So we dug a foundation hole for a 16’x26′ addition to a bungalow, lining it up with the basement footings of the existing building. The Concrete guy was called, and as is out of character for concrete guys, he showed up the next day with forms, etc. The building official was called, and a message was left on Fri PM, to get a inspection. Time wears on, and no response from the building official. So we pour the footings, (2 cu. Metres, 58’ of 8†x 20†of footing, for a single storey framed addition on top of a 8’ ICF foundation). I feared the grim weather forcast for the weekend, and I was afraid of rain, and the potential of loose fill washing into the excavation. Well it rained and rained for three days straight, but everything is OK, other than some water in the excavation. Tuesday AM, the building Inspector shows up, looks at the hole and says that I’ll need to get a P. eng. to inspect the footings, and walks away, I had photos of the pour, but there was no chance for dialogue with the B.I. What really ticked me off was that the guy seemed to take great pleasure in delivering his verdict. I’m just using you guys to vent on, and will keep you posted as to how this plays out.
Fuming in Ontario
Replies
You called for an inspection, didn't get one, poured anyway and you're surprised at the response from the inspector? You're lucky you're not tearing it all out and doing it over.
Sorry about your inspection problems. I've found the best way to work with the BI is to have patience, and work with him. It's spring, and if you think contractors are busy, you just discovered someone who might be even more so. I call, sometimes they come that day if I call before 12, more often though, I'm on a wait list that often puts me mid-morning the next day. You plan around the wait, or anticipate it, if possible.
Again, sorry you're having problems, it might be best to talk to the guy, not to try and remedy his initial verdict, but to smooth the road for future interactions. I'm on good standing with the local BIs, and have had no problems with them. Respect them and what they do (provided you're not dealing with a by-the-book code maniac, or worse) and they will return in kind.
Good luck. And welcome to Breaktime. Don't forget to fill in your profile.
Where I am, the inspector is allowed 2 working days to respond to an inspection request.
If he does not respond within that time period, technically work can proceed, but unless the builder has a good track record with the official along with compelling evidence (photos of, in your case, the pour along with slips from the ready-mix company that the delivery was of the designed spec, for example), the inspector can make your life a little miserable.
Your concrete guy should be heads up on the process and the time frames and the inspection requirements. Shame on him!
If your local authority is of any size, you may have the option of protesting up the chain of command, but to me, it looks like you got impatient and pushed the envelope a little.
I live in a mostly rural area, and the building inspectors are stretched pretty thin. They know me and visa versa, so I choose my challenges of them carefully.
You've gotten yourself off on the wrong foot on a footing! You've possibly made yourself a target.
Suck it up, be nice, and be more careful about picking the hill you're willing to die on!
Friday PM to Tuesday AM?
Oh man you blew it. Better suck up to him and hope for mercy. Sad but that's sometimes how things are done.
be a kneewalker.
Was the Tuesday the one following the Friday call? And "a message was left"...how? Are you saying you left a message on a Friday afternoon, and the inspector didn't show up until....Tuesday???
Did you, by any chance, vote for Mike Harris?
Big, is BigEr an abbreviation for Big Error? sorry had to do that.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Nice one,
I should say in follow up, many of my mates amongst the nail whacker fraternity, say it was a good call to proceed with the pour of the footings, I did not mention clearly that the back of the garage wall which had been excavated only had a shallow footing under. The excavation left the garage footing and wall hanging. Given the weekend deluge that followed, it was prudent to stabilize it somewhat with the new footings which would serve as a base to underpin the hanging wall. Notice the foundation on the left side of the snap. As I calm down about it, I'm sure the BI's sup will see the real issue, which the BI chose not to hear. Maybe he was grumpy to about the miserable weekend.
Just call me Er.
Bear in mind that Mon May17th was the Victoria Day Holiday.
I'm quite aware of that; I was enjoying a cold Alpine...so, what you're saying is that the inspector came out THE NEXT WORKING DAY?????? I'm more confused than ever. What's a PEng going to cost you, $300? I don't see what your issue is, other than poor planning.
Sorry bub, but you screwed the pooch this time. I re-read the first message...you called and left a message Friday afternoon, Monday was a holiday, and the inspector showed Tuesday morning...I assume they don't normally work Saturday and Sunday, so it sounds like he was pretty much on time. And it sounds like you poured Friday afternoon. When you filed for the building permit, did they tell you the normal response time?
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Edited 5/26/2004 8:50 am ET by Ed Hilton
Bungalow, eh?
Sure looks like a ranch to me.
No wonder the BI wouldn't cut you a break!
Edited 5/26/2004 10:05 am ET by Bob Walker
Everyone wants their small house to be a bungalow these days. It gives you a good screen name too....that's not a mistake, it's rustic
Don't know about your area but around here each job is required to keep a full set of documents accessible to the inspector. In this collection there is a sheet that outlines all inspections needed and places for the inspectors to sign off or comment about the job.
If an inspection is called and there is any doubt about if the inspection took place I only have to go out and look at this sheet. If there is no mark on the inspection sheet I know it hasn't happened yet. If it had there would be a clear indication of wether I passed or failed and why.
If there is no mark or I fail for some reason, very very rare, I cannot continue on until there is an inspection or a reinspection. Failing to comply makes things difficult as you have to prove compliance with stuff in place. Failing to get a prepour inspection usually means that a technician has to come out with an ultrasound or other device to confirm rod used and placement. Also concrete thicknesses. It isn't cheap but it does go fast.
We routinely do what you did and have only had a problem one time. Until he retired that building inspector gave us a hard time on every project. We dealt with him by giving him at least a week's notice for all inspections and by rapidly responding to all of his concerns. Just short of kissing his *ss. We never had another problem with him but he always played it straight by the book. I know that he would bend some rules for other contractors, but we were from out of town.
The lesson we learned was to deal with your mistake quickly and cheerfully and you will get yourself a fair building inspector. That's probably all you need.
what you did was normal procedure, around here if they cannot get to you , take picture and pour anyway. The inspector jst did not want his name on it thats all. as far as tearing out, he would have stop work order at that time. and then since you got pictures and a recorded message asking for site visit. I would of offer the inspector a cold drink and never stop working.
Thanks to all for your insights, barbs, sullies, and comments on my BI difficulties. I know, I know, he was only doing his job, by adhering to the letter of the law, and I had no difficulty with this. I objected to the process, which consisted of him, with apparent glee in his voice announcing “You’ll need a engineer to inspect the footings”. The inspector was never closer than 20 feet to the hole, (I guess he might have thought I’d push him in). That was his only comment. During the 2 minutes he was onsite. Building is stressful enough, with out the tactless interaction of a petty bureaucrat. As stated, I only poured the footings because the forecast called for three days of rain, over the long Victoria Day weekend. Had the BI considered all the facts, he might have realized that the footings: (1) were attached to a house built on the same undisturbed subsoil for 30 years. (2) It may have been prudent to cast the footings prior to the heavy rains predicted. (3) The concrete contractor had a good reputation and 25 years experience.
I contacted a engineering buddy, who asked me to do a “Picket test” on the soil adjacent to the footing in several places. I faxed the findings of this test to the engineer, along with all the other design criteria of the footing, he faxed me back a memo attesting to the suitability of the soil. This has been accepted by the BI. Cost? A case of Molson’s Canadian. I’m told that a onsite engineering inspection could have run me $300.00 CDN. I got lucky.
BigEr