Concrete questions

[fred d]

Ok, I want to add a 20x14 addition to my garage.
Problem is that I don't want to pull permits and pay all of the crazy fees($1800.00 to build a 2k addition. $3800 total)

The problem is that I live on the Main Road(5 lanes wide) in my city
if I have a concrete truck parked out front it would be a huge red flag for any city officials that might happen by

Could I section the floor into 4 quadrents and poor a section at a time. Possibly days or weeks in between sections poors?
I have a 12"x12" footing on 3 sides. I will use rebar through out, even in the footings. I will drill holes in the 1x6 I use to divide the quadrents

Feedback welcome

 

[Nowater]

Sure you can do that. Just be aware that the officials use aerial maps to note changes on lots, and concrete is one of the easiest to see. Around here it is triple the permit fee if you get caught. Also pull a permit and your taxes go up!

If you get away with the concrete, expect an a$$hole neighbor to report you on the vertical construction. Just saying. Are you sure about the permit fees?

 

[Nostraquedeo]

Fees seem really high!

 

[ChargedUp!]

Pay the fee or risk tearing it down...

 

[Bib Overalls]

Don't. Just don't.

 

[Ihateclevernames]

Yeah, I agree. Pull the permit to be on the safe side.

However, I have found that by asking lots of questions at the building department.........you can often find loopholes to work within.

I had a similar issue when I was living in NC. My garage wasn't big enough to hold everything, so I attached a "shed" to the back of the garage. The catch was, that I had to go out back to gain access.

My restrictions were that it had to be under 200 square feet and couldn't have a concrete floor.

So with that being said, I used pavers for the footer on the "shed" and then built all of my walls and roof.

It wasn't ideal.......however when it was done it looked as if it was built with the house, and accommodated all of my needs for storage. It also saved a great deal of $$$, I ended up doing the whole thing for about $3500.

Just a thought.

 

[fred d]

The cost include concrete inspection before and after, structure inspection, wind storm inspection, electrical inspection, also I must have architectural drawings.

I agree about the ******* neighbor, I have one of those also

Have also thought about 2 shipping containers joined together, but access to drop them in location is the problem

 

[acer66]

Yeah, I agree. Pull the permit to be on the safe side.

However, I have found that by asking lots of questions at the building department.........you can often find loopholes to work within.

I had a similar issue when I was living in NC. My garage wasn't big enough to hold everything, so I attached a "shed" to the back of the garage. The catch was, that I had to go out back to gain access.

My restrictions were that it had to be under 200 square feet and couldn't have a concrete floor.

So with that being said, I used pavers for the footer on the "shed" and then built all of my walls and roof.

It wasn't ideal.......however when it was done it looked as if it was built with the house, and accommodated all of my needs for storage. It also saved a great deal of $$$, I ended up doing the whole thing for about $3500.

Just a thought.

Funny, I live in the NC and that is what I want to do.

So having not a concrete floor and no direct access from the old structure
saves you money on permits?

Thank you

 

[nehog]

I'd pull the permits--they are going to notice the building at some point. Then all heck-p-q will break out and you'll be saying: "Gee I wish I'd pulled the permits..."

How are you going to build the building without them figuring out? What about the lumber truck, and pile of wood?

 

[Rookie2]

even if you think you can get away with, it will bite you in the *** down the road if you sell or you'll pass the problem on to your wife or kids.

 

[Falcon67]

City officials don't just "happen by" - they pay code enforcement officers to look for exactly what you are thinking of doing. If the fees are that far out of whack it's time to raise hell with the council. Check fees in nearby cities similar in size and if they are way less, then beat them up about the pricing.

 

[Chaznsc]

Ok, I want to add a 20x14 addition to my garage.
Problem is that I don't want to pull permits and pay all of the crazy fees($1800.00 to build a 2k addition. $3800 total)

The problem is that I live on the Main Road(5 lanes wide) in my city
if I have a concrete truck parked out front it would be a huge red flag for any city officials that might happen by

Could I section the floor into 4 quadrents and poor a section at a time. Possibly days or weeks in between sections poors?
I have a 12"x12" footing on 3 sides. I will use rebar through out, even in the footings. I will drill holes in the 1x6 I use to divide the quadrents

Feedback welcome

Fast forward a few years: You want to sell the house, but cannot because of the un-permitted addition. Not to mention have you checked easements, setbacks, etc for possible encroachments?

 

[Automatic Slim]

4th of July falls on a Thursday this year.

If your city employees are the common variety, they will be off by noon Wed. and won't report back till monday.

