June 23, 2025 • 29 mins
Cynthia Cardona CEO of Vulcan Park Association talks about what’s new at the Park and Museum this year and also what we can expect this year for the July 4th Fireworks display. Then Chip Cardon Executive Director at Home Builders Licensure Board joins us for a look at the importance of licensing in Alabama for both professionals and customers.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Here in Alabama. We love America and we love to
celebrate America. Hello, I'm John Mounts and this is Viewpoint,
Alabama on the Alabama Radio Network. And every year in Birmingham,
there is an incredible display over Vulcan it's called Thunder
on the Mountain. Joining me to talk about this incredible
thing and also other things going on at Vulcan Park
Foundation is Cynthia Cardona. She is the president and CEO. Cynthia,
(00:24):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thanks for having me John.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
So we're excited because coming up this Friday is the
fourth of July, and every fourth of July it's isn't
it the largest fireworks display in the state.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
It is one of the largest. Okay, it's gonna show
definitively prove that it's the largest, although we like to
promote that, but it is one of the largest, definitely
in Central Alabama. For sure.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I was gonna say no shade to Mobile because I
know they do a great job down there Huntsville. We
have a lot of great ones, but this is one
of the biggest ones and it's right up there on
the mountain. It's right over the Vulcan and Vulcan Park
Foundation has been a part of this for how long
have you guys been part of this?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Over ten years now?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
So Thunder on the Mountain in the Vulcan Park Foundation
is synonymous with the Fourth of July. What can we
look forward to that we haven't seen. If you're in
the Birmingham area and you've probably been there every year,
there's a lot of stuff that's changed, especially since the
Vulcan reopened because it was closed for renovations, or the
Vulcan itself was reopened what was five years ago with
they put the new lights on everything.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Oh, so we were not closed. So the renovation, the
original renovation of Vulcan and Vulcan Park happened in the
late nineties and early two thousand.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I remember that because he came down.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
He came down, he was in pieces throughout town. He
was restored lovingly by Robinson Iron and then the community
came together and did a massive fundraising campaign to preserve him,
get him back on the pedestal and then renovate the park.
So that was twenty five years ago.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Last year, okay, and now and more recently you put
the lights on. I think that's what I'm thinking of,
is you put some new lights on about five years ago.
They've had multicolored lights and everything.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Absolutely so. Yes. So thanks to a generous donation from
the Kawanas Club of Birmingham, we have a new lighting
system that we've been using for several years now and
it has been an amazing asset to the park.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And I think don't you incorporate that lighting into the
Thunder on the Mountain?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Absolutely so, it's the show is a timed light to
fireworks to music show. So what you see is a
combination of three companies coming together. Barbizon does the lighting,
Pyro Shows of Alabama does the fireworks and the music,
and then all of you do the voiceovers and so
(02:37):
it's really a collaborative effort and something that we start
working on six months in advance.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
And if you're in the Birmingham area you can watch
the fireworks anywhere you can see We always say anywhere
you can see the Vulcan, you can see the fireworks.
But also there's music that goes along with it. If
you want to hear the music syncd up with the fireworks,
you want to listen to one of our iHeartRadio stations
in the Birmingham area, Magic ninety six point five one
of two, five to the bull one of three seven,
the Q one A five five, WERC one of four
(03:03):
to one, the beat What Am I missing? One A
five to one, any of our iheartstations where we're running
the music that goes along with it, so you can
watch it in real time if you're at home a
little further away. You can also see it on WBrC
Fox six because they will be running the whole thing
as well. But and just a word to the whys
on this thing anymore. You listen to the radio any
number of ways, not just on the radio but also
(03:25):
on your cell phone. But for this particular thing, you
have to listen to the music over the air because
on the cell phone there's a delay. So the fireworks
when we see, you know, the trees are green in
the clouds of white, it won't line up right if
you're listening on the phone. You have to listen over
the air to get that part right correct. Now, Cynthia,
there's other things that Vulcan does. And by the way,
if you've never been up I know you have, but
(03:46):
to our people listening, if you've never been up there
to the museum at the park museum. There is a
great museum there that shows off not only what Vulcan
is all about, but also the history of Birmingham and
the mining and the iron works that we've done over
the last one hundred thirty years.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Yes, our visitor center houses a small history museum and again,
like you said, it's the history of Birmingham and the
history of the industry that put Birmingham on the map.
But we also have a rotating exhibit annually. This year's
exhibit is from Steel to Stage, the History of Theater
in Birmingham, and we're highlighting all of the historic preservation
(04:24):
of the local theaters and then the mark on our
arts and culture that the Birmingham theater scene has created.
And then that's up till January, so people have plenty
of time to come up and see that. And then
in conjunction with that exhibit, we have a panel discussion
coming up on June twenty sixth, also called Preserving Birmingham.
(04:48):
How we saved our historic theaters and now you can too.
So we have programming related to this exhibit that people
can enjoy year round. But this upcoming panel is going
to be great, It's going to be local historians, local
preser reservationists in our staff talking about how folks can
come together and really restore our historic structures and save them.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
And to get a mission to the museum. Isn't it
included if you if you buy a ticket to go
up to the platform.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Absolutely so, if you buy a ticket to go up
to the observation deck observation tower, I should say you
can go into the history museum as well, and then
shop in the anvil. We have a great gift shop.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
It is a great gift shop. And going up, of
course into the vulcan, that is something. Well, you don't
actually really go all the way up into the vulcan.
You go up into the pedestal. You stand at his
feet when you go.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Up there, right, so you stand at an observation deck
that's just below his feet, safely under his feet. He's
really up there. The observation deck is below.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That and is interesting because it's very safe. I can't
I can't overemphasize the safeness of being up there, but
you feel like you're way up high because for starters,
there's the glass elevator.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Correct, so if you're afraid of heights, it may not
be for you the elevator is you can see through it,
and so if you have to take the elevator, it
is part of the experience. And when you get up
to the observation deck, the it is graded so wind
can get through there. It's an engineering feat. But if
(06:14):
you're afraid of heights, just make sure when you get
up there you look out into the horizon. I'm not down.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
I've seen people get up there in the elevator and
in the door in the glass elevator. The door opens
and they immediately look down through those grates and they
turn it back around, they get back off the elevator.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It happens all the time. But the key is I
also am afraid of heights, and I have to go
up there continuously. So the key is to as soon
as you get off the elevator, just look straight ahead,
look at the horizon, look at the beautiful city and
community before you. It's really what it's about.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
The thing I always worried about up there is my
cell phone because I'm so afraid because those grates are
kind of wide. I mean, a person wouldn't fall through,
but a cell phone could, so I was afraid because
everyone's got their phone out did do phones get dropped
off of there from.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Time to time. Phones jewelry hats are a big one.
