I seen some y’all jabberin bout some kinder code thingy…sorry – I was “trained” as a hillbilly carpenter, and I’ve noticed as I read discussions here that “code” doesn’t always jibe with “the way it’s done around here”…so I’m wondering, is the building code really the guideline one should go by, or is it just the overbuilder’s handbook? Where do I get it? Is there another reference book, perhaps more concise, that might serve the same purpose? oh, and if my local BI is reading this, my real name is “sphere”…
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Sphere,
The building code is most certainly not the overbuilders handbook. Many shoddy techniques pass code.
To purchase the IRC code (for most part the standard code of the future)
http://www.iccsafe.org/e/prodcat.html?catid=C-B-03r1&xq=x
For a code supplement
http://www.codecheck.com/
I think the code is a good starting place, but deviation is not always bad. For instance, a stairway in a house is still usable if it has a 9" rise per tread, but it might be uncomfortable.
Jon Blakemore
WTF????
I dint post that?
you an Mav gotta change drugs..
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Sphere,
He clearly stated that his real name is "Sphere".
What's next, will you want to be called John Svenson?
Jon Blakemore
In the subject of concrete work and foundation, the code is ACI (American concrete Institute) ACI is the bible when it comes to concrete. So IRc would be the bible to buiding
y'all need a hobby...toledo is a s bad as it gets, "my real name is Sphere"?
must be a Bday trash..
who's behind this? LOL
btw, I don't give a shid about code either....{G}
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
>>>"btw, I don't give a shid about code either....{G}"
Yeah, we know. We've seen pics of your place <g>
Jon Blakemore
Is it safe
Does it work
How much does it cost
When can you do it
Is it blessed by the book
In that order of import. The Jacks Credo
Not 'round here- "is it by the (code) book?" rules supreme, 'cause if it doesn't, the building inspector will be telling you to rip it out and change it until it does, on your nickel too. That goes triple if you're a homeowner doing the work yourself, because the automatic (and frequently correct) assumption is that you're an absolute blundering idiot. Around here, Mr. Inspector's been told NOT to use his discretion because that gets the city building department into sh*t and lawsuits from time to time, where as "rip it out and do it to code" doesn't cost the city a cent... In excess of what the book asks for is okay too, as long as you can find chapter and verse in the book to show that it truly IS in excess of what the book says rather than merely different than what the book says- otherwise, go back to the start of the first sentence... So if you're getting a permit for the work, the code really is a list of minimum standards. Best to know 'em and then decide for yourself whether you want to exceed these standards to improve the quality of your construction.
A little careful Google searching found me a free copy of the complete Ontario Building Code as a series of .html downloads. Not the prettiest version by any stretch, but printing it out was a darn sight cheaper than the $150 they wanted for my own personal copy in book form (plus another $150 for the newest version a few years later), or attempting to photocopy the one copy of the thing that's in the reference section of the local public library... Since it's a legal document here in Ontario, it MUST be made available for free. But they don't have to make it easy to find or easy to use...! And of course, it references about twenty binders worth of additional standards and other documents which are NOT available for free...
wait till you see the dade county ver. of the SBC. talk about overbuilding
dade county ver. of the SBC. talk about overbuilding
Dunno, Frances appears to be tracking for a bullseye on Dade Co, and 140 mph & "only" around 940 millibar (at 1500 EDT), it might not feel like over buildign on Saturday . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
ok, my real name is not "sphere", obviously, it is" toledo": that part was a bad, apparently, joke...."hey, building inspector, I'm doing sub-code work, and my name is not toledo ,as my user name says, but sphere, so maybe you should go check out this guy's I mean my work....".....get it? so I"m really sorry if I fooled or offended anybody, especially sphere , whom I regard highly.
the question was real and I appreciate all the responses....if code is a variable minimum , then what is "the right way" is not to be found in a book, but in the brains of various carpenters around the country, who may not always agree, and who may post on this site....
it's just I've helped build so darn many decks with the ledger nailed to the house...never any problems...then I see the pool/deck collapse ...notice I said helped build...not my fault, right?....
that pool deck had a couple thousand pounds of water up there, you could bolt that thing and it still fall. God way of weeding out the stupid.
so I"m really sorry if I fooled or offended anybody, especially sphere , whom I regard highly.
ya just keep diggin' it deeper don't cha?..."there's enough for everyone"
You shoulda seen the email I sent him..he got the point. All is cool now.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I caught the joke right off - - thought it was funny - -
I drug the horse wagon out and cleaned it up for display/use at the mill during festival (now that's a great strategy for makin' money!) - - what you up to?"there's enough for everyone"
Wow, that is cool.
