paint on fire treatment for lumber,
I was hired to do a rear deck replacement job. Decks on second and third floor, steps between them and steps to the ground. House is a rental property, and the city was requiring the decks to be replaced because they were rotted and falling apart. Owner tells me he has been in touch with the building inspector, and all I (the licensed contractor) need to do is give them a sketch of what we are going to replace, and a survey of the property, plus the normal permit application forms , and we will be issued the permit. Apply for the permit last Tuesday, upon application we are told we can begin demo. It rained Wednesday, Started and finished demo on Thursday, called to see if permit was ready. I was told computers are down so permits cannot be printed but our permit was approved and we could begin work according to the plans submitted for permit. Fri. Sat, Mon, Tues work on footings and frame. Called construction office Monday, but they were closed for Presidents day, Called Tuesday Morning, and was told computers were still down, but work can continue. Tuesday afternoon is when the fun began, I was called by Fire inspector, who said he should have been notified that we were replacing fire escape. I asked who should have notified him, he told me that the construction office should have notified him. He told me that he was going to check into the situation. Today the building inspector called me, he told me that he was not aware that we were replacing a fire escape and could not issue a permit, because we need a architect to draw the plans, and the decks must be built out of fire treated lumber, steel or heavy timbers. Work must stop until we get permit. The owner , fire inspector and building inspector realize I am not at fault. The owner says they are decks and not fire escapes. The building inspector probably realizes he should not have given permission to build without looking into the situation. He has agreed to let me treat the lumber in place. How do you treat lumber to make it fire resistant? The owner has agreed to pay for the extra material and the extra time, and the architect. I contacted one architect, that I have dealt with in the past, and he said approx. $1500 to draw the plans. The property owner felt that was way too high. What should the plans cost? Will i ever finish and get paid?
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We've had to start putting disappearing stairs in garages that are fire rated. I found some paint online (google it), but inspections wouldn't approve it because the company wouldn't divulge their secret ingredients... it's apparently approved in Noo York City, but not here, your mileage may vary?
We replaced the stairs<G>
Winterlude by the telephone wire,
Winterlude, it's makin' me lazy,
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire.
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand.
Come out tonight, ev'rything will be tight,
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.
There is an additive we use alot that gives a class A rating. Call your real painat shop & ask them. I can't remember the name off the top of my head but this stuff has the code ratings. I have an empty jar on a site, I will try to remember to get the name. It's about $12 for 1 jar whcich treats one gallon
A company called Koppers had retardent coatings (many moons ago). Check with them.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
$1500 to draw the plans. The property owner felt that was way too high. What should the plans cost? Will i ever finish and get paid?
$1500 is cheap. I would have guessed $2000 to $3000, ballpark. Somebody, generally one with higher-billable hours will have to wade through all ofthe local code, the fire safety code, and accessibility codes, just to determine what is to be drawn (and to check what gets drawn). And, there's the time to double check what the City wants for official submission-which affects what the submitted documents cost (City may want both a wet stamp and electronic copies, meaning signing & stamping a set and then large-format scanning that--big PITA).
This winds up being the same issue as "why do contractors charge so much more than time & labor?" Archy has to pay overhead, liability, E&O, make a profit somehow, same as any other small businessman.
Decks are no longer simple. Liability issues have increased geometrically, and they require a lot more detailing than only a few years ago (changes to fasteners & PT a major part of that).
Sadly, you were put in a bind by the Permit Office, but fat chance in holding them responsible for your "injury" here. The "computer problem" also means there's no record they told you to procede, either. Permit Offices of late "know" less and less, but still act as if they know; it's not uncommon any more for there to be 11-13 reviewers for projects, the person on the phone may only 'normally' see/know 6 or 7. That, it is alleged, is why we are supposed to hire knowledgable professionals to "know" this stuff (I know I feel less smart every day I deal with an AHJ).
I Agree $1500 could well be cheap. the owner can balk all he wants. YOU need to start putting everything in writing. There is a liability issue coming down this road as well as the issue of you being paid. You need to get your $ taken care of now beofre he owes you even more that you can't get.
YOU need to start putting everything in writing
Or, more correctly, Captain Destructo needs to--I'm so burnt, I almost stamp even grocery lists <sigh>
Told more than one City employee who said "Well [name] said you said it's ok" that I'd never heard of [name] and would neither affirm or deny any sort of conversation with same.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
You posts will be a LOT easier to read if you break 'em up into paragraphs.
This is not exactly what you're doing, but read in from this post and the next few.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=91581.6
It'll get you a class A fire rating.
And freezeproof, waterproof.
We have used this in the past .............
http://www.rosco.com/us/scenic/flamex_p50.asp
On a hill by the harbour