The win end is really strong up at the observation tower,
so we are constantly having to get out letters and
assist folks with getting items they fall down to the
roof of the pedestal base. So yes, many a hats
(07:17):
have been lost.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
But it is such a beautiful and especially if you
go in the evening, if you go after sunset or
maybe right at sunset, to watch the sun reflecting off
of the buildings of downtown Birmingham and you can turn
the other way see Homewood. It's an incredible view from
up there.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Absolutely, it is the best view in town and it's
very romantic if you want to take a date up there,
or you just want to see the city twinkling, kind
of ending the day, seeing the lights come on and
then some go off. It's just magical.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
And by the way, if you want to be a
return a repeat customer, I understand that you can buy
a membership to Vulcan Park right absolutely.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
If you want more information on a membership, visit Vulcan
dot com is where you will go and all of
our levels there and all of the information on how
to do that will be there.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
And Cynthia, while we're talking about it, I understand there's
some other things that are going on with regard to
thunder on the Mountain. There's going to be a viewing party.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Correct, tell me about that. So this year, again thanks
to the generosity of Medical Properties Trusts, who's our presenting sponsor,
and also this year we've had Uab Callahan I come
back to the family and they're on as a sponsor,
we are able to offer a little bit more this year,
and that viewing party is one of those components. And
so we get calls almost every day in July or
(08:41):
rather in June about where to go and see the fireworks.
And of course, like you said earlier, if you can
see Vulcan, you can see the fireworks. But this year
we are allowing a limited number of tickets to be
purchased and folks can come and see the fireworks from
Kowana Centennial Park. It's out of the fallout zone and
it's completely safe. We're selling fifty tickets. It's they're two
(09:04):
hundred dollars a piece. I'm sorry, two hundred and fifty
dollars a piece, and it's all inclusive. We will have
a bar, food, the fireworks, and it's the best view.
You can't beat it. It's great value. You're gonna have
an exclusive event and an exclusive seat to the best
fireworks in town.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Not only can you see them and hear them, you'll
be able to feel them.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
You'll be able to feel them. You'll feel the rong
with the boom.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Well probably the heat I mean those things. I mean
because I've been at the club watching before and I
can feel the heat off of some of those things.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, you'll feats, You'll don't scare people off. You will
feel some heat, but you'll be so mesmerized by the
sights and the sounds you won't even notice that. It's
just magical to be right under the statue and see
these fireworks. So we really welcome everyone to again visit
(09:56):
Vulcan dot com. Get your ticket. There are only a
few left. They're going fast. We're less than a week
out or a little bit over a week out, and
really two hundred and fifty dollars for a unique, perhaps
once in a lifetime experience. You can't beat it.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Because you see that around I always see in Homewood
we get about eight o'clock, people are driving around kind
of panic. They're looking for a good place to watch
the fireworks, and they think that they're going to be
able to drive right up to the vulcan. And of
course the roads are closed at that point, so you
have to be in place to view this, and that's
why you need a ticket to be able to get
that close. Otherwise you're going to be a little bit
further away.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yes, So the Birmingham Police Department and the Birmingham Fire
Department do an amazing job of keeping all of us
safe and keeping the community in the public safe. So
at six o'clock we shut down all the roads and
all the access so Pirate Shows of Alabama can start
doing their thing. And yes, the event is six to
nine thirty and if you're not there before that, you're.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Out of Wi tru late. And of course that's a
safe place because there are, by the way, a lot
of places that you can see it but are not
It's not safe to stop on I sixty five on
an overpass. I'm just gonna put it that, because people
do that.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
They stop on overpasses, they stop in all sorts of
places they can see the fireworks, but they really shouldn't
be stopp there because you're gonna you know, you might
get hurt.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Absolutely. I always tell folks if you have access to
what are the buildings one of the high rises downtown,
If you have access to some of those offices, go there.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
The best is a parking deck. If it's a parking deck,
get on the top level of the parking deck. Great place,
and your car's right there so you can listen to
the radio and hear the soundtrack that goes along with
the fireworks.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Absolutely, parking deck. If you can get into one of
the buildings. I hear there's a rumor that Children's hospital,
you know, the patients there can see the fireworks from
their windows, and that really warms my heart to no.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
I've done that one before. I've done that one before
from the Children's deck. I've viewed it from there. I've
viewed it from a lot of places over the years,
and yeah, those are some of the best. Has a
lot of great places. The I don't know if it's
still open up for the Humanities building UAB has these
kind of like wrap around balconies that are just in
the perfect place, especially if you can see the WBrC
call letters up there on the hill. It's a great
place to watch the fireworks.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Absolutely, yes, yes, so anywhere you can see. Vulcan Homewood's
a great place again, downtown Birmingham. We just encourage everyone
to be safe. Don't stop on the highway.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Just find a spot, make your plans now, make your
plans now where you're going to go. Scout it out
so you know where you're going, so there's no panic,
and leave the fireworks to the professionals.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Absolutely. And in this case that's Pirates Shows of Alabama.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
That's probably why Callahan I is one of your sponsors, right, Yes,
Cithy Cardo, thank you so much from Vulcan Park and
notice I'm saying park, not parks. Vulcan Park Foundation. Thank
you so much for joining us this week on Viewpoint Alabama.
Thanks for having me, John, And as Viewpoint Alabama continues,
I'm joined now by Chipcardon. He is the executive director
of the home Builder's Licensure Board. Chip, Welcome to Viewpoint.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
I'm glad to be thanks for having and there are a.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Lot of things in Alabama that we have to consider.
It's summertime and there's a lot of people there renovating
their houses, and they they might think, just fine, I'll
get some guy off the corner and he can put
an addition on. And that's not the way you want
to go. You want to actually know that the people
who are doing work on your home are licensed. Why
is that.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well, I mean it's their first line of defense against
those those bad fly by night guys that you can't trust.
We had a lot of crazy unsettled weather this spring.
May and first part of June has been crazy thunderstorms,
a lot of trees on houses. And when those guys
show up, you just need to say, hey, let me
see your license card.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Now, what does that card mean? Like, is it given
by the state by you who licenses these.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
It means that they have had some minimum qualifications in
order to hold it. They've either had to pass a
test or they got grandfathered in some years ago. That
they have a credit check run to see if there
are any leans judgments charge off accounts that in their
public record search.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
So they have to keep that updated. I would assume
that's correct.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
They renew it every year. It's got its current year,
got the name and address on there, and the license
number beginning in October one, you can renew penalty free
up until November thirtieth. After November thirtieth there's a fifty
dollars late fee, and then after December thirty first, there's
a ugly six hundred dollars expired license fee.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Well, yeah, you don't want to deal with that.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
You don't want to have to deal with that.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
What's the initial outlay or does it depend on the
business or the volume business you do. What's the outlay
that somebody could expect to have to pay to obtain
a license.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
The books for the tests are the most expensive. Sometimes
you can rent them, sometimes you can borrow them from
a friend or somebody that's in the business. I think
they're in the in the five six hundred dollars range.
