Quote:
Originally Posted by HardDrive
My sister asked for my advice, then went ahead before she even heard back from me. C'est la vie.
Thank you all, and especially look 171, for taking the time to respond.
I told her to go to the city and look at the permit history. She didn't.
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There might be a city web site that she can fish old permits from. At least that may help her determine if and when that addition was built. If it was permitted and built after a certain year, then more then likely that it may have been bolted due to more modern building code. Those are the home work she can do. Going down to the city, she will actually see the plans on microfiche. This way she can argue with the inspector about the addition that may have been part of the original structure. Again, inspectors can tell if they are part of the structure just simply by the way the additional is connected or built quality. There are lots of what ifs here without seeing the actual building. She must tread lightly on this because if the inspector calls her on this, then she not only has to remove that section, they may (will) make her rebuild it and to today's code which is a royal pain in the ass and much money. If its on a hill side then its big bucks. Hillside ordnance is a PITA. You know if she;s in a HPOZ zone (Historic zone)? Well, the lovely inspector, plan checker and local fooking historic Nazi will have a field day if she has any modern windows and doors that's been retrofitted even before the established HPOZ zoning. All this work maybe too much for her to deal with.
If she's interested or insist in doing the work, then ask her contractor these questions and make sure the are experience in dealing with all the BS and not just bolt the foundation and go away and leave her to deal with the city. She's not going to be able to do it on her own. Its too overwhelming for someone who hasn't done it before. Get it plan out and come up with a game plan. A small thing can turn into huge money and the city will not let her off until she fixes it to their satisfaction. Not only she's lost the living area (if illegally built) and pay to go back to the original smaller place. That's means architect's fee, and on and on.
Please be careful with these sleaze ball contractors out there. There are many who pray on these young home owners that live in Hipesterville. She can always call me if she has any questions or need me to look at something. I am happy to do that for you/her. I can't do the work for her, but I will tell her what's right or wrong