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Stairwell width for existing building.

One of the most expensive part of house is the kitchen. Code does not required any cabinets or counters at all. The code doesn't require marble counters, tiled floors, garbage disposals, dishwashers, or even an oven. The house I was raised in just had shelves in the kitchen and no counter and we were middle class. Sometimes the kitchen can be 1/3 of the cost of a house. But when was the last time you saw a new house with a bare bones kitchen?

Don't blame the minimum work required to comply with codes for the cost of a house. I don't think the energy codes is even 10% of the cost of construction. You would want insulation and efficient HVAC even without codes so you can't count everything in the energy codes to be added expenses because of the code.
 
Codes are intended to be a minimum, exceeding code can have significant benefits: reduction in cost of operation, convenience, comfort , enhanced security, resale value, durability, etc.
 
Rick18071 said:
One of the most expensive part of house is the kitchen. Code does not required any cabinets or counters at all. The code doesn't require marble counters, tiled floors, garbage disposals, dishwashers, or even an oven. The house I was raised in just had shelves in the kitchen and no counter and we were middle class. Sometimes the kitchen can be 1/3 of the cost of a house. But when was the last time you saw a new house with a bare bones kitchen?

Don't blame the minimum work required to comply with codes for the cost of a house. I don't think the energy codes is even 10% of the cost of construction. You would want insulation and efficient HVAC even without codes so you can't count everything in the energy codes to be added expenses because of the code.
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i totally agree!!
 
"Cheap" just remember that you may be "buying" trouble by going minimum and attempting to cut corners.
"Bargains" often lead to "unforseens".
 
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