Then you got testing costs which are two fifty.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
So while this is not the price is not so
onerous that it's it makes it unobtainable. Kind of ensure
that the people working on your house, they are not
just some guy who woke up one day and said,
I'll take a fifteen dollars online test and now I'm
good to go to put a roof on your house.
These people, they're in the business because they mean to
be in the business. They know what they're doing, and
(15:14):
they've actually gone through some testing, like a road test
as it were.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
This is not the fictitious Joe swinghammer with a nail
apron and a pickup truck. These guys are professionals. They
have minimum requirements they have to meet in order to
hold that license. You're supposed to have a written contract
if you're going to do business. There's certain disclosures for
liability insurance in workers' comp that they need to be
(15:39):
able to produce.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
I like that Joe swing Hammry. I was thinking of you.
Remember the old show New Heart. Remember the next door neighbors?
Was it Larry and his brother Daryl's or the brother Darrel?
Remember they had a business called anything for a Buck?
So it's not those guys that have worked on your house.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Is not those guys Darryl and his other brother Daryl
are out there though.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Beware and depending on the tre is there different tests
that you have to take or different qualifications you have
to have.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
For the home builder's license, there is a home builder's
test for it. The roofer's license there is no test
associated with it, but they have to have a ten
thousand dollars bond.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
And that's important because if they were to get injured,
like say they fell off your roof, you don't want
to have to pay their medical bills.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Correct. That would be a worker's comp component. I would
always ask them to see if they have workers comp
General liability insurance. It's very important because the ultimate responsibility
lies with the homeowner. If they don't, you know, if
one of their men gets hurt on the job and
they don't have workers Comp, then it becomes your responsibility
as the homeowner, and.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Your homeowner's insurance might not cover all of it. Correct,
And especially if they find out that you were using
somebody who wasn't licensed. Right, and when you use a
licensed contractor to do the work, is everyone like if
they have subcontractors underneath them, do they also need a
license or is that covered as a blanket thing.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
There are certain trades in state Alabama that have to
have their own specific license. Electricians have to be licensed
by the Electrical Board, plumbers by the plumbers and gas fitters,
and the HVAC has to be done by the Heating
and Air Contractors Board.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
A lot of times you see plumbers that are plumbers
and HVAC guys and also you know, I think kind
of lump it alter and electricians are they? Is it
all the same or you have to have three different
licenses for.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Each It's three different licenses just depending on what trade
that you perform. If you're just the home builder and
that's all that you do is you hire these guys,
then you're supposed to hire a licensed contractor to come
on your job, just up until here. Recently, if you're
a home builder, the law was changed to where you
have to put your your license number on all your contracts,
(17:47):
on all your advertise and whatever you put on Facebook,
any of your social media needs to have your license
number on it for people to easily identify you as
a licensee.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
When you approach this city of that you live in
for a permit to do any sort of work on
your home, and I assume you are supposed to do that,
right you correct? What's what's the say? What's a threshold?
Like if I'm going to go paint my hallway, I
don't get I know I don't need a license or
a permit for that, But what do you need a
permit for?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Typically it's the each local jurisdiction is a little different.
They set a minimum dollar amount for what you're going
to be doing. If it's strictly cosmetics, most of the
time they don't require a permit, but once you start
cutting into the envelope of the house, most roof jobs
have to be permitted. And then once you start getting
(18:38):
into replacing windows or doing structural improvements or structural modifications,
then you've got to have a permit.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
If you have the waterproofing, people come in and they
do a foundation repair, I assume that's definitely a permitted thing.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
I would think so, because those those foundation repairs are
not cheap, and anything over ten thousand dollars is supposed
to have a home builder's.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
License, and they usually go right down to the bedrock.
When they do like the foundation, the peers and that
kind of thing, they're going all the way down. So
that's a pretty serious thing to be doing. You want
somebody who knows what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
When I first came to the licensure board, we used
to have a lot of wet basements around Birmingham, and
so I know there was some work there, but I
think over time there has been improvements from a technology
standpoint and how people actually do things, the materials that
they use. And yes, it is a serious repair and
it does have to go all the way down to
(19:28):
the footings if you're going to have to do it right.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
This is a viewpoint Alabama on the Alabama Radio Network.
My name is John Mountsin speaking with Chip Garden. He's
the executive director of the Homebuilder's Licensure Board. And Chip,
are there any new things? I know we had this
conversation last year too. Have any new things on the
horizon that you're doing at the home Licensure Board? New
for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
New for twenty twenty five. We've got the Construction Trades
Academy is now under our administration. The legislature passed that
last year. They've also created the Alabama Residential Building Code
Advisory Council. You know, that's a mouthful and it doesn't
have a very good an actiumity goes with it. But
(20:10):
what we're to do as the license you're board, We've
got this advisory committee that gives us recommendations for the
Board to either accept or reject or modify for building
codes out in the areas where there are no building codes.
Once you're outside the municipal jurisdiction where a code has
been adopted, there is no code. There's only nine county
(20:31):
or eight counties in the state that have adopted county
wide building codes and inspections.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
So in those codes, they're really there to protect the
home buyer and those who live in those homes, because
you don't know when you buy a house, A lot
of times you don't realize what you know. If it
was you assume it's all done up to code, but
that's not necessarily the case, especially if it was done
some years ago. And like you said, you live maybe
two or three counties out from one of the major
(20:57):
urban areas.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
It's amazing what gets built in uninspected areas. Smith Lake
up here in Coleman, it's not very far away on
Lake Martin. There's many areas over there that are not
permitted and are not inspected. So you know, if you're
building a house and you're investing a lot of money
in it, I would hire a private inspector to come
do that for you.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Chip That brings up a good point because we're talking
about homes, but there's other structures on your property. So
for example, if you're at a lake, you might have
a dock. I would assume that that also requires inspection
as well.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Most of the time TVA, Alabama Power or the Army
Corps of Engineers are in charge of those areas, and
so far the Licensure Board does not have jurisdiction once
it's on their easement. It's I have seen some horror
stories come along, but it's very important to do your
homework and ask for recommendations from people that have used them.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
It's good to have somebody who knows what they're doing,
regardless of whether it's required or not.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
It sounds like very much so. And you know, have
always have a good contract because that protects the home
own or just as much as it does the builder.
