A Guide to Building Branford Back Up

As Branford begins the long process of repair and rebuild post-Irene, the and departments want residents to be sure that work preformed is up to town code and that the appropriate permits are pulled.

Branford Building Official Anthony Cinicola advised: “The town should be part of the rebuilding process because we are here to protect the consumer.”

Residents should always work with licensed contractors, said Cinicola, to ensure they are fully protected as work is carried out.

In addition to having concerns about residents getting over charged for work Cinicola said one of the biggest issues the town is worried about is a contractor's lack of knowledge of the local flood plain ordnance.* This lack of knowledge can end up costing a homeowner more than double than their estimated repair price.

Contractors who are not aware of this, may find they are required by the town ordinance to raise a home to the base flood elevation. In some cases, explained Cinicola, that can mean raising a home a few inches and in other cases it can be s high as 10 feet. A $75,000 project can easily turn into more than double that he said.

To avoid unforseen costs due to this ordinance, Cinicola said residents should use contractors with knowledge of local building codes as well as coastal construction knowledge. (To learn about local crews, head over to the Branford Chamber web page Rebuild Locally).

After the storm, Cinicola and Assistant Building Official William Bergantino, toured more than 50 homes that sustained flood damage – two of which were deemed uninhabitable.

On Prudence Island, in the Thimbles, Cinicola said a home was moved off its foundation. The home he said, “is really hanging on by a thread.”

The other home, which is on Sunset Beach Road, was knocked from its foundation. A beam rested just about two inches on a pillar and was the only thing keeping the structure from taking a dive, explained Cinicola.

In flood-ridden areas, Cinicola also said that saltwater has become a huge concern. Residents he explained, think they can just remove the bottom few feet of sheetrock and be done; that’s not the case he said. Salt water can seriously damage electricity and wires need to be checked, he added.

Flooding was not the only issue in town. According to the , more than 150 trees fell in Branford. That’s about 100 more than fell during Hurricane Gloria according to town records.

What people don’t know, said Cinicola, is that when trees fall on homes they can damage foundations in addition to the house structure.

Cinicola visited more than 65 homes which sustained tree damage, a significant amount he said in the Branford Hills area on Old Hickory Lane and Deforest Drive.

While the town is still determining what the total damage costs of Irene are, Cinicola said the good news of the storm were the phone calls the department got thanking them for being so strict on building code prior to the storm.

One resident of Shore Drive who sustained "zero damage" during the storm, personally called Cinicola to thank him for being so tough during his recent home building process. The flood management process had required the resident to raise his home and remove all mechanics from the basement. Replacing his mechanics had they been damaged, said Cinicola could have cost anywhere between $30,000 and $50,000.

If you think your house might need work permit, call the Building Department at 203-315-0674. A permit, added, Cinicola isn’t always required but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Branford Building Department’s Guide to Repair

1. First call your insurance agent and report damages.
2. If you hire a contractor, make sure they are licensed and insured. You can check out their credentials online at the Department of Consumer Protection.
3. Do not pull permits yourself for a contractor. Insist that they pull their own building permits; all permits can be obtained online or in person at Town Hall. All permits must be filled out and returned to Town Hall. Permits are $18 for the first $1,000 worth of work and $12 for every $1,000 after.
4. If you must replace electric electrical service to your home, a permit has to be issued by the building department; do not just re-attach your electric service. There can be unseen electrical damage behind walls, which can later cause an electrical fire.
5. If work is done to a home and it is a violation of the town code, the homeowner is liable for the violation. The violation stays with the property so the next owner of the property is also responsible, even if a contractor preformed the work.
6. Be aware that mold is a problem after things dry out. Remedy the problem now.
7. Be cognizant that a tree, which has fallen on a structure can cause foundation damage.
8. *Per town charter, chapter 161, any "new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated at least to the base flood elevation." A substantial improvement is considered more than 50 percent of the home's town-assessed value. If a home needs substantial improvement and it is in a flood plain, it may be required that the resident raise the home to comply with the town charter.
9. Before a contractor is paid, ask to see the final inspection paperwork from the town proving that the job is up to code.
10. Mitigate future risks by making your house safe for the next storm. Consider raising homes if in a flood plain and adding flood ports. Relocate mechanics of home if possible.

For the town's Irene Information page, click here.

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