wrigh003
Well-known member
Nice. Worlds better than the chinese temple.
In the beginning, there was... this thing
- Thread starter Inetmonkey
- Start date
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Inetmonkey
Well-known member
Status Update!
Construction is complete & finished pictures are forthcoming, but I wanted to post (and rant) about my City Inspection woes.
My house is built on the edge of a flood zone, and while it hasn't flooded here in something like 65 years, the zoning remains. Due to this fact, I have to have a separate inspection by Public Works. Something the planning department negelcted to tell me because (insert sarcastic laugh) apparently, they had no idea it was needed! So the inspector comes out to give it a final inspection, and he says, "Oh, I can't sign off on this."
Well, 3 hours spent being shuffled from office to office at city hall and they finally figured everything out. I get to have 3 very large, very ugly "drain vents" cut into my beautiful new garage door. The reason for this is apparently to allow water to escape from the structure in the event of flooding.
So let me make sure I have this down: they want me to cut holes into a DOOR, that OPENS, and is not watertight, so that water can GET OUT?!? First off, how in the bleeding hell does it get in in the first place ?!? Second, is there a particular reason I couldn't just open the damn door?!? A 8'x7' garage door would let a lot more water out than 3 8"x12" vents! Naturally, nobody there could explain this to me, but "Those are the rules, so that's what you have to have."
Needless to say, I'm angry beyond words. Not only to I have to cut holes in my lovely new door, but I have to order a replacement panel for it so I can get rid of said holes as soon as the final is done. Isn't beauracracy wonderful?
Kill me now.
Construction is complete & finished pictures are forthcoming, but I wanted to post (and rant) about my City Inspection woes.
My house is built on the edge of a flood zone, and while it hasn't flooded here in something like 65 years, the zoning remains. Due to this fact, I have to have a separate inspection by Public Works. Something the planning department negelcted to tell me because (insert sarcastic laugh) apparently, they had no idea it was needed! So the inspector comes out to give it a final inspection, and he says, "Oh, I can't sign off on this."
Well, 3 hours spent being shuffled from office to office at city hall and they finally figured everything out. I get to have 3 very large, very ugly "drain vents" cut into my beautiful new garage door. The reason for this is apparently to allow water to escape from the structure in the event of flooding.
So let me make sure I have this down: they want me to cut holes into a DOOR, that OPENS, and is not watertight, so that water can GET OUT?!? First off, how in the bleeding hell does it get in in the first place ?!? Second, is there a particular reason I couldn't just open the damn door?!? A 8'x7' garage door would let a lot more water out than 3 8"x12" vents! Naturally, nobody there could explain this to me, but "Those are the rules, so that's what you have to have."
Needless to say, I'm angry beyond words. Not only to I have to cut holes in my lovely new door, but I have to order a replacement panel for it so I can get rid of said holes as soon as the final is done. Isn't beauracracy wonderful?
Kill me now.
I feel for you, I've had my share of 'oh yeah we forgot to mention this to you' from inspectors. I still have my final to go, once the siding is complete. At least I have the stamps for the others so hopefully there won't be more delays (I began in May!). Could you put drains in the side? that might look better...something like a dryer vent...just an idea.
Best of luck dealing with the BS
Best of luck dealing with the BS
boiler7904
Well-known member
Re: Status Update!
I've heard of that before. The purpose is to allow water a chance to flow through a building in case of a flood so that the building doesn't get knocked off the foundation.
It could have been worse. They could have required some of those "flood gates" in walls - I'm kind of surprised they didn't actually.
They don't let you count that the door opens and that you'll open it in the event of a flood because that requires your interaction. Pretty hard to do if you're not home.
I know this sounds retarded but I've encountered it once before. That's our tax dollars at work.
Is there a way to go through an appeals process of some sort? Unless part of your property is physically within the flood zone, you shouldn't have to install the vents. If the flood zone butts up to but doesn't cross onto your property, you should be free and clear. Start doing some research.
Can't wait to see pics of the finished garage.
Inetmonkey said:I get to have 3 very large, very ugly "drain vents" cut into my beautiful new garage door. The reason for this is apparently to allow water to escape from the structure in the event of flooding.
So let me make sure I have this down: they want me to cut holes into a DOOR, that OPENS, and is not watertight, so that water can GET OUT?!? First off, how in the bleeding hell does it get in in the first place ?!? Second, is there a particular reason I couldn't just open the damn door?!? A 8'x7' garage door would let a lot more water out than 3 8"x12" vents! Naturally, nobody there could explain this to me, but "Those are the rules, so that's what you have to have."
Needless to say, I'm angry beyond words. Not only to I have to cut holes in my lovely new door, but I have to order a replacement panel for it so I can get rid of said holes as soon as the final is done. Isn't beauracracy wonderful?
I've heard of that before. The purpose is to allow water a chance to flow through a building in case of a flood so that the building doesn't get knocked off the foundation.
It could have been worse. They could have required some of those "flood gates" in walls - I'm kind of surprised they didn't actually.
They don't let you count that the door opens and that you'll open it in the event of a flood because that requires your interaction. Pretty hard to do if you're not home.
I know this sounds retarded but I've encountered it once before. That's our tax dollars at work.
Is there a way to go through an appeals process of some sort? Unless part of your property is physically within the flood zone, you shouldn't have to install the vents. If the flood zone butts up to but doesn't cross onto your property, you should be free and clear. Start doing some research.
Can't wait to see pics of the finished garage.
twostory
Well-known member
Re: Status Update!
I think Inetmonkey has already solved his problem. Do what ever the inspector wants, get you CO, then make things how you really wanted to do it. The panel for a garage door is probably less than $100.