They're as licensed home builders or remodelers, they're required by
state law to have a written contract, so so look
for that. Also look for that license number supposed to
be written on their contract.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
So should people feel because if you were to approach
someone and or they approached you, especially and they said, hey,
your roof looks like you're missing some shingles, I'd like
to do some work for you, should you feel nervous
about saying to them, do you have a license.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Heck no, I get solicitation calls all the time, and
that's the first thing that comes out of my mouth.
The last time that happened was about a week ago,
and I said, well, you know, I know you got
a good deal on these shingles that you're coming by with.
What by the way, what is your license number? And
I got a click on the other end they shung
up on me.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Well, and I would think anyone who went through the process,
because there is it is a process, and it does
take some work and some funds, I would think I
would be proud if I actually I went through that
work to get the license. I would almost feel bad
if somebody didn't ask me about they and you want
to see my.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
License, It's that's exactly right. You should be proud of
it that you that you have that license. It's it's
uh uh. You know. The law requires them to put
that license number on all their advertisements. And I've I've
had questions, you know, where do I need to put it?
If I put a Facebook post up, where do I
need to do it? And I say everywhere? Because it
separates you from the unlicensed guys. It puts more pressure
(23:24):
on them to have to try to hide it because
you're flawing that number out there for everybody to see.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
And that's actually, I guess a point of pride for
a lot of people to have that, to have that
license your number, just like anything else. And it's just
like when you put that you're a pH d or
something like that. You you did the work, you you
got the diploma.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
That's exactly right. You hold the qualifications in order to
do that type of work.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
And that brings up a good point we talk about
the work. You know, there's a lot of people who
come straight out I'm jumping to a slightly different topic here,
but follow me. There's a lot of people come out
of high school and they're going to go on to
do the next part of their life, and they think, well,
I'm going to go off to college. But college isn't
for everyone. There's a lot of need in our state
for the trades, for people who can weld, who can
(24:04):
do plumbing, master plumbers, electricians, all that kind of stuff.
And do you see a real need out there for
younger people because there's a lot of master plumbers who
are getting up into their seventies and eighties, they're not
going to be around forever.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
You're exactly right. The trades in almost nationwide are aging out.
Those guys are getting old and they're retiring. We have
a sixty year old a exemption for continuing education. Once
you turn sixty, you don't have to do continuing it anymore. Well,
you have to fill out a form to do that,
(24:36):
and when we put that form out, over a third
of our database is over sixty. So that just tell
you that we need new bloody in the trades, in
home builders' licenses everywhere, it's just across the board that
it's there's a and it's a good way to make
a good living.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
So with the licensure board, do you do any training
or is it just straight up administering the task and
issuing the permits.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
We have contracted with a company to do our test
for us, but the board has gone through I don't know.
It was about fifteen hundred questions that were related to
the industry, and then the testing company develops a test
and it's not the most difficult test, but is still
it's very comprehensive. It's an open book test. You got
(25:23):
to know how to use the references and where to
go find them.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
So there are references that you would point people to
to help, you know, cram for this thing.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Correct In The Homebuilders Association of Alabama does a prep course,
I don't know, two or three times a year, so
that's a good class to go take as well. We
do or require continuing education for our licensees, and I
think we've got sixteen or eighteen providers and get on
our website and decide whichever class that you want to
take this year.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I'm just curious a raw number, off the top of
your head, how many people hold a license in the
state of Alabama to do work on a home.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
Homebuilders, remodelers, and roofers were at about ten thousand.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
That sounds like a big number, but when you think
how big our state is, it sounds like we need more.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
We really do need more. It's the residential construction industry
in the state of Alabama is about a ten or
twelve billion dollar industry. So it's very important to the
public as far as them choosing the right contractor is
very important to the state just because it's a big
chunk of the economy.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
This is a viewpoint Alabama on the Alabama Radio Network.
My name is John Mountsin speaking with Chip Carden. He's
the executive director of the home Builders License Your Board
of Alabama. Chip. Where do people need to go to
get information about the testing and the materials for the
test and that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
They can go to HBLB dot Alabama dot gov. There's
a button that you click that says how to get
a license and you should just read through that section
that takes you to a candidate Information bulletin which gives
you all the low down on taking the test. It
even gives you a content breakdown and tells you how
many questions you'll see in this area, how many questions
(27:04):
you'll see in another area. So it's a pretty it's
a good source of information for you. And and since
COVID we have offered that test online. You can take
it from the confines of your own office. If you've
got good internet connection, you've got a laptop with a
with a camera on it. You can take our test.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
With a camera. So they know that it's you taking
the task out of process.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
You have to provide some identifications.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Your ID after the little camera.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
May they make you scan the room and thumb through your.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
There's no one sitting on the other side of the
camera giving you.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
That's a they're they're they're watching you take the test.
Is how that works.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
That's probably a very good thing to make sure we
have like license people who know what they're doing.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
And we still have had a couple of instances of cheating.
So it's it's it's not very widespread because our company
does do a really good job at proctering those exams.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
And you said the exam, you have to go through
it every year.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
No, that's just continuing education. You have to go through
every year. So there's they have to choose six hours
every year so they can get their license renewed.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Okay, so you get it renewed. So in other words,
the information changes. You don't have to you don't say,
take the exact same test every year.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Correct. You know, one year you may take something on
financial management. The next year you may take stuff on
actual construction that sell foundations, waterproof and just whatever areas
interest you, as long as it falls and comes through
one of our providers.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
And so one more time that hb LB dot com.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
HBOB dot Alabama dot gov.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Dot gov got it, I guess because you're a government
organization that would make sense. Well, Chip Cardon, you've opened
our eyes in terms of the importance of those licenses.
They're not just pieces of paper. They do help make
sure that we're living in houses that are going to
be able to stand the test of not just houses,
I guess buildings structures in general. That's a good question.
People who contract with a state, like say they're working
(28:58):
on the roads, so they have to be licens.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
They're licensed by the Licensing Board for general contractors. That's
the way the state is divided from a construction standpoint
is from from residential and commercial. So anything that's commercial,
which that would be, then you'll have to have a
license through the GC board.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
So you're you're the home builders, thus the home the
private curreative things.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Correct.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Where the where the home builders, you're the residents that
you live on is is our living is our jurisdiction.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Got you okay, Chip Carton, thank you so much for
joining us, and uh again hb LB dot Alabama dot go.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
That's correct.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Thank you so much for joining us this week on
Viewpoint Alabama.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Thank you've been listening to Viewpoint Alabama, a public affairs
program from the Alabama Radio Network. The opinions expressed on
Viewpoint Alabama are not necessarily those of the staff, management,
or advertisers of this station.
