On Oct 1, 12:12*pm, ransley wrote:
On Oct 1, 4:39*am, "Twice Retired" wrote:





It always amazing me as to what contractors of all types will try to get
away with. They go to extremes in order to bypass codes and inspections.. In
many cases their violations are a danger to the life/safety of people,
especially children, and domestic animals.
There is a swimming pool contractor in the area that has been violating the
construction codes and bypasses the final inspection by never calling for an
inspection and letting the permit expire. I learned of this when he did a
job for a neighbor and I viewed his installation and there were many code
violations. I photographed the visible violations and delivered copies to
the county inspection department. The inspector informed me that there had
been no inspection. The inspector came out, as a courtesy to me as the
permit holder had not called, and verified the violations. That’s all it
took. My neighbor’s system was extensively re-worked and is now code
compliant.
The county has now gone into their closed files to find the jobs where no
inspection was called. It appears that there may be upwards of 17 instances
of letting the permit expire without performing the inspection. The county
is taking action.
I have reviewed my neighbor’s system before and after corrections and the
interesting fact to me is that if the system was installed in accordance
with the code to begin with, the actual material/labor cost would have been
slightly less than the violation installation. Go figure!
If you have a job performed, be certain that there is an inspection that
ascertains that the installation complies with local codes/ordinances.

People dont realise that pulling a permit is buying cheap insurance,
you get a free inspection, and you can write a contract to not pay
till it passes inspection. People see permits as a tax and pain in the
ass, in reality permits are the only reason houses are still standing,
Look at Chinas massive building failures because of the earthquake,
not only did the government ignore Melamine poisoning its always
ignored construction issues.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes apparently the Chines populace themselves nicknamed some of the
too readily collapsed schools "Tofu buildings" because they were built
on the cheap with allegations of corruption and pay-backs! Whereas
'Party Buildings' were/are unduly luxurious or well built.

Pity isn't it. A GOOD contractor will hardly get a mention; even if
they were to go out of their way to absorb some of or all of a
condition that no one knew about beforehand.

Yes (not often) but there are such highly ethical plus people; the
sort who say "We found a bit of rot while were in there working
anyway, so fixed it up for you. It's OK now. No extra charge".

Also unbiased government involvement seems to be necessary in any
society (even if the government itself) contracts or licences others
to do the actual work. You cannot just say "Any government is too much
government".

You can't have companies making fireworks that go off if you pick them
up by hand, cars where the wheels fall off, bread or milk that
poisons people or clothing that contaminates peoples skins, or roof
trusses that collapse at the first rain! There have to be standards,
even minimum ones.

Many European countries seem to be getting the balance between
government and private enterprise right. Possibly why so , many new
countries are trying to join the EU?

For example: There is currently a a major fuss in our country because
of an outbreak of Listeriosis contaminated food from meat packing
which has caused deaths.

This is occurring during our election following a government that has
reduced the numbers of an already understaffed food inspection
division. At very least we know who to blame; not that restores anyone
to life! Either false government economy or too much industry lobbying
to allow looser standards maybe?