FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF SEPT. 20, 1999:
I understand that woodpiles should be covered. Would it be okay to stack ours under the carport this fall?
Not unless your carport is 30 feet from your house, says Yvonne Carree, University of Idaho extension associate in forestry. That’s the recommended distance homeowners should put between their woodpiles and their homes.
One reason is fire: a woodpile adds a significant amount of unwelcome fuel in the event of a house or wildfire. Another reason is carpenter ants, which love nesting in softwoods like Douglas fir, larch and pine and which have "the potential to do severe house damage," says Carree.
Inspect dead wood for carpenter ants before you bring it home. Green wood can harbor even more insects that threaten the integrity of wood structures and the health of ornamental trees. "When in doubt, leave that tree in the woods," she says.
And, yes, do cover that woodpile. If you don’t have a shed or lean-to that’s a safe distance from your house, then cover your woodpile securely with a tarp.
I have a lot of unusual food allergies and spend many hours reading the ingredient list of food labels. Are genetically modified foods labeled as such, and are companies required to test them to make sure they don’t cause food allergies?
No, genetically modified foods need not be labeled–and companies are required to test them for possible allergic reactions only if their products contain genes from commonly allergic foods, like peanuts, says Martha Raidl, University of Idaho extension nutrition specialist.
"This omits testing for foods that are unusual in causing allergic reactions, so people with unusual food allergies are not protected," she says.
Considering the highly publicized problems of contractor bankruptcies, what should Idaho homeowners do when hiring contractors for major improvements?
First, says University of Idaho extension educator Beverly Healy, get written estimates and references from at least three reliable contractors. (For a measure of their reliability, check with the Better Business Bureau and the local home builders’ association for a complaint record.) Be sure that the estimates are apples-to-apples comparisons, but don’t necessarily choose the lowest one: check references and take the time to examine your preferred contractor’s past work. Verify that the contractor carries insurance for personal liability, property damage and worker’s compensation for both the contractor’s employees and subcontractors.
Once you’ve selected a contractor, write out a contract. It should include: total price and payment schedule; start and completion dates; precise descriptions of materials; a list of work to be subcontracted, along with costs and names of subcontractors; blueprints, plans and sketches; wording requiring that appliances and lights be installed according to manufacturers’ specifications; and wording specifying that the contractor will provide an itemized bill for both labor and materials.
Limit your down payment to 15-20 percent and outline the payment schedule in the contract.
To protect yourself against materialman’s liens being filed against your home, Healy advises that you have your contractor post a bond to assure that all subcontractors and suppliers will be paid. "If the contractor is not willing to do this, I would consider hiring a different contractor," Healy says.
Finally, she recommends that you pay the contractor with a credit card, if possible. In the event of defective goods or services, federal and state law in most cases allows you to make claims against the seller and to refuse to pay until a problem has been corrected. If you can’t use your credit card, write a check and keep a paper trail that you’ll need should a dispute arise.
"The majority of contractors are honest, hard-working people," says Healy. "But because contractors are not licensed in Idaho, consumers have more responsibilities. Take proper steps to protect your best interests."