WESTSIDE HBA MISSION STATEMENT "WE ARE A PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATION COMPRISED OF BUILDING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS WORKING TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF SENSIBLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND QUALITY CONSTRUCTION/DEVELOPMENT."
2012 WESTSIDE REMODELER & GARDEN EXPO Event Theme "MADE IN AMERICA" The West Georgia Remodeler & Garden Expo is sponsored by Westside Home Builders Association.  The event will be held April 27th through the 29th.  Admission is $5.00 for adults and children under 18 will be admitted FREE.  Please click on the appropriate link below for information if you are Planning To Attend or for Exhibitor Information. The 2010 Expo had attendance in excess of 2,500 during its 3 day period.  The 2012 estimate should equal or exceed this number of visitors.  The event will include 75 exhibitor booths, "Do It Yourself" Instruction and Real Estate related topics.  Douglas County Code Officials will present a program on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 till 1:30 on Douglas County Building Codes and Required Permits as they relate to "Do It Yourself" or commercially done remodeling projects.  The event will include tours on Saturday, April 28th from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM of Showcase Designed patio and backyards.  An open house will be held at a recently rentovated NSP Foreclosure Property where guests can see the "Before and After" of a renovated foreclosure.  There will also be an opportunity to view other foreclosures that are available for purchase under the Piece By Piece-Douglas program. The West Georgia Remodeler & Garden Expo will be held at the Market Square Shopping Center located 1 and 1/2 block south of Exit 34 on Interstate 20.  The address is 9503 Highway 5, Douglasville, GA 30135.  Parking is FREE. CLICK HERE FOR EXPO INFORMATION
NATIONAL GREEN BUILD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Westside Home Builder Associations has adopted NAHB's National Green Program.  Click on the link below for information. NAHB GREEN LINK
PIECE BY PIECE DOUGLAS The Diece By Piece - Douglas Initiative is a program to address the current foreclosure crisis in Douglas County.  The initiative has identified 3 major issues.  They are as follows. 1.  Keeping People In Their Homes 2.  Getting Peiole Into Foreclosed Properties 3.  Un/Under Employment Click on the link below to view the Piece By Piece - Douglas website. Click Here For The Piece By Piece - Douglas Website
LOOKING FOR A LICENSED BUILDER OR CONTRACTOR? Click on the link below to access a list of our Builder and Associate Members.  Our builders are licensed and carry the appropriate insurance.  WHY USE A WHBA MEMBER?  When looking for a builder or contractor, it is important that you select a company that is licensed and has the necessary insurance. Georgia now has a Builder License Law.  Unlicensed builders can not pull the necessary permits required when doing yor work and unpermitted home repairs or improvements may cause significant issues, should you decide to sell you home at a later date.  Permits and subsequest inspections insure that your work is done according to code, insuring the safety of you and your family.  A Builder License is not a local Business License.  Make sure you verify that he is licensed before contracting to have work done. You are lible for injury should an uninsured contractor be injured while performing work on you home.  Again, this does not mean Life Insurance or Vehicle Insurance.  It must be Workman's Compensation Insurance.  Ask to see his pertificate. Do Business With A Member
FEBRUARY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Our next General Membership Meeting will be held on February 14, 2012.  The information is below. LOCATION: Pro-Build Villa Rica Facility DATE: Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 TIME: Card Exchange 11:30 - 12:00 Noon       Lunch & Program Noon-1:00 PROGRAM:  DUCT AND ENVELOPE TIGHTNESS VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS INSTRUCTOR:  Rick Stepp, GreenHome Georgia Come and learn about the new testing requirments for new construction.  WHBA will have the necessary equipment for its membership to perform their own testing but you need to know about the required Certification to do the tests. Please take a moment to make a reservation by clicking on the link below. RESERVATIONS - CLICK HERE DIRECTIONS TO PROBUILD
WHY BE A MEMBER OF WHBA? Click on the link below for the answer. WHY BE A MEMBER LINK
IMPORTANT!!! CEU CREDITS UPDATE "A BUILDER LICENSE REQUIRMENT" Many Licensed Builders may not be aware that there is a 3 hour per year CEU requirment for Residential Contractors and a 6 hour per year CEU requriment for Commercial Contractors.  Initially these credits had to be earned each year between 7/1 and 6/31.  On March 11, 2011 the Builder Licensing Board their position now allowing the 2 year CEU credits for renewals July 1, 2012 TO BE EARNED ANYTIME DURING THE 2 YEAR PERIOD.  This means that you can carry your credits earned in 2011 over into 2012 to meet the renewal requirments.  Even if your license is in INACTIVE STATUS, you must keep up your CEU.  NOTE: If you wait until you ACTIVATE your license and you do not have the CEU hours required, you may not be able to do so.  Take advantage of the opportunities offered to earn your hours at no cost to you through your membership in Westside HBA. Either as a part of or immediately following the General Membership Meetings, WHBA will offer programs that will assist you in obtaining the Continuing Education Units required to maintain your Builder License.  Sessions will qualify for a minimum of .5 CEU Hours.  CEU qualified programs will be offered AT NO CHARGE to members of WHBA.  Non-members will be charged $25 per 0.5 hour issued. CEU - RESERVATIONS PLEASE
HBAG HEALTH PLAN NOW AVAILABLE HBA of Georgia recently announced a new Health Plan that is available for WHBA members.  Below is information on the program.  Should you be interested contact the WHBA staff at 678-715-0904 for additional information.
HBAG BUILDER REBATE PROGRAM FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
DUCT AND ENVELOPE TIGHTNESS VERIFICATION Testing Equipment Available Through WHBA Westside Home Builders Association has the equipment you need to perform Duct and Envelope Tightness Verification for rent by Verifiers.  The equipment was provided to WHBA by the Department of Consumer Affairs.  Per DCA, the equipment must be rented for $100 per day plus a $15 insurance payment.  A typical Verifier can test as many as 3 homes in a one day period.  Verifiers must be CERTIFIED in order to be allowed to perform the tests.  WHBA will be offering a one-day course designed to introduce the skills necessary to become a Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET) Verifier, certified to perform the diagnostic testing required for new homes by the 2009 IECC Georgia amendments.  The next Verifyer Training will be held on ?February 20, 2012.  Contact the WHBA office to register. Participants will learn: • Protocols for blower door and duct blaster testing • Calculations for ACH50 and percent duct leakage • Tips for successfully completing the written and in-field DET Verifier certification exams To achieve designation as a DET Verifier, a student must receive a passing score on both exams (included in tuition costs).  WHBA sponsored classes will begin Feburary 20, 2012. Training Will Include: • DET training workbook • Written DET Verifier exam • In-field DET Verifier exam • Certificate of course completion