On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:50:43 GMT, Wayne Whitney
wrote:

:On 2006-12-28, Dan_Musicant wrote:
:
: Thanks. Well, I don't really know if these guys have gone into a
: permit process for my drainage. They are a very old established
: plumbing and heating company, and they come recommended, so I just
: assumed that they have me covered there. The contract said that
: their bid did not include costs of permits.
:
:My understanding on permits: the homeowner has the ultimate
:responsibility to see that permits are taken out. Now the contractor
:has responsibility too, but the homeowner's responsibility is greater.
:You should read the contract language to mean "we aren't going to deal
:with permits." If you had a permit, you'd know it, since part of the
ermit process is positing a copy in your window.

Thanks, Wayne. I've been looking for just that information and not found
it. My George Nash book "Renovating Old Houses" has no entry in the
index for "permit" and skimming the book I see no real mention!

When I had my roof replaced a year ago I don't believe there was ANY
indication of a permit until the inspector showed up when it was
virtually done if not actually done. He signed off on it and that was
it. The roofing company had evidently filed for the permit and payed the
fee (I certainly didn't). So, this being my second contract ever I
simply assumed (maybe foolishly!) that it was a similar if not same
circumstance and that the plumbing company was taking care of it. I'm
about to call them and ask them about it. In addition, I'll ask to talk
to the bidder/foreman again about the broken water pipe. A person I
talked to at East Bay MUD this morning told me I can assume these guys
actually broke the pipe! Maybe the company will give me a decent price
to replace it. That's my hope. Meantime, I suppose I should think about
or actually call some other plumbers in the region and get some bids.
EBMUD tells me I have a 5/8" line leading up to my meter at the
sidewalk. There is no shutoff valve after the one that's adjacent to
said meter!

I don't know about that potential problem of running pipe through the
foundation into the house. I presume that in replacing the water main
pipe they can add a shutoff.
:
:BTW, the Berkeley permit office is closed until Tuesday, January 2nd.

That's a potential problem. Yes, everything is open and emminently
inspectable at the moment, but the crew is due back in a matter of
minutes to finish the sewer lateral trenchless installation and it will
all be closed up again including replacing the concrete where they jack
hammered it out yesterday.

:
: Anyway, it seems to me that at THIS point it's not too late to have
: an inspection and be permitted. Everything is open and visible,
: they've done no work. The plastic pipe is out there ready for
: installation.
:
:Right, from the point of view of pulling a permit, nobody comes to the
:site until the first inspection, so if you haven't covered up any work
:that needs to be inspected, there's no issue.

It may not be practical to wait until after Jan. 2 for an inspection.
Maybe the plumbing company wouldn't mind, I don't know. No rain is
expected until almost New Years, but I wouldn't want to bet about after
that. Maybe the prospect of rain isn't serious, I don't know.
:
: I assume you are referring to electrical bonding jumpers in regards
: to copper water main installation. Where I am, I don't think they
: use water pipes for grounds.
:
:Water service pipes are not relied on as the primary ground, because
:the water service can be plastic. But if the water pipes are metal
:then they do provide a good ground. So I encourage you to go with a
:copper service lateral, it will be the best ground you have until you
:replace the foundation and have a Ufer ground.

I had George Walton come over again a couple of weeks ago and he told me
he thought that unless I plan to live here a LONG time, he thinks it's
impractical for me to completely fix up the house. He said he would
charge ~$130,000 for just the foundation and residing work (which I
suppose would include rebuilding the porch). He said it all could add up
to $500,000 and what could I then get for the house? $700,000? By this
reckoning I would have more money in my pocket if I just sold the house
now (more or less)!

I do have a bid from Sept. 2005 to do the siding and foundation for
$64,000, so I'll contemplate that, but even so I think George's
imprecations are probably sensible.
:
:BTW, I'm surprised at how high the quotes are for replacing the
:service lateral are, although I've never bid the work. 60 ft of 1"
:Type K soft copper can be had locally for $260 + tax. Beyond that
:it's a matter of trenching between the meter and the house shut off
:valve, laying the pipe on a bed of sand and making two connections. I
:guess the difficult parts would be getting through the foundation and
:unrolling the pipe to be nice and straight.

I figured about the same for the cost of the copper piping. I'm afraid
to use these fly-by-night plumbers by virtue of licensing, insurance and
bonding issues. And, I assume I can't get references from them. I'd only
be relying on their assurances. Those assurances sound reasonable, but
if there are any difficulties they won't count for anything.

:Good luck.

Thanks!

:Cheers, Wayne
:

Thanks and HNY!