The time (and money) to go thru and appeal process and maybe be denied is not worth it.
I deal with this problem everyday on my garage. I can not do the things I want to do, as the inspector may say no. So I am doing the barest electrical work, just to get my CO. I will add the needed circuit later.
I am not planning on insultation or dry wall for a while. It is a bare garage shell with electric. Once I get my CO, I will insulate and dry wall it. I figure why deal with the hassle of inspection, if I can just finish things later.
boiler7904 said:
I think Inetmonkey has already solved his problem. Do what ever the inspector wants, get you CO, then make things how you really wanted to do it. The panel for a garage door is probably less than $100.
The time (and money) to go thru and appeal process and maybe be denied is not worth it.
I deal with this problem everyday on my garage. I can not do the things I want to do, as the inspector may say no. So I am doing the barest electrical work, just to get my CO. I will add the needed circuit later.
I am not planning on insultation or dry wall for a while. It is a bare garage shell with electric. Once I get my CO, I will insulate and dry wall it. I figure why deal with the hassle of inspection, if I can just finish things later.
dodgepolara500
Well-known member
I feel for you and your problems with the inspectors and the fees. I live is San Jose as well and recently completed a home addition and remodel. I spent well over $7000 for permits and fees. I had plenty of trouble with the planning department as well as the inspectors. I was given a varience for the side yard setback of my garage and then it was taken away after construction because i did not adhere to a technicality. The technicality was in a separate document which I did not receive when i was given the varience! Very frustrating a time consuming since I had to get a surveyor and redo a section of my foundation forms that I had already built. Other problems down the road with the insepctors as well. I am convinced that people who run the building departments, inspector and planners are in those jobs since they could not survive in the real world as contractors!!!!
I can vouch that building in the Bay Area is very expensive. Glad to see that Tuff Shed worked out. I was looking at them for a garden shed.
I can vouch that building in the Bay Area is very expensive. Glad to see that Tuff Shed worked out. I was looking at them for a garden shed.
OP
Inetmonkey
Well-known member
It's finally done!
Ladies and gentlemen, I direct your attention to the center ring! Without further ado I give you, MY NEW GARAGE! <wild cheering ensues>
The final inspection completion is pending the installation of 3 vents in the front wall (the one with the doors). I'm going to put them in those handy little squares in the garage door and then move the cut panel to the top and install windows in the holes after it passes.
Now the fun stuff can begin. I'm trying to squeeze paint in between rainy days sometime before Christmas & the electrician will be running power back to it in January. There's still a lot of moisture in the concrete so I'm waiting until it dries out/warms up to seal it and put in the tiles. Cabinets will be next, along with some finishing touches I've always wanted.
Oh, and p.s.
While my friend and I were up in the rafters measuring for plywood flooring for the storage area, my wife walked in and commented on the two hairless monkeys playing in their new habitat. Guess what the garage is now being referred to? That's right, the monkey house.
Ladies and gentlemen, I direct your attention to the center ring! Without further ado I give you, MY NEW GARAGE! <wild cheering ensues>
The final inspection completion is pending the installation of 3 vents in the front wall (the one with the doors). I'm going to put them in those handy little squares in the garage door and then move the cut panel to the top and install windows in the holes after it passes.
Now the fun stuff can begin. I'm trying to squeeze paint in between rainy days sometime before Christmas & the electrician will be running power back to it in January. There's still a lot of moisture in the concrete so I'm waiting until it dries out/warms up to seal it and put in the tiles. Cabinets will be next, along with some finishing touches I've always wanted.
Oh, and p.s.
While my friend and I were up in the rafters measuring for plywood flooring for the storage area, my wife walked in and commented on the two hairless monkeys playing in their new habitat. Guess what the garage is now being referred to? That's right, the monkey house.
PAToyota
Well-known member
Ok, possibly a stupid question - what is the white stuff at the joints? Caulking?
OP
Inetmonkey
Well-known member
JMURiz said:
Thanks Nathan! I'm not sure what kind of siding it is. It's some type of fiberboard but the particles seem finer than standard MDF. It was pre-primed the brown color and has a textured wood-grain type finish on the exterior side. I asked them to leave me a couple of pieces just in case, but there are no markings on them.
PAToyota said:
Yep, paintable caulking. When construction was finished, they basically left it ready for paint. I'm going today to get the yellow to match the house and some white for the trim.
snorvet
Well-known member
Before cutting holes in the garage, maybe the City's flood zone designation should be verified. I believe your area flood designations are governed by FEMA. FEMA flood maps are online at :
http://msc.fema.gov/ Go to map search
First view the map for your area and see if your area is in a shaded flood zone per FEMA. If your lot lies outside the flood zone per FEMA, provide this map info to the city as proof.
Some flood areas have been extensively studied and their flood elevations are shown on the map. Even if your lot lies in a shaded flood zone area, you could have your lot's elevations surveyed to determine if your elevations are above or below the FEMA map's flood elevation for the area. FEMA has means for removing areas from mapped flood plains if the surveyed elevations are higher than the mapped elevations. I don't know if you want to go to this extreme, but this may possible
http://msc.fema.gov/ Go to map search
First view the map for your area and see if your area is in a shaded flood zone per FEMA. If your lot lies outside the flood zone per FEMA, provide this map info to the city as proof.
Some flood areas have been extensively studied and their flood elevations are shown on the map. Even if your lot lies in a shaded flood zone area, you could have your lot's elevations surveyed to determine if your elevations are above or below the FEMA map's flood elevation for the area. FEMA has means for removing areas from mapped flood plains if the surveyed elevations are higher than the mapped elevations. I don't know if you want to go to this extreme, but this may possible