LAST WEEK AND SO DID THE HEAT AND SAID TO THE MANY VIEWERS TOLD US THAT THEIR HOME QUICKLY
TURNED INTO AN ICE BOX.
>> HOME CONSTRUCTION IS BOOMING
ACROSS OUR STATE AND OUR
INVESTIGATION TEAM IS REVEALING
THERE ARE FEW STANDARDS OF
REGULATION WHEN IT COMES TO
HOMEBUILDING.
SO OUR INVESTIGATOR HAS A FIGHT
FOR A BETTER BUILDING CODE.
>>REPORTER: CONSTRUCTION.
NEW OR OLD IT IS CONSISTENT
THROUGHOUT TEXAS.
ONE OF THE NATION’S FASTEST
GROWING STATES.
POPULATION GROWTH THE DRIVING
FORCE BEHIND $37.9 BILLION OF
NEW CONSTRUCTION POURED INTO THE
SINGLE-FAMILY MARGIN LAST YEAR
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS REAL
ESTATE CENTER AT TEXAS A&M.
AND NOW EVEN MORE DOLLARS ARE
BEING POURED INTO REBUILDING
AFTER LAST WEEK’S HISTORIC
FREEZE.
>> A VAST NUMBER OF THESE CLAIMS
WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
>> JAMES HOWARD IS INDEPENDENT
AND PUBLIC INSURANCE ADJUSTER.
>> IN THE NORTH THEY REQUIRE ICE
AND WATER SHIELD TO GO TO AN
ATHLETE HALF FEET UP THE WARMING
SPACE OF THE HOUSE.
IT’S NOT REQUIRED HERE.
>> PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS
MUST BE LICENSED BUT CONTRACTORS
AND HOME BUILDERS GET A PASS IT.
>> THERE ARE TOO MANY HOME
BUILDERS OUT HERE WHO DON’T KNOW
WHAT THEY ARE DOING THEY ARE
SLAPPING IT TOGETHER.
>> THIS CONTRACTOR WANTS TO
CHANGE.
WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM MAKING
REPAIRS AFTER LAST WEEK’S FREEZE
>> I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY
PEOPLE JUST WANT ME TOO BUILD A
HOME FOR THEM.
THEY ARE GOING TO WHOEVER THEY
LIKE TO BUILD A HOME WHETHER
THEY ARE QUALIFIED IS NOT.
>> 19 STATES REQUIRE
HOMEBUILDERS OR GENERAL
CONTRACTORS TO BE LICENSED.
TEXAS IS THE ONLY STATE ALONG
THE GULF COAST THAT DOES NOT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS
TO REGULATE JUST EVEN ROOFING
CONTRACTORS IN TEXAS.
WE DON’T HAVE A CHANCE TO
REGULATE HOMEBUILDERS.
>> THIS ATTORNEY REPRESENTS
INSURANCE COMPANIES OF
CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS AND IN THE
LAST DECADE OVER 1 MILLION
CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED IN TEXAS
ASSOCIATED WITH HAIL, WIND,
FLOOD, AND NOW FREEZING.
BADGER SAYS CONSTRUCTION IS PART
OF THE PROBLEM.
>> WE WITH BETTER BUILDING CODES
IN TEXAS AND BETTER ENFORCEMENT
OF THE BUILDING CODE THAN EXISTS
>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
FROM THIS EVENT WHAT HAPPENS.
>> THIS STORM ATTORNEY HAS SEEN
THE DEVASTATION WHERE CHEAP
MATERIALS HAVE BEEN USING HOME
CONSTRUCTION AND WITH MORE
FREQUENT EXTREME EVENTS
HAPPENING IN TEXAS SHE SAID IT
IS TIME TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY
>> YOU HAVE TO EVOLVE.
THE CODES HAVE TO EVOLVE AND THE
REGULATION HAS TO EVOLVE AND
PEOPLE ARE BUYING MORE BUT
GETTING LESS.
>> THIS BUILDER HAS BEEN USING
PROTECTIVE WEATHER MEASURES IN
HIS HOME CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
>> SPRAY FOAM IS A WAY TO GO.
>> THOMPSON SAID THE SPRAY FOAM
IS THE WAY TO GO WITH A BIG
FREEZE AND IT DOES NOT COST A
LOT.
>> SPRAY FOAM USED TO BE
EXPENSIVE BUT IT COMES DOWN NOW
BECAUSE IT’S USED SO MUCH.
>> THE BIG ADVICE IS TO KNOW THE
LAYOUT OF YOUR HOME AND HOW TO
MANAGE IT FROM DAY ONE
SPECIFICALLY IT’S THE GREATEST
AND COST -- COSTLIEST
VULNERABILITIES.
>> YOUR WATER SUPPLY.
>> HOW DOES CHANGE OCCUR WITH
THE WAY CONSTRUCTION IS DONE IN
TEXAS?
MULTIPLE PEOPLE SAYS IT HAPPENED
IN AUSTIN AT THE LEGISLATURE BUT
IT WON’T BE ADDRESSED ADDRESSED
ANYTIME SOON HOWEVER WHAT WILL
BE DISCUSSED TOMORROW IS HOW THE
NONPROFIT WITH OFFICIALS
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FAILED
TEXANS LAST WEEK.
HEARINGS ARE SET AND BOTH THE
HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE AND MY
COLLEAGUE AND I WILL HAVE
COMPLETE COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE
DAY ON A CLICK TO HOUSTON .COM
AS .COM AS WELL AS ON AIR.