Rebuilding
- Use the city's central contractor: you can sign up with the City and give them permission to scrape the lot. Enrollment for this program has ended.
- Hire your own contractor: The contractor must be licensed and cleared to handle hazardous materials. You also will need a permit for the lot clearance.
General Outside Clean-up
- Tree trimming/cutting assistance: The LDS Church has chainsaws and volunteers at the ready to help with tree trimming. Just contact them for details.
- Free Tree/Plant Debris pick up: The City of San Diego Environmental Services will assist fire-impacted property owners by picking up private tree and plant debris (only) that they pile up curbside. Call (858) 694-7000 to schedule a pickup. For the county areas, the phone number is 1-877-308-8111.
HOA Information
You need the approval of your HOA before you build. Many areas of RB require that ALL construction be approved by the Architectural Committee. Before you submit your plans to the City for approval, the HOA must approve the plans. The Architectural Committees are expanding and boosting resources to help expedite this process. Proceeding without Architectural Committee approval is a violation of your CC&R's and may lead to fining or requirements to undo your work.
- A Montelena resident has created a Yahoo group for Montelena homeowners who have lost homes. People who wish to be members should e-mail bobkar@gmail.com
- Westwood residents have set up a Yahoo group for Westwood homeowners who have lost their homes. RB_Rebuild@yahoogroups.com.
- More neighborhood groups are coming soon; contact RB United at projectcoordinator@rbunited.com for more information.
Rebuilding Discounts
Discounted Building Materials: The Habitat for Humanity ReStore located at 10222 San Diego Mission Road is offering an additional 20% discount on already discounted building materials to families rebuilding. Please bring your FEMA letter with you.
Dixieline Lumber, 10% off ProBuild-888-DIXIELINE (they also have a list of reputable contractors), http://www.dixieline.com/wildfires.html
Home Depot is providing a blanket 10% discount to those who incurred firestorm losses. Qualified purchases may be subject to even more savings through bid pricing. All qualified recipients will be assigned a direct point of contact to assist through rebuilding, certain restrictions apply. You can apply for the discount through the Home Depot Pro Desk or through your local long term recovery center.
Rebuilding "Green"
Floor Plans/Architectural Information
McMillin Realty has copies of many of the original builder floor plans in their Rancho Bernardo office. If you would like a copy of your floor plan, please contact McMillin Realty at 858-487-2002. Or call Lori Shannon at 619-204-3517. They will provide it they have it.
Jolyn Stoffel with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has original floor plans as well. She can be reached at Jolyn@JolynStoffel.com or (858) 472-4704.
Contractor Information
- For information on contractors and tips on the rebuilding process, visit the website, http://www.SanDiegoRebuilds.com/
- Check a contractor's license at this website.
- RB United has a resource for verifying insurance information about contractors; contact projectcoordinator@rbunited.com or 858-458-8502 for more information.
- Free Contractor Background Checking and Contract Review Services: A Westwood resident with twenty four years construction experience has offered her services to verify licensing (validity & in trade they are offering), verify workman's compensation coverage, review contracts, and obtain certificates of insurance, for free. Please contact RB United at (858) 485-8502 or projectcoordinator@rbunited.com for more information.
Housing/Rental Assistance Services
Home Matching (www.homematching.org) is a network of concerned California citizens working together to help each other during a critical disaster that matches people who can offer shelter with people who need temporary housing. This is a person-to-person exchange run by volunteers. There is no screening process in place.
Fjellestad, Barrett & Short Property Management (www.fbs-pm.rentals.com) has a list of available rental properties. For more information, please contact Pam Neillo at (858) 487-8519 or (858) 487-4004.
More rental assistance— Camille Cappello at Sunrise Management, ccappello@sunrisemgmt.com
RB Community Council has a listing of properties available for rent in the Rancho Bernardo area. Please check their website at http://www.rbcommunitycouncil.com/firerentals.shtml
ReBuilding Milestones
- Property Impact Assessment
This is typically completed by the insurance adjuster in report form for the homeowner and describes the actual condition of the property improvements on a post-fire basis, as well as guidelines related to the insurance company’s role in the rebuilding process.
- Clean Up and Debris Removal
The affected property must be cleared of all deleterious material, including, metal, ash, lost appliances and fire-damaged remains of the former improvements. In addition, all damaged or lost landscaping should be removed, trimmed, or pruned and properly disposed. Infrastructure (gas, electric, communications, sewer and water) should be properly removed, cut off or capped at the property line where the improvement enters the property. This will ensure the safest environment for all workers at the site during the rebuilding process. Where and when possible, materials should be recycled under the recycling requirements of the Agency (City or County).
- Footings and Foundations
In most cases, but not all cases, the concrete placed under the house footprint will be demolished and removed. Concrete does not typically tolerate high, prolonged temperatures and will become brittle and unsuitable for supporting the pressures and weight of new construction. Where required or recommended, removal should include all concrete improvements intended to support vehicle loads, buildings and/or walkways.
- Site Preparation
High heat and extremely low humidity associated with "fire storm wildfires" may adversely affect the structural integrity of the underlying soils, therefore, a soils engineer should be consulted to provide an assessment of the site conditions and recommendations for properly preparing the site for the rebuilding effort. In many cases, but not all cases, the soils in the vicinity of the "structural envelope", that area including the former or new footprint of the home plus an additional five feet outside the perimeter of the home will be removed to a depth determined by the soils/geotechnical engineer, will be removed to a certain, specified depth, moisture conditioned and replaced under observation of the soils engineer’s representative to achieve proper compaction supporting the calculated loads of the new structure or other improvements.
