FROM THE SMA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mark Fowler, SMA Executive Director

The year 2020 has not been what we expected. This pandemic has flipped just about everything upside down. Meetings canceled, offices empty and the extra cost to do just about any task seems to push the limit of just breaking even on a project. However, we will get through this as we have gotten through the depression, the great recession and the housing collapse. While finding a silver lining seems hard, there may be one out there. Your competitors—who are poorly funded, unskilled and should not be in business—may not be around to see 2021.

The SMA and its manufacturers want to help you succeed. One issue that has come up over and over is that the “trunk slammer” down the street will now be cheaper. They will claim they are the best value, and we all know the low price is hard to sway builders away from. But the SMA may be able to help

Introducing the SMA Certified Contractor. A simple fact is that many designers, builders and home owners want stucco but are scared it will be done wrong. And with only the price to go on, they typically pick the lowest bid. This is because even the low bidder is going to sell themselves as the most qualified. NOW, there will be a way to differentiate yourself from the low bidder. You are SMA certified.

Learn more about our certification program here…

The program is designed to be national. It covers regional practices and variations between various states. What makes this program unique is that it is NOT merely code or standards memorization. The purpose of the program is to know WHY you do something and then HOW best to get it done. It is for the new lather and plasterer as well as the seasoned pro. We promise, the pro will learn something from watching the video modules. A Union-trained lather watched the video: “ I learned a lot and will lath my jobs differently in the future, all lathers should watch this program.”

See also the SMA’s introductory “Stucco Certification” training video [right sidebar] to learn more, or log onto the SMA YouTube channel and start watching. It is free.

SMA Board of Directors

Fall is the time we elect new officers to the SMA Board. There has never been a time that being on the board will be more impactful. The SMA Certified Contractor Program will require contractors to meet a variety of criteria. The final hurdle for the stucco contractor wanting approval for SMA Contractor Certification is a vote by the SMA Board of Directors.

SMA Events

The May meeting was, like all events, canceled. The SMA golf tournament is scheduled for October 19, and we still plan to hold that event. Sponsorship is available, and should the event be canceled, your sponsorship monies would be returned. Our next member meeting is scheduled for November 4. We are hoping that will take place.

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OSHA: Silica

While things seem sleepy, OSHA announced that they will go back to stricter enforcement of the silica rules in 2021. On June 25th OSHA sent out a memo to all inspectors in various states regarding silica dust.

OSHA INSTRUCTION NOTICE

Notice of intent required. States are expected to have accessible enforcement policies and procedures in place which are at least as effective as those in this Instruction.

The SMA urges contractors to get their people trained. You need a Competent Person, and the SMA offers “free” training. The SMA also offers a very short “Awareness” video for your employees. This is not full training and only lasts a few minutes. But it can prevent your employees from responding to the OSHA officer with a statement such as “ What is silica, my employer never told me a thing.” Statements like this are red flags to compliance officers. Protect yourself and your employees. In a short eight minutes, they can be aware of silica, and the SMA even has a 5 question test that all should be able to pass easily after watching the video. This can really help if OSHA wants to see what you have done to protect your worker. The cost for members is ZERO. So you really have no excuse.

 

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THE CODE CORNER

The technical section developed to help SMA contractor members better understand, protect and run their business.\

The SMA has introduced some new Technical Bulletins on the website. Some are about clarifying the intent of the code, others are there to help with issues that come up with designers, general contractors, etc.

The Bulletins are for members to use as third-party documentation that what you have proposed is either code compliant or good industry practice. The SMA encourages contractors to use the SMA to help you in these tough times.

 

Problem Job of the Month

The SMA gets calls all the time on stucco and stucco issues. This call came in from New York. The owner was concerned that he could find nowhere in any publication that a scratch and brown coat was applied to a cement board. He also could not find the use of a fiber mesh in lieu of using a lath.

After a discussion on the phone, the plasterers told him that they do this all the time. They plan to put ¾ inch of cement plaster on the cement board. The SMA asked if a picture could be sent. Our staff was certain the building owner did not know what he was talking about. No plasterer would do this.

The picture came in and, yes, these guys not only planned, but were doing it. Apparently they told him, “What’s the difference, cement over CMU or cement board, same thing.”

They did not appreciate the SMA response, but our job is quality stucco not appeasing bad practices that lead to stucco failures. This was removed and the plasterers were let go. The owner found a qualified stucco installer who did it right.

 

REMEMBER: The SMA has a fairly large library on all things stucco. Members of the SMA are encouraged to call the SMA office if the staff can be of any assistance.