IP Civic brings experts to explain

Raising your home is an involved architectural and engineering process, and if you are doing it with NY Rising you have to abide by their rules and regulations. That was the message from a panel of experts speaking at the Island Park Civic Association’s meeting Jan. 13.

Anthony and Ben Jackson of Ben’s contracting talked about foundations, and the new specifics put out by NY Rising, calling for houses on stilts instead of walling in the base floor.

The new rules now call for the submission of sealed plans for the house, instead of the complicated 6100 form previously required. However if your NY Rising estimated cost of repair form, and your design professionals plans differ you then have to submit the 6100 in two forms, plus a design request change form. There is also a new March deadline.

Homeowners still need to submit an environmental assessment risk survey for lead and asbestos, which can be preformed, at no cost, by NY Rising by calling (516) 830-3560. In addition homeowners must submit a pre-construction elevation certificate, a land survey, soil boring report, and an elevation permit. There may be additional forms depending on individual circumstances.

Jeremy Garrett of Ironmen Lifters, and Bill Wagner of Ducky Johnson, Lifters discussed the actual process for lifting your home. Contrary to what most homeowners attending thought you do not have to empty your house before lifting. The panel agreed most structural damage occurred when the house was set back down after the new foundation was set. If your home was on a grade, or now exactly flat, it would be after the lift, and that correction would lead to structural cracks.

Andrew Braum of P C Engineering explained much of the requirements of NY Rising, and what the design profession must to do meet them, including applying for monies for bulkheading.

Finally Ryan Streeter of FEMA discussed funding, including the monies available from FEMA for raising your home and how those relate to NY Rising monies, and FEMA’s role in the recovery from Sandy.

The forms and more information are available at http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/homeowner-resources-and-forms.