advertisement

Cockeyed contractor ignores the plans

Q: Construction was just completed on our new home, but the building official would not approve the final inspection. He says an as-built permit is now needed before corrective work can be done. The builder, we have now learned, failed to follow the plans and engineering specifications that were approved by the county building department. He contends he is only required to comply with the building code, not the specific standards determined by the engineer and the county. Is there any validity to his position?

A: Your builder is out of step with the realities of building code enforcement. There is an established hierarchy in the determination of construction standards, and building officials are the pinnacle of that pecking order. They are the final arbiters of construction adequacy, having the last word in the administration and enforcement of building requirements. What they say must be obeyed.

The building code, on the other hand, is merely a "minimum standard," defined as such in chapter one of the code book. When the building official approves a set of plans and the engineering specifications contained therein, that is the standard to which the structure must be built. Your builder has apparently set himself above the law and needs to be brought back down to reality. If he won't comply with mandates set forth by the building official, a complaint can be filed with the state agency that licenses contractors. Hopefully, you haven't paid the final installment for the construction.

Q: I was sitting in my family room when the inside pane in my sliding glass door suddenly shattered with a loud bang. At first, I thought it had been struck from the outside, but the screen door was undamaged, and the outer pane was still intact. The two-year builder's warranty on the home expired last month. Do I have recourse with the builder or the glass door manufacturer?

A: Whether the manufacturer or builder will take responsibility in the aftermath of your warranty period is uncertain. However, the window manufacturer's warranty has a longer duration than the two-years builder's warranty. So try contacting the manufacturer first.

Door glazing consists of tempered safety glass. Tempered glass is produced by subjecting plate glass to a specialized heating process. This causes the glass to shatter into tiny square-edged bits in the event of an accident, such as when someone falls against a glass door. Glass that is not tempered will break into large pieces that are sharp and pointed, causing serious injury. The disadvantage of tempered glass is that any slight scratch, crack or even stress along an edge can cause the pane to literally explode at an unexpected moment.

Such occurrences are rare but can be unsettling to those who might be nearby. A worst-case scenario would involve glass particles in someone's eyes.

In my own home, a shower door once shattered in the middle of the night, spewing glass particles across the bathroom. Fortunately, no one was in the room at the time.

• Email Barry Stone at barry@housedetective.com.

© 2023, Action Coast Publishing

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.