Building and Construction - Re: Yard floods!! Should builder remedy??

Author

Re: Yard floods!! Should builder remedy??

frippletoot@hotmail.com

2006-03-15, 1:24 pm

Al Bundy wrote:

> If it is, makes ya wonder what inspector signed off on it and what
> inspector(s) gave an occupancy permit. But then again, there are some
> places that don't even do inspections. They just require a permit to
> raise some funds and to set a flag for tax evaluation/reevaluation.

You are correct. In many areas of the U.S. new home inspections for
code compliance either don't happen at all, or are not performed very
well. Bribes are not uncommon. Some builders are scrutinized
carefully by code inpsection officials, while others get a wink and a
nod. Also, not all the inspectors are competent in spotting what is
going to become a negative grade. When a site is all torn up the
builder can tell everyone that everything will be fine "when the final
grading is done." Even to someone who knows what they're looking at,
on very flat land, a water level or other device may be necessary to
show there is no way that house is ever going to have a proper grade,
and that drains will be necessary.

Another mistake that's not visible to inspectors/code departments is
when builders build up the gound with fill dirt and don't compact it,
but it makes it appear the house is higher. Very shortly, the
homeowner will have foundation failure due to uncompressed soil. The
builder who does this is very stupid and/or hopes the cracks won't show
up before the warranty runs out.

Inspections just aren't getting the job done in many locales. Home
buyers should ALWAYS hire their own competent and unbiased experts to
check construction at various stages. One is the soil preparation and
grading before the foundation is in, one is when the foundation is
poured. Framing, electrical, plumbing, roofing and so on, all need to
be supervised by someone competent who's looking out for the customer.
The builder and code officials often are not. I learned all this the
hard way, and am very aware of how major mistakes are covered up, and
over looked, by the professionals and officials we entrust with the
correct construction of a house.

Miami Jones

2006-03-15, 11:21 pm

This is true! In TN...? the code is very lax

<frippletoot@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1142440103.903210.84460@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...
>
> Al Bundy wrote:
>
>
> You are correct. In many areas of the U.S. new home inspections for
> code compliance either don't happen at all, or are not performed very
> well. Bribes are not uncommon. Some builders are scrutinized
> carefully by code inpsection officials, while others get a wink and a
> nod. Also, not all the inspectors are competent in spotting what is
> going to become a negative grade. When a site is all torn up the
> builder can tell everyone that everything will be fine "when the final
> grading is done." Even to someone who knows what they're looking at,
> on very flat land, a water level or other device may be necessary to
> show there is no way that house is ever going to have a proper grade,
> and that drains will be necessary.
>
> Another mistake that's not visible to inspectors/code departments is
> when builders build up the gound with fill dirt and don't compact it,
> but it makes it appear the house is higher. Very shortly, the
> homeowner will have foundation failure due to uncompressed soil. The
> builder who does this is very stupid and/or hopes the cracks won't show
> up before the warranty runs out.
>
> Inspections just aren't getting the job done in many locales. Home
> buyers should ALWAYS hire their own competent and unbiased experts to
> check construction at various stages. One is the soil preparation and
> grading before the foundation is in, one is when the foundation is
> poured. Framing, electrical, plumbing, roofing and so on, all need to
> be supervised by someone competent who's looking out for the customer.
> The builder and code officials often are not. I learned all this the
> hard way, and am very aware of how major mistakes are covered up, and
> over looked, by the professionals and officials we entrust with the
> correct construction of a house.
>

Al Bundy

2006-03-16, 12:21 am

frippletoot@hotmail.com wrote in news:1142440103.903210.84460
@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com:

>
> Al Bundy wrote:
>
>
> You are correct. In many areas of the U.S. new home inspections for
> code compliance either don't happen at all, or are not performed very
> well. Bribes are not uncommon. Some builders are scrutinized
> carefully by code inpsection officials, while others get a wink and a
> nod. Also, not all the inspectors are competent in spotting what is
> going to become a negative grade. When a site is all torn up the
> builder can tell everyone that everything will be fine "when the final
> grading is done." Even to someone who knows what they're looking at,
> on very flat land, a water level or other device may be necessary to
> show there is no way that house is ever going to have a proper grade,
> and that drains will be necessary.
>
> Another mistake that's not visible to inspectors/code departments is
> when builders build up the gound with fill dirt and don't compact it,
> but it makes it appear the house is higher. Very shortly, the
> homeowner will have foundation failure due to uncompressed soil. The
> builder who does this is very stupid and/or hopes the cracks won't show
> up before the warranty runs out.
>
> Inspections just aren't getting the job done in many locales. Home
> buyers should ALWAYS hire their own competent and unbiased experts to
> check construction at various stages. One is the soil preparation and
> grading before the foundation is in, one is when the foundation is
> poured. Framing, electrical, plumbing, roofing and so on, all need to
> be supervised by someone competent who's looking out for the customer.
> The builder and code officials often are not. I learned all this the
> hard way, and am very aware of how major mistakes are covered up, and
> over looked, by the professionals and officials we entrust with the
> correct construction of a house.
>

I've heard it recommended to have even a new home gone over by a home
inspector that is a member of ASHI (not Barney birdhouse builder or
graduate of the Sally Struthers matchbook cover school of home
inspections). Most people figure why waste a couple of hundred bucks.
It's new!

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