Pour the slab that Friday, July 5 and make sure your neighbors are tight.

The truck will only be in "sight" for about 30 minutes max for a slab that size, dump and roll.

As long as your not running plumbing, can run electric to code - shouldn't be an issue.

Frame it up on Memorial Day, LOL. and once in the dry can finish the inside at your leisure.

Sure it's about taxes, but $1800 to basically put up a shed sounds too steep & as long as you are doing the work yourself, can plead ignorant.

I doubt the eye in the sky can denote the small addition, big brother doesn't need to know everything.

GL and hope you get some thrills shafting the city gov.

 

[krapie]

Not so fast Slim. The imagery most cities/counties/states acquire can determine objects larger than two feet by two feet, some as small as six inches square. Most are also running change detection software comparing two different dates of imagery looking for impprovements. Fred's 20'x14' will be an obvious flag, then the fines begin.

 

[Automatic Slim]

They can see my *****?

Damn technology is improving, of course, I'm just being facious - but can't understand the 1.8k fee. Interesting about the "change detection" software. Big Bro keeps on getting bigger I guess?

I live in the county and don't have to put up w/ permits for the most part, but in the city, permits are required and I do obtain if I do work inside the limits (mainly deck bldg).

The city closest to my proximity seems to blindly adjust house appraisal to their needs and have been sued over the fact. Of course the county did the same to me, simply amazing that property values rose considerably during the housing bust.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Building something without a permit and hoping for forgiveness afterwards doesn't always work. Last week someone posted a link to an ad for a garage for sale - it had been built on an easement, and now they have to remove it.

 

[slidehammer]

Ok, I want to add a 20x14 addition to my garage.
Problem is that I don't want to pull permits and pay all of the crazy fees($1800.00 to build a 2k addition. $3800 total)

The problem is that I live on the Main Road(5 lanes wide) in my city
if I have a concrete truck parked out front it would be a huge red flag for any city officials that might happen by

Could I section the floor into 4 quadrents and poor a section at a time. Possibly days or weeks in between sections poors?
I have a 12"x12" footing on 3 sides. I will use rebar through out, even in the footings. I will drill holes in the 1x6 I use to divide the quadrents

Feedback welcome

Follow the Building Code regardless, because it represents commonsense, bare-minimum practices, drafted for the most part by people who know what they're doing.

I'm not talking about Zoning, which can be a whole other kettle of fish.

I wouldn't mind pulling permits and paying fees - once - but being made to pay additional property tax every single year in perpetuity for an unrealized gain is simply adding insult to injury. If that's what you're facing - good luck, but I'd be worried about those satellites.

 

[Ihateclevernames]

Funny, I live in the NC and that is what I want to do.

So having not a concrete floor and no direct access from the old structure
saves you money on permits?

Thank you

I didn't have to pull a permit for said structure as it was considered a "shed". So no permits to be pulled. The only catch was that I didn't have electrical in it. If I was to add electrical, I would have had to pull a permit for the electrical work. Check with your local building department to find out the stipulations on sheds and then go from there.

Make sure that they are ok with you attaching it to the house, and pull the electrical permit if you plan to add lighting and recepticles. Then you can do the work, build the shed, do your electrical work, then have it inspected and approved.........and you will be set.

 

[hh76]

Pay now, or pay later, they'll get their money somehow.

I'd ask around your area, because $1800 sounds a little high for a simple shed. Where did you get the number? Maybe somebody behind a desk was just rattling off numbers for a full house, not really listening to what you were telling them? Maybe there are loopholes for being under a certain size?

 

[nehog]

They can see my *****?

Damn technology is improving, of course, I'm just being facious -...

No, they can't see it: too damn small I hear!

 

[Paultergeist]

Not so fast Slim. The imagery most cities/counties/states acquire can determine objects larger than two feet by two feet, some as small as six inches square.

They can see my *****?

Damn......laughed so hard I just about snorted coffee all over my shirt!

This is a really interesting thread for me, because I also am contemplating doing a small garage addition foundation wall/slab pour "in sections." In my particular case, I will be obtaining permits; my reason for sectioning the foundation in pieces is because I want to DIY the concrete. Sections will make the task more managable for me. I'll keep reading and learning....

Slim, I might have to send you a dry-cleaning bill!

 

[48windsor]

I would like to add that when you go to sell the house and buyer finds no permits its a hassle ! trust me my daughter just went through this . Bought a house with an added room done right but not permitted caused ahassle for the seller and buyer . Pay now or pay later!