HAND DEMO of HOUSES – [REALLY !!!! WTH???]
In 2007 I hand demoed my entire 1952 800 Sq Foot Rambler so I have done this. I just used up the last of the tight grain fir studs that Ive had sitting around to build a 12 x 16 shed at a new property.
Why did I do it? Because I was too stubern and stupid to realize how much work it would be! Totally NOT worth effort. But I am still glad I gave away or used a lot of the materials.
People came and got large double pane windows. Some lady drove 60 miles and hand loaded the entire CMU foundation blocks into a giant P/U and used them for ?
BUT – Letting some morons in Portland start getting invlolved in “making code” and demanding people do this is LUDICROUS beyond beleif. Special commsions to decide IF you put in enough effort to do the WOKE thing with your “recyclables”.
I actually contacted Pramilla Jayapal and chalenged her to help me get city to allow me to build a 18 x 20 “House” and I would rent it for next to nothing to an imigrant family in North Seattle. – CRICKETS.
WHY- Because Idiots running WA state DON’T WANT to do anything to actually HELP anyone. They want to build 8 x 10 “Tuff Sheds” with NO PLUMBING but ONLY if their friends companies like “LIHI” get the contracts to build them.
If YOU do it your city will take you to jail and bull doze whatever it is you built.
This hand DEMO stuff is 100% about “building NEW gov work” for only the right people to conduct. It will add even more regulations that will DO NOTHING except make housing even more unafordable than it already is.
The house I tore down by hand and rebuilt by hand would sell for 1.5 MILLION dollars right now. What average person can afford anything like that?
I say this over and over – Pink Floyd said it best. “Do Goodie Good BS” – that is ALL this is. Hand DEMO – Good God. Sure – do it IF YOU choose to but don’t pretend like mandating it will help anyone but a few lucky connected individual business people scamming the rest of us using GOV money and control.
I whish fine HB was an actual person I could slap in the face rite now. “COME ON MAN” – like you do know that your glass in the blue bin gets recycled into ABSOLUTELY NOTHING don’t you!!! ??? And you PAY the garbage Co. to collect it! AARRGHHE ………………
Replies
Stormando, you seem very angry about this, but other than venting your anger and insulting some public employees, as well as accusing them of being corrupt/dishonest, no real argument or evidence is cited that this is bad code. We all accept that there are some rules/codes; and that there are some things that should remain unregulated/free; why does this belong in the latter group? I personally (an ex- remodeler, not a public employee or regulator of any kind) think it is a GREAT idea to require old houses to be deconstructed rather than landfilled. Throwing shit away because it's the cheapest possible option seems like a really bad idea for society in general - the real costs are not reflected in the price of housing, but are externalities forced on the whole society. Rules are often required to achieve desired outcomes. Tell me why, in this case, this is a bad rule rather than just a change that you don't like?
I would agree IF everyone involved made say $500K per year. I don't think I need to provide evidense given Portland & Seattles Recent History. People around here can't afford to add ONE bedroom to a "reg Joe" home due to regs. That doesn't help affordability.
Sometimes Mansions from Mercer Island get barged to the San Juans. I'm no rocket scientist but imagine the amt of deisal feul consumed in those operations.
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How many cars and trucks total involved to acomplish this recycle task. I doubt its cost effective?
Were is ANY "actual proof" that an AFCI circuit breaker has saved ONE LIFE - Or they do anything at all. Yet I am required to buy X #(you fill in since I haven't done a panel in a few years! ) Pretty sure 10 or more now days.
Yes - Angry doesn't begin. If your from seattle and don't know about LEHI etc I can't help you. Look up WA Looses over $600 Million of unemployment money to "Nigerian Scammers". Nothing being done. No one fired, No one going to jail.
How is more and more requirements to be forced to hire "approved specialty contractors" on a residential house project save anyone money?
Have you ever contacted a state or city rep? Did they respond? Around here they only respond if your begging to give them more money.
Do you think I was serious or not serious about building a house for a family? I had the materials in storage. Some guy came and got to build a greenhouse for his wife instead. Gov would have dozed it. (A lawyer in SHoreline made a private "nice" campground with Sewer, water fire protection - it got buldozed in less than a year) I'm sure you can look up in Sea Times.
I didn;t say I was first place on debate team. Clearly I wasn't. I am the worst person in world to try and argue this stuff. Doesn't neccessaraly mean I am 100% wrong about it?! And It doesn't stop me from providing TWO low income rentals in North Seattle. (small not crappy) I think I know what I am talking about when I say GOV lifts not one finger to do anything real about affordable housing only TAX. I'll provide both parcel numbers if you want to check on King Co. eb Site. Just ask - I will email to you.
Where is all the factual proof in article? 300 houses since 2016 - not a huge study. There was nothing in my 1952 rambler worth saving besides Copper Pipe & Wire and the 2x8 joists & 2x4 studs and 2x4 rafters. Don't think any of those pass code right now for insulation OR structural. And not stamped anyway - so YOU tell me where they could have been re-used? Building garden sheds maybe. Not cost effective- a shed maker like Lowes needs MASSIVE qty to make a few hundred $ selling a shed.
My build inspector would have laughed for days if I asked to use recycled lumber anywhere in my new structure! Code book would say its experemental alternative and that you would have to pay experts to convince Build, Fire, Electrical & Developement to be allowed to use. nO architect or builder is going to waste time / money on that.
"Ther rules are simple and benefits far reaching" - no documentary evidence cited.
I agree - DEMO around here is NEVER done properly. (no water spray) I brought LAB reports to city RE asbestos etc etc. They literally had never been handed those B4. No clue did they have what to do with them.
So what makes you think city could/would have time to see how any hand demo is done? They DON'T have time. There is so much construction around hear its unreal.
So call me sceptacle on anything coming from "Rose City" because it should be called Charcoal City. They used to burn houses down in olden times then collect the nails. Now they just burn buildings down for fun.
Do appreciate your reply though.