Here in Alabama. We love America and we love to
celebrate America. Hello, I'm John Mounts and this is Viewpoint,
Alabama on the Alabama Radio Network. And every year in Birmingham,
there is an incredible display over Vulcan it's called Thunder
on the Mountain. Joining me to talk about this incredible
thing and also other things going on at Vulcan Park
Foundation is Cynthia Cardona. She is the president and CEO. Cynthia,
(00:24):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thanks for having me John.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
So we're excited because coming up this Friday is the
fourth of July, and every fourth of July it's isn't
it the largest fireworks display in the state.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
It is one of the largest. Okay, it's gonna show
definitively prove that it's the largest, although we like to
promote that, but it is one of the largest, definitely
in Central Alabama. For sure.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I was gonna say no shade to Mobile because I
know they do a great job down there Huntsville. We
have a lot of great ones, but this is one
of the biggest ones and it's right up there on
the mountain. It's right over the Vulcan and Vulcan Park
Foundation has been a part of this for how long
have you guys been part of this?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Over ten years now?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
So Thunder on the Mountain in the Vulcan Park Foundation
is synonymous with the Fourth of July. What can we
look forward to that we haven't seen. If you're in
the Birmingham area and you've probably been there every year,
there's a lot of stuff that's changed, especially since the
Vulcan reopened because it was closed for renovations, or the
Vulcan itself was reopened what was five years ago with
they put the new lights on everything.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Oh, so we were not closed. So the renovation, the
original renovation of Vulcan and Vulcan Park happened in the
late nineties and early two thousand.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I remember that because he came down.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
He came down, he was in pieces throughout town. He
was restored lovingly by Robinson Iron and then the community
came together and did a massive fundraising campaign to preserve him,
get him back on the pedestal and then renovate the park.
So that was twenty five years ago.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Last year, okay, and now and more recently you put
the lights on. I think that's what I'm thinking of,
is you put some new lights on about five years ago.
They've had multicolored lights and everything.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Absolutely so. Yes. So thanks to a generous donation from
the Kawanas Club of Birmingham, we have a new lighting
system that we've been using for several years now and
it has been an amazing asset to the park.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And I think don't you incorporate that lighting into the
Thunder on the Mountain?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Absolutely so, it's the show is a timed light to
fireworks to music show. So what you see is a
combination of three companies coming together. Barbizon does the lighting,
Pyro Shows of Alabama does the fireworks and the music,
and then all of you do the voiceovers and so
(02:37):
it's really a collaborative effort and something that we start
working on six months in advance.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
And if you're in the Birmingham area you can watch
the fireworks anywhere you can see We always say anywhere
you can see the Vulcan, you can see the fireworks.
But also there's music that goes along with it. If
you want to hear the music syncd up with the fireworks,
you want to listen to one of our iHeartRadio stations
in the Birmingham area, Magic ninety six point five one
of two, five to the bull one of three seven,
the Q one A five five, WERC one of four
(03:03):
to one, the beat What Am I missing? One A
five to one, any of our iheartstations where we're running
the music that goes along with it, so you can
watch it in real time if you're at home a
little further away. You can also see it on WBrC
Fox six because they will be running the whole thing
as well. But and just a word to the whys
on this thing anymore. You listen to the radio any
number of ways, not just on the radio but also
(03:25):
on your cell phone. But for this particular thing, you
have to listen to the music over the air because
on the cell phone there's a delay. So the fireworks
when we see, you know, the trees are green in
the clouds of white, it won't line up right if
you're listening on the phone. You have to listen over
the air to get that part right correct. Now, Cynthia,
there's other things that Vulcan does. And by the way,
if you've never been up I know you have, but
(03:46):
to our people listening, if you've never been up there
to the museum at the park museum. There is a
great museum there that shows off not only what Vulcan
is all about, but also the history of Birmingham and
the mining and the iron works that we've done over
the last one hundred thirty years.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Yes, our visitor center houses a small history museum and again,
like you said, it's the history of Birmingham and the
history of the industry that put Birmingham on the map.
But we also have a rotating exhibit annually. This year's
exhibit is from Steel to Stage, the History of Theater
in Birmingham, and we're highlighting all of the historic preservation
(04:24):
of the local theaters and then the mark on our
arts and culture that the Birmingham theater scene has created.
And then that's up till January, so people have plenty
of time to come up and see that. And then
in conjunction with that exhibit, we have a panel discussion
coming up on June twenty sixth, also called Preserving Birmingham.
(04:48):
How we saved our historic theaters and now you can too.
So we have programming related to this exhibit that people
can enjoy year round. But this upcoming panel is going
to be great, It's going to be local historians, local
preser reservationists in our staff talking about how folks can
come together and really restore our historic structures and save them.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
And to get a mission to the museum. Isn't it
included if you if you buy a ticket to go
up to the platform.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Absolutely so, if you buy a ticket to go up
to the observation deck observation tower, I should say you
can go into the history museum as well, and then
shop in the anvil. We have a great gift shop.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
It is a great gift shop. And going up, of
course into the vulcan, that is something. Well, you don't
actually really go all the way up into the vulcan.
You go up into the pedestal. You stand at his
feet when you go.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Up there, right, so you stand at an observation deck
that's just below his feet, safely under his feet. He's
really up there. The observation deck is below.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That and is interesting because it's very safe. I can't
I can't overemphasize the safeness of being up there, but
you feel like you're way up high because for starters,
there's the glass elevator.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Correct, so if you're afraid of heights, it may not
be for you the elevator is you can see through it,
and so if you have to take the elevator, it
is part of the experience. And when you get up
to the observation deck, the it is graded so wind
can get through there. It's an engineering feat. But if
(06:14):
you're afraid of heights, just make sure when you get
up there you look out into the horizon. I'm not down.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
I've seen people get up there in the elevator and
in the door in the glass elevator. The door opens
and they immediately look down through those grates and they
turn it back around, they get back off the elevator.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It happens all the time. But the key is I
also am afraid of heights, and I have to go
up there continuously. So the key is to as soon
as you get off the elevator, just look straight ahead,
look at the horizon, look at the beautiful city and
community before you. It's really what it's about.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
The thing I always worried about up there is my
cell phone because I'm so afraid because those grates are
kind of wide. I mean, a person wouldn't fall through,
but a cell phone could, so I was afraid because
everyone's got their phone out did do phones get dropped
off of there from.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Time to time. Phones jewelry hats are a big one.
