Doing Work
Has anyone run into the problem of not being able to do your own work? My wife went down to get a building permit to install an entry door and was told if you dont live in the property you cant do any work to it, even if you own it. Now I can understand not doing certain electrical or plumbing things, but you cant install a door? How can I get around this? They want me to hire licensed contractor and be charge hundreds of dollars for a 1 hour job I can do.
I want to take out the exsisting door frame and install a new prehung door. The new door is framed and has brick mold on it already. There will be no changes to the framing of the house. I dont mind getting permit, but they are telling me I cant even do the work.
Well there is an exception. If there is a chance you may live in the property, then you can do these things yourself. I suppose there is always a chance that you might move in. As for the permit, they say putting in door is considered framing even if you dont touch the framing. Oh well, at lease I can do it myself. Thanks.
CHANGING A DOOR!! Now that is crazy...i understand protecting future tenants/buyers from amateur wiring or something like that but permit for a door.
If you went to HD and bought a door and paid for their install ask if their installer pulls a permit.
Do they come out and inspect that the door swings and locks...sure sounds like a racket to get permit $$$.
unfortunatley the electrical inspector was in checking a service upgrade that was being done. He called me and said I needed a permit for the doors. All the inspectors must talk. I got the permit. $40. 40 bucks to put in a door. You need a permit for just about anything I guess.
aaaha...
A skunk in the woodpile!
In my area all exterior doors and windows are suppose to be permitted. Nobody gets the permit. But you are suppose to get a permit. Also in my area, only the owner of owner occupied properties can pull permits. Investors can not pull permits on their investment properties.
You will learn how to get around the inspectors. You can not have things out and about when they are coming for an inspection. Hide the tools and materials and give the handyman the day off.
I have rehabber friends that park their truck and trailer behind the building, keep the windows and blinds closed, keep the doors locked while they are inside, etc. And do not ever get a dumpster. Pay someone extra to trailer haul the stuff out, or wait to get the dumpster after you have done all the permit required work.
There is a science to doing a major rehab and not drawing the unwanted attention of the code inspectors, yet getting them to the house to do their inspections.