There you are with hammer in hand then out of the shadows you hear a voice “Drop that hammer and put your hands on the wall… NOW”.  The authority comes up and grabs one of your hands and throws a cuff on it. Then the owner of the voice cuffs the other. “Now we got you, you have been found guilty of violating the law”.

Codes are the law of the land. They are the guiding principles to building a safe and (mostly) durable home. Then why is there so much resistance to them, and worse so much willingness to not play by the rules?

It seems that it is human nature to resist authority to some extent. But funny thing about rules, we want everyone else to play by them, but those rules may not apply to you… right? Many feel that it’s our home and we can do what we want, right… wrong! You do not get in a car and tell the kids they do not have to wear the seatbelt, it’s your car and I can do what I want, right? There are the rules, we should all abide by them.

The law of the land states that if we perform certain acts (repairs/alterations) on our home we must do so with the guidance of the rules. Ignorance is not an exemption. We must pull permits where instructed and ensure what we are doing what is both safe and accepted by the governing bodies (The AHJ/The Building Official).

Enter the building codes, this is from the 2009 IRC (International Building Code) (bold and underline is mine).

R102.7.1 Additions, alterations or repairs.

Additions , alterations or repairs to any structure shall conform to the requirements for a new structure without requiring the existing structure to comply with all of the requirements of this code, unless otherwise stated. Additions , alterations or repairs shall not cause an existing structure to become unsafe or adversely affect the performance of the building.

(The old grandfather clause goes bye-bye)

R105.8 Responsibility.

It shall be the duty of every person who performs work for the installation or repair of building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, for which this code is applicable, to comply with this code.

(This is you or anyone you hire)

R105.1 Required.

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit .

(Yep, most likely you need a permit)

R113.1 Unlawful acts.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, move, remove, demolish or occupy any building, structure or equipment regulated by this code, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this code.

(Yep you are breaking the law… Book ‘Em Danno!)

These rules pretty much cover most things when it comes to repairing and changing your home. And as you can see you are required to perform these acts in compliance of the rules.  No one is exempt (not even me ;). The key operative word here is “Shall”. This means you must or you will do what is stated. To do otherwise you are violating the law.

Remember you most likely will only own your home for a certain period of time. Only about half of all single family home owners will live in their homes for at least 10 years. That means many will sell their home and then someone will inherit whatever you have done (or not done) to the home. I think as responsible people we should think about those who will come later, or will it always be “Caveat Emptor” and we just keep kicking the can down the road and let someone else be responsible.

“The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant.”

Plato

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                               509-670-9572