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An average day
- Thread starter ICE
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Mech
REGISTERED
In #2955, are those plants, parrots, and snake sitting on a grille that is now under a roof?
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The job is an electrical service upgrade. We ask for a jumper at the water heater from the cold to hot to gas pipes. This is done to ensure that the hot water pipe and the gas pipe are bonded. Yes I know that the gas pipe can be legitimately bonded by virtue of an electrified gas appliance such as a furnace. As Tommy, the oldest Henderson boy says, "Here's the thing about that". We don't have the time nor inclination to determine what the source of heat may be. It is so much easier to get another three feet of wire and a clamp because they will be placing a jumper from the cold pipe to the hot pipe no matter what.
This is one of two water heaters at this residence. The other water heater has the correct configuration of jumper.
I wrote a correction to place the jumper on this water heater. I suspect that the workmen that installed the service panel may not have known about the existence of the second water heater. If they were aware of the second water heater they must have thought that I would not find it. In any event, the jumper was installed.
There is two clamps on the gas pipe and one clamp on the T&P drain pipe.
This is one of two water heaters at this residence. The other water heater has the correct configuration of jumper.
I wrote a correction to place the jumper on this water heater. I suspect that the workmen that installed the service panel may not have known about the existence of the second water heater. If they were aware of the second water heater they must have thought that I would not find it. In any event, the jumper was installed.
There is two clamps on the gas pipe and one clamp on the T&P drain pipe.
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The job is an electrical service upgrade with PV. I wrote a correction regarding the fitting being too small and the cable sheath not making it 1/4" into the cabinet.
I am not supposed to add corrections that I spot from looking at pictures. Well I didn't see the skinned wire while I was performing the inspection.
Since they will be doing work installing another fitting and moving the cable I guess that I can wait for the followup inspection to write that correction.... that seems inappropriate to me.....but hey now, what do I know about tactics. Is it that I should not write the correction....ever....because I missed it the first time?
I am not supposed to add corrections that I spot from looking at pictures. Well I didn't see the skinned wire while I was performing the inspection.
Since they will be doing work installing another fitting and moving the cable I guess that I can wait for the followup inspection to write that correction.... that seems inappropriate to me.....but hey now, what do I know about tactics. Is it that I should not write the correction....ever....because I missed it the first time?
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A licensed contractor has done a lot of work on this house. It might be a flipper. Yesterday was the only time that I have been there. The inspection was for the water heater.
I wanted to see inside the el. service cabinet but, alas and alack, it's been approved already.
I wanted to see inside the el. service cabinet but, alas and alack, it's been approved already.
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The job is an electrical service upgrade and PV. It is not unusual that nobody is there to meet me.
I find notes.
If the occupant happens to be home I am sometimes told, "He went to Home Depot. He should be back soon. He left everything open."
Yesterday I made the sixth inspection for a PV only job. I was stood up on the first three trips.
On the fourth inspection I wrote corrections and the occupant was not home so I couldn't get in to verify the smoke and co alarms.
At the fifth inspection, corrections were not done. But as a bonus, the occupant was home so I could get the alarms out of the way....But hold on.....
When I asked the kid that represents the contractor if the owner was there he said yes. Then he said, "Are smoke detectors required in bedrooms? There aren't any in the bedrooms. Most inspectors will pass it anyway if I promise to go to Home Depot and get smoke detectors."
On the sixth inspection I walked down the long driveway. There were several cars with nobody in them, or so I thought. I went to the door and the lady that lives there let me in. She does not speak English but she knew why I was there and led me to the hallway and bedrooms. Alarms were installed....wrong. I wrote a correction explaining how to install the errant alarms and left the way I came.
It is exasperating considering that I gave the worker a sheet of paper with a drawing and explanation of how to install the alarms. We staple that sheet to the permit. I stuck several on the gate whenever I was stood up at the first three inspections. That sheet arrives with the alarms.
Consider the irony....they are entrusted to install PV....service upgrades.....but can't figure out how to install smoke alarms. Did I say exasperating? I think I meant ******* dumbfounded.....Ya that's it.
So now I'm a hundred feet away, walking down that long driveway when I hear, "Hey! I'm here". It was the worker and apparently he was asleep in one of the cars....... He wants to start the inspection.
I average a couple PV inspections per day. There's always at least one and sometimes five. I get stood up a lot. The mistakes are always numerous. Toss in a service upgrade and the mistakes become voluminous.
The truth be told, it's shocking what goes on out there. Few people are aware of just how bad it is and few of them bother to care. That is a sad reality that doesn't need to exist. It is not too difficult to get it done right. If only the jurisdictions had the will to see it through.
I find notes.
If the occupant happens to be home I am sometimes told, "He went to Home Depot. He should be back soon. He left everything open."
Yesterday I made the sixth inspection for a PV only job. I was stood up on the first three trips.
On the fourth inspection I wrote corrections and the occupant was not home so I couldn't get in to verify the smoke and co alarms.
At the fifth inspection, corrections were not done. But as a bonus, the occupant was home so I could get the alarms out of the way....But hold on.....
When I asked the kid that represents the contractor if the owner was there he said yes. Then he said, "Are smoke detectors required in bedrooms? There aren't any in the bedrooms. Most inspectors will pass it anyway if I promise to go to Home Depot and get smoke detectors."
On the sixth inspection I walked down the long driveway. There were several cars with nobody in them, or so I thought. I went to the door and the lady that lives there let me in. She does not speak English but she knew why I was there and led me to the hallway and bedrooms. Alarms were installed....wrong. I wrote a correction explaining how to install the errant alarms and left the way I came.
It is exasperating considering that I gave the worker a sheet of paper with a drawing and explanation of how to install the alarms. We staple that sheet to the permit. I stuck several on the gate whenever I was stood up at the first three inspections. That sheet arrives with the alarms.
Consider the irony....they are entrusted to install PV....service upgrades.....but can't figure out how to install smoke alarms. Did I say exasperating? I think I meant ******* dumbfounded.....Ya that's it.
So now I'm a hundred feet away, walking down that long driveway when I hear, "Hey! I'm here". It was the worker and apparently he was asleep in one of the cars....... He wants to start the inspection.
I average a couple PV inspections per day. There's always at least one and sometimes five. I get stood up a lot. The mistakes are always numerous. Toss in a service upgrade and the mistakes become voluminous.
The truth be told, it's shocking what goes on out there. Few people are aware of just how bad it is and few of them bother to care. That is a sad reality that doesn't need to exist. It is not too difficult to get it done right. If only the jurisdictions had the will to see it through.
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A lot of work was done in remodeling this house. All of it without permits or inspections. The attic access is 12"x12". I could only get pictures and wouldn't you know it, they used plumber's tape to suspend the HVAC duct.
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Mr. Inspector
SAWHORSE
Don't you charge for reinspections?
I can ask for a one hour inspection fee. It pretty much assures me that they will complain....I will be labeled rude.....obnoxious and disrespectful. Hardly worth the $110.
linnrg
Sawhorse
ICE,
I am curious, with all of the technology you may have can you email or text the actual owner/applicant that the inspection failed and a re-inspection fee will be applied for each extra inspections? Me thinks if the Owners find out they are failing they may seek damages or delays from the contractors. Oh and by the way include in it a note to call a certain phone number that when answered says - please be patient your call will be answered in the order it was received - you are caller number 99 and your approximate wait time is 8 hours and 45 minutes!
With all of the stuff your warm climate area puts into an attic I am surprised to hear of such a small access. Do you allow the removal of a properly sized gable end vent for the attic access?
I am curious, with all of the technology you may have can you email or text the actual owner/applicant that the inspection failed and a re-inspection fee will be applied for each extra inspections? Me thinks if the Owners find out they are failing they may seek damages or delays from the contractors. Oh and by the way include in it a note to call a certain phone number that when answered says - please be patient your call will be answered in the order it was received - you are caller number 99 and your approximate wait time is 8 hours and 45 minutes!
With all of the stuff your warm climate area puts into an attic I am surprised to hear of such a small access. Do you allow the removal of a properly sized gable end vent for the attic access?
Twice!!!!! That would be a good day for me. LOL Oh my gosh, he said twice. Seriously, it's in the hundreds for me.
I have been at it for a long time. Take a look at my picture. That screams rude. I don't have to say anything.
A contractor complained that he didn't like the way I walk. 90% of the time it's all about the corrections....they got too many....they never get any....they got corrections that they have never gotten before....they don't understand the corrections. So there they sit all flummoxed....thinking, "I know, we'll say that he was rude and get a different inspector.
The last 10% were such jerks that all I had left in me was rude.
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Mr. Inspector
SAWHORSE
I use reinspection fees on contractors that constantly fail. It seems to work well.
Had a developer that would have 4 houses ready for roughs at a time, but they wouldn't really be ready. Made them pay a reinspection for building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical for 4 houses that weren't ready one day. After that they were always ready.
Had a developer that would have 4 houses ready for roughs at a time, but they wouldn't really be ready. Made them pay a reinspection for building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical for 4 houses that weren't ready one day. After that they were always ready.
This detail is called out on the foundation plan for a kitchen/dining room addition. There is no garage being built. The designer hit the wrong button.
So they formed it with the curb. I tried to convince them that this is not a good idea but contractors are loathe to do work over.
So they formed it with the curb. I tried to convince them that this is not a good idea but contractors are loathe to do work over.
Attachments
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JCraver
REGISTERED
The wife is going to be pissed when she realizes she has a curb in her kitchen.....
They may frame the walls with 2”x6”. That will hide the curb. Baseboard can be glued. Thresholds will need special attention.
I noticed that the "Man who draws" shows the 6-mil poly extending down the inside part of the footing, I have never seen that done here, usually it stops at the wall above gravel instead of sand here.This detail is called out on the foundation plan for a kitchen/dining room addition. There is no garage being built. The designer hit the wrong button.
So they formed it with the curb. I tried to convince them that this is not a good idea but contractors are loathe to do work over.
conarb
REGISTERED
That's been a bone of contention for some years around here, as a practical matter placing the concrete always scatters the sand, as a theoretical matter the sand is supposed to hold moisture and release it back into the slab gradually for more even drying, others say it's a waste. BTW, I've never seen the poly turned down either, by the time we are done pouring it's all torn up anyway.
mtlogcabin
SAWHORSE
Back in the early 90's the 6-mil poly went under the footings and came up the on the inside of the form board. The poly kept the sand in Fl from quickly pulling the moisture out of the concrete. We dealt with "Hot Weather" so retaining moisture in the concrete was a real concern on slabs
JCraver
REGISTERED
Nobody pours on sand here anymore. All the pads that got poured ~20 years ago and more on sand are all failing, and when you bust them up the sand is gone and all that's left is a big void. Water gets under there and freezes = replacing the pad.
I can't believe anybody ever thought that was a good idea anyway.
I can't believe anybody ever thought that was a good idea anyway.
conarb
REGISTERED
So is the sand there to supposedly retain moisture in the concrete or to get the moisture out of the concrete? I get differing answers from architects and engineers.
mtlogcabin
SAWHORSE
This is how we did it in Florida in the 90's
This is why you do not put sand between poly and concrete slabs
https://buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-003-concrete-floor-problems
hope the link works
This is why you do not put sand between poly and concrete slabs
https://buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-003-concrete-floor-problems
hope the link works