The win end is really strong up at the observation tower,
so we are constantly having to get out letters and
assist folks with getting items they fall down to the
roof of the pedestal base. So yes, many a hats
(07:17):
have been lost.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
But it is such a beautiful and especially if you
go in the evening, if you go after sunset or
maybe right at sunset, to watch the sun reflecting off
of the buildings of downtown Birmingham and you can turn
the other way see Homewood. It's an incredible view from
up there.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Absolutely, it is the best view in town and it's
very romantic if you want to take a date up there,
or you just want to see the city twinkling, kind
of ending the day, seeing the lights come on and
then some go off. It's just magical.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
And by the way, if you want to be a
return a repeat customer, I understand that you can buy
a membership to Vulcan Park right absolutely.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
If you want more information on a membership, visit Vulcan
dot com is where you will go and all of
our levels there and all of the information on how
to do that will be there.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
And Cynthia, while we're talking about it, I understand there's
some other things that are going on with regard to
thunder on the Mountain. There's going to be a viewing party.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Correct, tell me about that. So this year, again thanks
to the generosity of Medical Properties Trusts, who's our presenting sponsor,
and also this year we've had Uab Callahan I come
back to the family and they're on as a sponsor,
we are able to offer a little bit more this year,
and that viewing party is one of those components. And
so we get calls almost every day in July or
(08:41):
rather in June about where to go and see the fireworks.
And of course, like you said earlier, if you can
see Vulcan, you can see the fireworks. But this year
we are allowing a limited number of tickets to be
purchased and folks can come and see the fireworks from
Kowana Centennial Park. It's out of the fallout zone and
it's completely safe. We're selling fifty tickets. It's they're two
(09:04):
hundred dollars a piece. I'm sorry, two hundred and fifty
dollars a piece, and it's all inclusive. We will have
a bar, food, the fireworks, and it's the best view.
You can't beat it. It's great value. You're gonna have
an exclusive event and an exclusive seat to the best
fireworks in town.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Not only can you see them and hear them, you'll
be able to feel them.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
You'll be able to feel them. You'll feel the rong
with the boom.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Well probably the heat I mean those things. I mean
because I've been at the club watching before and I
can feel the heat off of some of those things.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, you'll feats, You'll don't scare people off. You will
feel some heat, but you'll be so mesmerized by the
sights and the sounds you won't even notice that. It's
just magical to be right under the statue and see
these fireworks. So we really welcome everyone to again visit
(09:56):
Vulcan dot com. Get your ticket. There are only a
few left. They're going fast. We're less than a week
out or a little bit over a week out, and
really two hundred and fifty dollars for a unique, perhaps
once in a lifetime experience. You can't beat it.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Because you see that around I always see in Homewood
we get about eight o'clock, people are driving around kind
of panic. They're looking for a good place to watch
the fireworks, and they think that they're going to be
able to drive right up to the vulcan. And of
course the roads are closed at that point, so you
have to be in place to view this, and that's
why you need a ticket to be able to get
that close. Otherwise you're going to be a little bit
further away.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yes, So the Birmingham Police Department and the Birmingham Fire
Department do an amazing job of keeping all of us
safe and keeping the community in the public safe. So
at six o'clock we shut down all the roads and
all the access so Pirate Shows of Alabama can start
doing their thing. And yes, the event is six to
nine thirty and if you're not there before that, you're.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Out of Wi tru late. And of course that's a
safe place because there are, by the way, a lot
of places that you can see it but are not
It's not safe to stop on I sixty five on
an overpass. I'm just gonna put it that, because people
do that.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
They stop on overpasses, they stop in all sorts of
places they can see the fireworks, but they really shouldn't
be stopp there because you're gonna you know, you might
get hurt.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Absolutely. I always tell folks if you have access to
what are the buildings one of the high rises downtown,
If you have access to some of those offices, go there.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
The best is a parking deck. If it's a parking deck,
get on the top level of the parking deck. Great place,
and your car's right there so you can listen to
the radio and hear the soundtrack that goes along with
the fireworks.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Absolutely, parking deck. If you can get into one of
the buildings. I hear there's a rumor that Children's hospital,
you know, the patients there can see the fireworks from
their windows, and that really warms my heart to no.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
I've done that one before. I've done that one before
from the Children's deck. I've viewed it from there. I've
viewed it from a lot of places over the years,
and yeah, those are some of the best. Has a
lot of great places. The I don't know if it's
still open up for the Humanities building UAB has these
kind of like wrap around balconies that are just in
the perfect place, especially if you can see the WBrC
call letters up there on the hill. It's a great
place to watch the fireworks.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Absolutely, yes, yes, so anywhere you can see. Vulcan Homewood's
a great place again, downtown Birmingham. We just encourage everyone
to be safe. Don't stop on the highway.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Just find a spot, make your plans now, make your
plans now where you're going to go. Scout it out
so you know where you're going, so there's no panic,
and leave the fireworks to the professionals.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Absolutely. And in this case that's Pirates Shows of Alabama.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
That's probably why Callahan I is one of your sponsors, right, Yes,
Cithy Cardo, thank you so much from Vulcan Park and
notice I'm saying park, not parks. Vulcan Park Foundation. Thank
you so much for joining us this week on Viewpoint Alabama.
Thanks for having me, John, And as Viewpoint Alabama continues,
I'm joined now by Chipcardon. He is the executive director
of the home Builder's Licensure Board. Chip, Welcome to Viewpoint.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
I'm glad to be thanks for having and there are a.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Lot of things in Alabama that we have to consider.
It's summertime and there's a lot of people there renovating
their houses, and they they might think, just fine, I'll
get some guy off the corner and he can put
an addition on. And that's not the way you want
to go. You want to actually know that the people
who are doing work on your home are licensed. Why
is that.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well, I mean it's their first line of defense against
those those bad fly by night guys that you can't trust.
We had a lot of crazy unsettled weather this spring.
May and first part of June has been crazy thunderstorms,
a lot of trees on houses. And when those guys
show up, you just need to say, hey, let me
see your license card.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Now, what does that card mean? Like, is it given
by the state by you who licenses these.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
It means that they have had some minimum qualifications in
order to hold it. They've either had to pass a
test or they got grandfathered in some years ago. That
they have a credit check run to see if there
are any leans judgments charge off accounts that in their
public record search.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
So they have to keep that updated. I would assume
that's correct.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
They renew it every year. It's got its current year,
got the name and address on there, and the license
number beginning in October one, you can renew penalty free
up until November thirtieth. After November thirtieth there's a fifty
dollars late fee, and then after December thirty first, there's
a ugly six hundred dollars expired license fee.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Well, yeah, you don't want to deal with that.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
You don't want to have to deal with that.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
What's the initial outlay or does it depend on the
business or the volume business you do. What's the outlay
that somebody could expect to have to pay to obtain
a license.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
The books for the tests are the most expensive. Sometimes
you can rent them, sometimes you can borrow them from
a friend or somebody that's in the business. I think
they're in the in the five six hundred dollars range.
