Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Oct 03, 2002 08:08pm | #1

   You've got three themes going on here:

   >>>>>What specifically to do about your building.

   >>>>>Whether building codes are a good idea or not

   >>>>>Whether it is possible or desireable for anything in life to be "worry free"

   I've got to sit back and think about which to respond to...

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   jonblakemore | Oct 03, 2002 08:13pm | #2

   Did you have a contract?  Did the contractor give you a spec sheet as to what you were getting for your money?  If you didn't properly protect yourself you might not have much recourse.

   Jon Blakemore
1. 
   Mongo | Oct 03, 2002 09:24pm | #4

   Since there is no local code, then I'm in wityh Jon...what are the specs in the contract or agreement?

   If none, you're essentially out of luck. Maybe not out of luck, but close.

   Were the specs not followed, then you have a legal leg. One worth pursueing? that's up to you and your shark.

   Even where there is no code, often times a contract will state that "...yadda, yadda, built IAW BOCA yadda, yadda...".

   It all comes down to what you hired him to build, and how you hired him to build it.

   If you have good soil, the rebar may not matter at all.

3. 
   BossHog | Oct 03, 2002 09:01pm | #3

   I'm with Piffin here - You're really opening up several cans of worms here. What exactly are you looking for?

   If you have serious problems with the building, and are the problems fixable? Is it a legitimate builder, or just some guy with a pickup and some tools? No way you can answer those questions from here.

   If you want something reasonable done to fix a specific problem, talk to the builder and see what can be resolved. If you just want to vent, let us know............

   I have the best lover in the world .
   I can only hope that she and DW don't run into each other.

1. 
   whancock64 | Oct 03, 2002 09:35pm | #5

   Hey, I've got a pickup and some tools... (probably why I stick to small stuff, repairs mostly.) BUT I am state licensed. We are allowed to do any job that is less than $5000. To do a bath & kitchen, do kitchen seperately so they don't go over. Not too hard to do. Also means some high end stuff would be over if you price the appliances alone. On those, I have the HO order them directly and just bill the repair/refit work or seperate into series of jobs. Gets tricky cause I have to schedule each and record each seperately and the client has to know that's what is going on with the jobs. (or is that jobs? depends)

   Also, you can get a bond issued for the job specifically, but it's a hassle. Above the $5000 amount too often and the state will make you have to meet qualified full GC lice requirements and get one of those.

   Before you think I am defending all one-man shops, you have to know when to say, "You should contact someone else for this, here is someone I know..." I did that on a floor recently. Alot of the guys I see in my bracket don't do that and I think this discussion is the result

1. 
   BossHog | Oct 03, 2002 10:02pm | #6

   Maybe I didn't explain my point very well.

   I've been involved in a couple of jobs where the "contractor" owned nothing but a pickup - Had no insurance, house, or any assets. Then when something sent seriously wrong, the "contractor" wouldn't do anything about it. And the HO was stuck, as there's no point in sueing a broke contractor. (Can't get blood out of a turnip)

   So I guess I was indirectly asking if he hired a reputable contractor (with insurance) or just a hack. Just didn't phrase it very well.

   Sex is like pizza. When it's good, it's really good. When it's bad, it's still pretty good

1. 
   lees1100 | Oct 03, 2002 10:22pm | #7

   <I've been involved in a couple of jobs where the "contractor" owned nothing but a pickup - Had no insurance, house, or any assets. Then when something sent seriously wrong, the "contractor" wouldn't do anything about it. And the HO was stuck, as there's no point in sueing a broke contractor. (Can't get blood out of a turnip)>

     The thing is that homeowners will often go with the broke contractor to save money. Make it hard for people to carry the overhead to be legit and compete. Rarely doe a homeowner if ever does a home owner querry me about my liabilty policy, despite that fact that I have one.

   regards

   lee 

    

2. 
   whancock64 | Oct 03, 2002 10:38pm | #8

   I agree with you. I see them. I just try not to be them, but if things don't pick up, I might be the next turnip! ;-)

4. 
   Qtrmeg | Oct 04, 2002 12:18am | #9

   Maybe you should describe what your problems are, and how you have been damaged. Rebar misplaced or omitted isn't enough to go Chicken Little.

