Advice needed – neighbor’s home remodel – nothing to code
It is really awkward. I was invited to look at my neighbor’s home remodel in progress by the excited owner. The contractor had taken pretty much the whole house down to the studs. New windows cut into existing walls, new electrical, new rough ins for kitchen, and hot mopped showers.
Nothing, and I mean NOTHING is to code. I was shocked and appalled. I tried to hide it the best I could and made an excuse and left before I blew up. Here is a quick run down:
No headers on window framing. Load bearing walls. Framed a four foot hole for window with two 2x4s flat as the header.
All the electical is 14g, even the 20A circuits in the garage. outlets, everything.
Hot mopped showers have no slope and no weep holes.
The list can go on and on. The plumbing for the kitchen is wrong. Venting is wrong. New plumbing for sink in garage is wrong.
Even the sub floor was made with 5/8 ply – flexes like crazy when you walk on it.
Here is my dilemma. What should I do? So far I have done nothing but quietly fume at the contractor’s substandard work. I have no idea whether they pulled any permits (should have!) and I have seen no sign of any inspector.
Should I just keep my mouth shut and do nothing?
Thanks,
Martin
Replies
Permits?
Is this job permitted? If the inspector is even half fast, he'll catch all the defects.
You can educate your neighbor if asked. Otherwise, it's not your problem. IMO you're wasting your energy concerning yourself about it. Poor construction happens everywhere, everyday.
Probably a wise course of action. It is very difficult to let go...
Don't think it is permitted. If it were, then the inspector would have everything ripped out and done again. That is what I secretly wish would happen for this contractor - well, not so secretly, now...
Forgot to add - you'll all love this
So in the demo they took out the old venting for the kitchen and fireplace. What was it? Transite asbestos of course! How was it removed? good ol' sledge hammer. Nice.
I'd call the building department and tell them everything you just told us. Of course it is your business if it's a neighbor. Their house could catch fire and spread to yours among other things. You or one of your kids copuld be there when the gas oven doesn't vent properly. Even if it doesn't affect you directly how will you feel if something happens to one of your neighbors?
What to Do
First, stop fuming. If you get upset every time you see somebody doing substandard work you'll eventually go up in flames. I saw something on another blog that said something to the effect that in order to keep things in perspective you must remember that 50% of all people are below average.
If the roles were reversed how would you want your neighbor to respond (or not respond) to you?
What you do is call the contractor and ask him how much he'll pay for you to keep quiet.
You Reap What You Sow
First off, if the neighbor asks you what you think ... tell him. Instead of saying "oh, wow, how lovely!", say something like "Please tell me this was all done by your retarded in-laws."
Otherwise, keep quiet. IME, customers are NEVER innocent when this sort of thing happens. Oh, no, they go through all manner of contortions to cut corners, save dollars, and seek out haples make-believe 'contractors.' They know darn well what they are doing. IMO, they DESERVE to have things come apart on them later. Only by having things fall apart, by having to pay several times for the same work, do they ever learn that there are reasons behind the rules.
It's funny how many folks are paranoid about the intentions of their own governments .... while they personally are the ones with dishonest intentions.