon monoxide also can be a problem in homes, but fortunately it’s not a common problem. In most cases, it occurs when gas logs are left on without proper ventilation or a furnace needs repair. Markel says the best way to avoid radon, mold and carbon monoxide issues is to stay on top of maintenance and repairs. “The biggest thing is to stay on top of the maintenance of the home, and when you do hire someone to do the work, make sure they’re a qualified contractor that you can hold accountable if something should go wrong,” he says. Doug Harper, president of Harper Corporation, cites illegal immigrant employee regulations as a concern. Laws regulating immigrant workers and the people who employ them are of great concern to the construction industry, which is reliant on this segment of America’s work force. According to Tom Fuduric, Harper Corporation’s human resources director, several bills under consideration by the South Carolina Legislature will, if passed, have great impact. “All of the bills seem to require employers to take extra steps, above and beyond the current federal requirements, to verify the status (employment eligibility and work authorization) of employees,” he says. “It seems that many of these pending regulations target employers working on federal and state contracts. This will affect all employers in the state by adding additional steps to the hiring process, and especially those working on state and federal contracts.” Some of the changes in the construction industry have lengthened the time it takes to complete projects. Carpenter says 20 years ago, the turnaround time for obtaining a grading permit was about 24 hours. Today, he says, there’s much more design and calculation work involved in storm water and grading, so the process, while a good one, is longer and more complicated. While permitting is a different issue than it was a couple of decades ago, safety has also come a long way thanks to regulations and requirements. “I remember 20 years ago as a project manager when it wasn’t uncommon to see a steel erector walk steel on a job without being tied down,” Carpenter says. “You don’t see that anywhere today. It’s much tighter, much stricter, much safer than it was. That’s a positive thing.” Not so positive is the economic picture, which has recently stalled construction projects including Greenville’s planned Peacock Hotel & Spa. Construction of the $65 million luxury hotel was suspended by developers when financing did not materialize. Downturns in the economy mean downturns in construction, making this perhaps the biggest worry on the building horizon. GM The Robinson Company Commercial & Residential Real estate appraisal & Consultation Your city. Your Magazine. $3.95 www.green villemagazin e.com serving Greenville & the southeast since 1920. Latte Wholeing On ss Go ide to Busine Big Gu ess and mo 2008 March $3.95 in our Find it www.greenvillemagazine.co m April 2008 sin Small Bu Also Sell 8 Tips to ing Anyth re! Hail I ILFONG TERRI W Plus ief to the Ch GREEN Go Green to Save Green Get Healthy Plant a Tree Investments Make a Big Difference Also Small Paint Our Town T BES ERS Y tate LAW Ups e in th 2008 The 610 N. MaIN St. GrEENvIllE, SC 864-233-6277 www.therobinsonco.com email: Chaskell@therobinsonco.com Subscribe today! 864.271.1105 www.greenvillemagazine.com april 2008 | Greenville MaGazine 63 http://www.greenvillemagazine.com http://www.greenvillemagazine.com http://www.therobinsonco.com http://www.therobinsonco.com http://www.therobinsonco.com http://www.greenvillemagazine.com
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