   So far I don't think I am going to lose any sleep over what you described.

5. 
   Piffin | Oct 04, 2002 01:29am | #10

   OK, You haven't been too specific about detailing what is wrond about all those "several things..."

   So rather than dealing with those specifics, I'll speak to the general code idea.

   Of the four major areas I've worked in my life, two had codes and inspections and two have none. As I've spent the afternoon thinking back, I believe that, as a general rule, I saw better workmanship in those areas with no code requirements or enforcement than in those areas where there was more rigid govt control in place.

   If this is true more broadly than just my experience, I wonder why....

   >>>Populace never demanded codes because there were few instances where codes would have prevented trouble because the local buildrers had high standards already as a culture.

   >>>When codes exist, an attitude can develope of just meeting the code and not of seeking excellence, or of letting blame shift to the govt.since it assumes some respomnsibility when telling us how to build.

   >>>Places where "Let the buyer beware" is the rule tend to breed an awareness and sense of involvement on the part of the owner/client.

   ?

   I'm just generalizing for discussion. I don't have a definite bias for or against codes but I know for a fact that if you think that enactment of a building code law will drastically improve the quality of construction or make your life worry free, you've got something else to worry about. I've got a bridge to sell you...

   ;-)

   Now if you could share some details or post those pictures...

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

6. 
   JeffBuck | Oct 04, 2002 01:31am | #11

   Oily and/or missing rebar probably aren't major foundation mistakes for a shop building....that was a probably...... 

   And why'd ya take pics during the pour? Did ya think something was wrong and didn't ask...or were ya looking for things to be wrong?

   Or......just by luck....did ya take pic's or your new building being built?

   I take pics of my stuff all the time......but as far as I know....I haven't had a customer come thru with a camera and document the building process.....just strikes me as odd.

   What were the other problems? If oily rebar is the worst...I'd say get over it and get on with life. Is there anything that can't be lived with....and what do you want as a solution?

   Is this really about money? Jeff

   .......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......

1. 
   Dant45 | Oct 04, 2002 04:14am | #13

   Gee Jeff, you sound a bit suspicious.  I mean, whats with the question about this being about money?  You act as though you just got done with a court case or sumpthin.  LOL DanT

1. 
   JeffBuck | Oct 04, 2002 04:36am | #14

   Yeah...I was thinking that as I was typing!

   Guess I'm gonna be the suspicious guy around here for a while. Hey..at least my lesson hasn't been lost on me yet!

   I really tried hard to not be so obvious, though.......

   Oh well......Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......

2. 
   CloudHidden | Oct 04, 2002 06:39am | #15

   >I take pics of my stuff all the time......but as far as I know....I haven't had a customer come thru with a camera and document the building process.....just strikes me as odd.

   Jeff, of the last half-dozen sites I've stepped foot on, *all* the owners are taking pix. Some do it just to create a photo journal for their own memories or for a future owner (that's why I did it), some do it be/c they have a new digicam or digivideo they wanna play with or justify buying, and some do it be/c they wanna share progress photos over the net with friends and family. None had other motives, far as I could tell.

3. 
   jonblakemore | Oct 04, 2002 05:52pm | #17

   Might be cold, but I would welcome.  If you do good work (this is not a question directed at you) then I think it can only work to your advantage for them to be involved in the process.  They might be suspicious, but if they fully document and you deliver as promised then I would guess you would have a very loyal customer.

   Jon Blakemore

7. 
   FrankB89 | Oct 04, 2002 03:24am | #12

   Was your "contractor" an "Irish Traveler" with a wife in hot water?

    

8. 
   xMikeSmith | Oct 04, 2002 07:20am | #16

   how come you laid all of this out and now you won't dialogue ?

   are you by any chance an engineer ?

   whereabouts in PA ?

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore