It would depend on the requirements in order to get a license. Here, anyone can be the general contractor on whatever project they want. This translates into the person who watches HGTV religiously thinking they can be their own general contractor. They come into the office demanding help when they don't understand something. Elected officials demand we help them because they are voters. At the end of the day, qualified contractors end up subsidizing the homeowner GCs through increased permit costs to pay for the increased time demands on staff.
It is the same here. It is easy to obtain a contractors license. I had a gas station/minimart owner that was able to get a general contractor’s license so that he could “save a bundle” building a car wash. He knew nothing of any part of it.
Contractors and owners alike ask the simplest questions. Yesterday I inspectred a 200 amp service upgrade. The contractor is a solar company.....a big one. The person that performed the work is a piece worker. He might have a license but if not he works under the solar company that pulls the permit. Fourteen corrections....a bizarre mistake or two. When I was done he asked me to explain the corrections. I’m not convinced that he knows what an AFCI is. Mechanically, the outcome is not bad but there was derating, GEC (as in not there).....oh, and C-taps. He sees the solar guys slamming C-taps and what a boon they are to guys with a short wire.
So he says “Splain a little”. Fourteen corrections. I was there for 32 minutes already. The language barrier was responsible for seven of those minutes. Fourteen...best case they average three minutes .....42 more.....oh wait a minute, there’s that language barrier. Forget it, and by the way, when was I designated as your mentor?
The part of this that is unreasonable is being taken aside to defend my actions. The solar company will call and ask for a different inspector. They will say that I was rude to the “electrician” because I wouldn’t splain the corrections. Thirty-two minutes is now 47.
Having a new office manager adds minutes. Since there is a (rude) complaint I may have to let him and his assistant tag along at the next inspection. There I’ll be with the three of them....me being the only one that knows about any of it. I’m counting hours now.
This is not exaggerating or unusual. The time expended on behalf of a solar company that hires inept employees is huge and unwarranted. Just say no. No the inspector will not be replaced and we will not train your people.
I’m at a car dealer waiting for my ride...can you tell?