I am waitin for my satellite installer to show up, woooo-hooo, gonna have TV.
Still workin on a ton of odds and ends, like those colums. My roof customer now wants ALL new windows installed...DH wood, no clad. True divided lite..shopping for manu.s and prices as we speak..looks like windor has a decent window.
edit: BTW, I get the old windows!!! little fogging, but otherwise fine...I can get rid of these vinyl cheapo's...good thing I didn't do my siding yet.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Edited 9/1/2004 9:40 am ET by SPHERE
Neat wagon.
Looks like it's ready to take to the field to shuck corn into...I'm not a god... I've just been misquoted.
it was my great uncle Marshall's - tho he got it used - here's the printing on the side - I have the spring seat for it also - I store it in a safer location since it has some value and is easily carried off - - I interfered with someone trying to make off with the wheels a couple years ago- they had the fronts off and ready for pick-up when I just happened to check that barn - I think it will be better off at the mill -
I know the color is not the best for you...."there's enough for everyone"
Sphere,
It may be the handbook but its not the bible. There are many areas where it lacks and many areas where it is overkill IMO.
It takes a building inspector his entire career to learn how to interpret the code book. Some never get it.
Likewise it takes a builder his entire career to learn. And yeah, some never get it.
see above, I do believe in the "rules" of engagement..play with the law, you lose.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Hey, Sphere; The building code is no way as you claim "overkill"
LOOK MORON..I didn't POST THE THREAD...geeezus, CAN'T Y'ALL READ????
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
is sphere a queer? never fear, he just needs a kick in the rear. lol
Sphere,
I claimed that it is SOMETIMES overkill.
Also it is sometimes substandard. the jist of my response is it is subject to interpretation. If you are lucky it will be interpreted by someone reasonable
I had an inspector ask me why I bothered with proper-vents. I explained they were to keep air flow unrestricted from the soffit over the plate. He said to me "you dont need those, the fiberglas batts will settle anyway creating an air space".
Would I do it his way? Never! If he insisted I do it his way, of course I would.
Edited 8/31/2004 9:47 am ET by maverick
awl right, I'm on to yous..thanks..
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Will the real Sphere please stand up....
Which code?
Some codes are so restrictive that they're ridiculous. Others are too liberal.
Having spent time in places both with and without (enforced) codes, I'd have to say that the only thing worse than building codes is *NO* building codes.
History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. [Abba Eban]
Building codes are a locally administered MINIMAL set of guidelines that every builder should use as his baseline. Then the good builders do a little more (sometimes a lot more), to produce a quality product. To get a copy of the correct code for your area, contact someone on the town/county/state level (not sure how it works in Canada) to get the correct code book for your locale. I once bought one of those generic "Code Check" books, or whatever, and I found it fairly useless.
As far as learning the code, I have taken a few classes that helped me learn it but mainly you learn it on the job and then cross referencing "the book". I'm not an expert, but once you get the hang of how your code book is laid out, you can find things fairly easily. If you prefer to learn the hard way, your local building inspector will help you learn it by handing you "pink slips" and making you re-do things. Also, on the nights when you can't get to sleep, instead of counting sheep, get out the code book. That should get you at least 3 minutes of quality reading time ;-)
PS: I don't think you are who you say who you are, unless this whole thread is a spoof
"is it just the overbuilder's handbook?"
Ha, Ha, Hhahahha! Ha, Ha, Hhahahha! Ha, Ha, Hhahahha!
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha
Is more like the underbuilder's handbook lining out the minimum standards. Like which end of the hamber to hang onto.
JLC has a flipbook out with pretty pictures showing good building practice standards to follow. I can't remember the name of it right now. probably too much moonshine casting a shadow across my eyes.
;)
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I took the basic building inspector course a few years ago ( was thinking about becoming one, didn't ) We pretty much went thru the entire book and while some things were just stupid ( BOCA calls for 16D nails just about everywhere except sheathing ) its still good place to start.
I think that building to code just gives you an adequate house ( For instance, it allows 1/2" cdx roof sheathing 16" o.c.; 5/8" is much better). My feeling is that I want to build something that lasts, so I'll try to do better than code.