Then you got testing costs which are two fifty.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
So while this is not the price is not so
onerous that it's it makes it unobtainable. Kind of ensure
that the people working on your house, they are not
just some guy who woke up one day and said,
I'll take a fifteen dollars online test and now I'm
good to go to put a roof on your house.
These people, they're in the business because they mean to
be in the business. They know what they're doing, and
(15:14):
they've actually gone through some testing, like a road test
as it were.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
This is not the fictitious Joe swinghammer with a nail
apron and a pickup truck. These guys are professionals. They
have minimum requirements they have to meet in order to
hold that license. You're supposed to have a written contract
if you're going to do business. There's certain disclosures for
liability insurance in workers' comp that they need to be
(15:39):
able to produce.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
I like that Joe swing Hammry. I was thinking of you.
Remember the old show New Heart. Remember the next door neighbors?
Was it Larry and his brother Daryl's or the brother Darrel?
Remember they had a business called anything for a Buck?
So it's not those guys that have worked on your house.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Is not those guys Darryl and his other brother Daryl
are out there though.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Beware and depending on the tre is there different tests
that you have to take or different qualifications you have
to have.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
For the home builder's license, there is a home builder's
test for it. The roofer's license there is no test
associated with it, but they have to have a ten
thousand dollars bond.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
And that's important because if they were to get injured,
like say they fell off your roof, you don't want
to have to pay their medical bills.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Correct. That would be a worker's comp component. I would
always ask them to see if they have workers comp
General liability insurance. It's very important because the ultimate responsibility
lies with the homeowner. If they don't, you know, if
one of their men gets hurt on the job and
they don't have workers Comp, then it becomes your responsibility
as the homeowner, and.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Your homeowner's insurance might not cover all of it. Correct,
And especially if they find out that you were using
somebody who wasn't licensed. Right, and when you use a
licensed contractor to do the work, is everyone like if
they have subcontractors underneath them, do they also need a
license or is that covered as a blanket thing.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
There are certain trades in state Alabama that have to
have their own specific license. Electricians have to be licensed
by the Electrical Board, plumbers by the plumbers and gas fitters,
and the HVAC has to be done by the Heating
and Air Contractors Board.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
A lot of times you see plumbers that are plumbers
and HVAC guys and also you know, I think kind
of lump it alter and electricians are they? Is it
all the same or you have to have three different
licenses for.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Each It's three different licenses just depending on what trade
that you perform. If you're just the home builder and
that's all that you do is you hire these guys,
then you're supposed to hire a licensed contractor to come
on your job, just up until here. Recently, if you're
a home builder, the law was changed to where you
have to put your your license number on all your contracts,
(17:47):
on all your advertise and whatever you put on Facebook,
any of your social media needs to have your license
number on it for people to easily identify you as
a licensee.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
When you approach this city of that you live in
for a permit to do any sort of work on
your home, and I assume you are supposed to do that,
right you correct? What's what's the say? What's a threshold?
Like if I'm going to go paint my hallway, I
don't get I know I don't need a license or
a permit for that, But what do you need a
permit for?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Typically it's the each local jurisdiction is a little different.
They set a minimum dollar amount for what you're going
to be doing. If it's strictly cosmetics, most of the
time they don't require a permit, but once you start
cutting into the envelope of the house, most roof jobs
have to be permitted. And then once you start getting
(18:38):
into replacing windows or doing structural improvements or structural modifications,
then you've got to have a permit.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
If you have the waterproofing, people come in and they
do a foundation repair, I assume that's definitely a permitted thing.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
I would think so, because those those foundation repairs are
not cheap, and anything over ten thousand dollars is supposed
to have a home builder's.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
License, and they usually go right down to the bedrock.
When they do like the foundation, the peers and that
kind of thing, they're going all the way down. So
that's a pretty serious thing to be doing. You want
somebody who knows what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
When I first came to the licensure board, we used
to have a lot of wet basements around Birmingham, and
so I know there was some work there, but I
think over time there has been improvements from a technology
standpoint and how people actually do things, the materials that
they use. And yes, it is a serious repair and
it does have to go all the way down to
(19:28):
the footings if you're going to have to do it right.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
This is a viewpoint Alabama on the Alabama Radio Network.
My name is John Mountsin speaking with Chip Garden. He's
the executive director of the Homebuilder's Licensure Board. And Chip,
are there any new things? I know we had this
conversation last year too. Have any new things on the
horizon that you're doing at the home Licensure Board? New
for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
New for twenty twenty five. We've got the Construction Trades
Academy is now under our administration. The legislature passed that
last year. They've also created the Alabama Residential Building Code
Advisory Council. You know, that's a mouthful and it doesn't
have a very good an actiumity goes with it. But
(20:10):
what we're to do as the license you're board, We've
got this advisory committee that gives us recommendations for the
Board to either accept or reject or modify for building
codes out in the areas where there are no building codes.
Once you're outside the municipal jurisdiction where a code has
been adopted, there is no code. There's only nine county
(20:31):
or eight counties in the state that have adopted county
wide building codes and inspections.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
So in those codes, they're really there to protect the
home buyer and those who live in those homes, because
you don't know when you buy a house, A lot
of times you don't realize what you know. If it
was you assume it's all done up to code, but
that's not necessarily the case, especially if it was done
some years ago. And like you said, you live maybe
two or three counties out from one of the major
(20:57):
urban areas.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
It's amazing what gets built in uninspected areas. Smith Lake
up here in Coleman, it's not very far away on
Lake Martin. There's many areas over there that are not
permitted and are not inspected. So you know, if you're
building a house and you're investing a lot of money
in it, I would hire a private inspector to come
do that for you.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Chip That brings up a good point because we're talking
about homes, but there's other structures on your property. So
for example, if you're at a lake, you might have
a dock. I would assume that that also requires inspection
as well.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Most of the time TVA, Alabama Power or the Army
Corps of Engineers are in charge of those areas, and
so far the Licensure Board does not have jurisdiction once
it's on their easement. It's I have seen some horror
stories come along, but it's very important to do your
homework and ask for recommendations from people that have used them.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
It's good to have somebody who knows what they're doing,
regardless of whether it's required or not.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
It sounds like very much so. And you know, have
always have a good contract because that protects the home
own or just as much as it does the builder.
They're as licensed home builders or remodelers, they're required by
state law to have a written contract, so so look
for that. Also look for that license number supposed to
be written on their contract.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
So should people feel because if you were to approach
someone and or they approached you, especially and they said, hey,
your roof looks like you're missing some shingles, I'd like
to do some work for you, should you feel nervous
about saying to them, do you have a license.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Heck no, I get solicitation calls all the time, and
that's the first thing that comes out of my mouth.
The last time that happened was about a week ago,
and I said, well, you know, I know you got
a good deal on these shingles that you're coming by with.
What by the way, what is your license number? And
I got a click on the other end they shung
up on me.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Well, and I would think anyone who went through the process,
because there is it is a process, and it does
take some work and some funds, I would think I
would be proud if I actually I went through that
work to get the license. I would almost feel bad
if somebody didn't ask me about they and you want
to see my.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
License, It's that's exactly right. You should be proud of
it that you that you have that license. It's it's
uh uh. You know. The law requires them to put
that license number on all their advertisements. And I've I've
had questions, you know, where do I need to put it?
If I put a Facebook post up, where do I
need to do it? And I say everywhere? Because it
separates you from the unlicensed guys. It puts more pressure
(23:24):
on them to have to try to hide it because
you're flawing that number out there for everybody to see.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
And that's actually, I guess a point of pride for
a lot of people to have that, to have that
license your number, just like anything else. And it's just
like when you put that you're a pH d or
something like that. You you did the work, you you
got the diploma.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
That's exactly right. You hold the qualifications in order to
do that type of work.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
And that brings up a good point we talk about
the work. You know, there's a lot of people who
come straight out I'm jumping to a slightly different topic here,
but follow me. There's a lot of people come out
of high school and they're going to go on to
do the next part of their life, and they think, well,
I'm going to go off to college. But college isn't
for everyone. There's a lot of need in our state
for the trades, for people who can weld, who can
(24:04):
do plumbing, master plumbers, electricians, all that kind of stuff.
And do you see a real need out there for
younger people because there's a lot of master plumbers who
are getting up into their seventies and eighties, they're not
going to be around forever.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
You're exactly right. The trades in almost nationwide are aging out.
Those guys are getting old and they're retiring. We have
a sixty year old a exemption for continuing education. Once
you turn sixty, you don't have to do continuing it anymore. Well,
you have to fill out a form to do that,
(24:36):
and when we put that form out, over a third
of our database is over sixty. So that just tell
you that we need new bloody in the trades, in
home builders' licenses everywhere, it's just across the board that
it's there's a and it's a good way to make
a good living.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
So with the licensure board, do you do any training
or is it just straight up administering the task and
issuing the permits.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
We have contracted with a company to do our test
for us, but the board has gone through I don't know.
It was about fifteen hundred questions that were related to
the industry, and then the testing company develops a test
and it's not the most difficult test, but is still
it's very comprehensive. It's an open book test. You got
(25:23):
to know how to use the references and where to
go find them.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
So there are references that you would point people to
to help, you know, cram for this thing.
Speaker 3 (25:29):
Correct In The Homebuilders Association of Alabama does a prep course,
I don't know, two or three times a year, so
that's a good class to go take as well. We
do or require continuing education for our licensees, and I
think we've got sixteen or eighteen providers and get on
our website and decide whichever class that you want to
take this year.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I'm just curious a raw number, off the top of
your head, how many people hold a license in the
state of Alabama to do work on a home.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
Homebuilders, remodelers, and roofers were at about ten thousand.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
That sounds like a big number, but when you think
how big our state is, it sounds like we need more.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
We really do need more. It's the residential construction industry
in the state of Alabama is about a ten or
twelve billion dollar industry. So it's very important to the
public as far as them choosing the right contractor is
very important to the state just because it's a big
chunk of the economy.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
This is a viewpoint Alabama on the Alabama Radio Network.
My name is John Mountsin speaking with Chip Carden. He's
the executive director of the home Builders License Your Board
of Alabama. Chip. Where do people need to go to
get information about the testing and the materials for the
test and that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
They can go to HBLB dot Alabama dot gov. There's
a button that you click that says how to get
a license and you should just read through that section
that takes you to a candidate Information bulletin which gives
you all the low down on taking the test. It
even gives you a content breakdown and tells you how
many questions you'll see in this area, how many questions
(27:04):
you'll see in another area. So it's a pretty it's
a good source of information for you. And and since
COVID we have offered that test online. You can take
it from the confines of your own office. If you've
got good internet connection, you've got a laptop with a
with a camera on it. You can take our test.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
With a camera. So they know that it's you taking
the task out of process.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
You have to provide some identifications.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Your ID after the little camera.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
May they make you scan the room and thumb through your.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
There's no one sitting on the other side of the
camera giving you.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
That's a they're they're they're watching you take the test.
Is how that works.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
That's probably a very good thing to make sure we
have like license people who know what they're doing.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
And we still have had a couple of instances of cheating.
So it's it's it's not very widespread because our company
does do a really good job at proctering those exams.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
And you said the exam, you have to go through
it every year.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
No, that's just continuing education. You have to go through
every year. So there's they have to choose six hours
every year so they can get their license renewed.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Okay, so you get it renewed. So in other words,
the information changes. You don't have to you don't say,
take the exact same test every year.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Correct. You know, one year you may take something on
financial management. The next year you may take stuff on
actual construction that sell foundations, waterproof and just whatever areas
interest you, as long as it falls and comes through
one of our providers.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
And so one more time that hb LB dot com.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
HBOB dot Alabama dot gov.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Dot gov got it, I guess because you're a government
organization that would make sense. Well, Chip Cardon, you've opened
our eyes in terms of the importance of those licenses.
They're not just pieces of paper. They do help make
sure that we're living in houses that are going to
be able to stand the test of not just houses,
I guess buildings structures in general. That's a good question.
People who contract with a state, like say they're working
(28:58):
on the roads, so they have to be licens.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
They're licensed by the Licensing Board for general contractors. That's
the way the state is divided from a construction standpoint
is from from residential and commercial. So anything that's commercial,
which that would be, then you'll have to have a
license through the GC board.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
So you're you're the home builders, thus the home the
private curreative things.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Correct.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Where the where the home builders, you're the residents that
you live on is is our living is our jurisdiction.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Got you okay, Chip Carton, thank you so much for
joining us, and uh again hb LB dot Alabama dot go.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
That's correct.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Thank you so much for joining us this week on
Viewpoint Alabama.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Thank you've been listening to Viewpoint Alabama, a public affairs
program from the Alabama Radio Network. The opinions expressed on
Viewpoint Alabama are not necessarily those of the staff, management,
or advertisers of this station.
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