need advice regarding contractors and permits

[Speedy]

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/real-es...0722a1.asp

"Enforcement and fines for non-permitted work varies greatly from area to area, but penalties can be between three and 10 times the cost of the permit. Worse, the city can demand portions of the repair work be undone to make sure underlying components were constructed safely. Another potential problem: Some insurance companies will not pay a claim if a fire originates in, or another problem stems from, an illegally constructed area."

[3d]

davemchine wrote:
The closet that houses the fan and backup heat is right next to the kitchen so there is no way the inspector is going to miss seeing the ceiling lights unless I can stop him from taking one extra step to the right. So I guess I might get lucky but it's a long shot.

Stick up some blue tarp "one extra step to the right". Why? The kitchen is over there and you wanted to contain the dust. You know how wives are. Har har. Uhmmm yeah, So here's the heat pump. How's it look?

If the inspector sticks his nose past the tarp, he's trespassing.

[davemchine]

in case you missed it

[Black]

PSA: Whatever you may think of Speedy, he's almost never wrong about anything.

[Racer X]

Speedy wrote:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/real-es...0722a1.asp

"Enforcement and fines for non-permitted work varies greatly from area to area, but penalties can be between three and 10 times the cost of the permit. Worse, the city can demand portions of the repair work be undone to make sure underlying components were constructed safely. Another potential problem: Some insurance companies will not pay a claim if a fire originates in, or another problem stems from, an illegally constructed area."

Neighbor's garage burned down. Claim denied because there was no permit for the electrical installation, thus no proof of inspection that it was up to code.

[OWC Jamie]

what will cancelling tomorrow's inspection cost

[davester]

Considering the fact that incorrectly done electrical work can burn your house down, and the insurance company will inspect the remnants of the wiring to see if the wires are dated later than the last electrical permit pulled (and then refuse to cover the damage), I think it is absolutely crazy to do this kind of work without a properly licensed contractor. Sure, the chances are not that high of something like that happening, but the probability is definitely not zero, and the money saved from using a fly by night "contractor" is a pittance.

There's also a fair chance that the inspector will slap a "stop work" order on you. I've had that happen on work that I thought didn't need a permit. Fun, fun, fun!....NOT!!

[davemchine]

I've been told the inspector will call before coming over so I will attempt to delay his arrival by rescheduling. That will give me time to get the lighting done properly. Very much looking forward to lots of led lighting instead of the dreary lights I had before. I'll post before and after pictures when it is done. Thanks for all the good advice.

[davemchine]

And to further clarify, it was never my intent to do this without a permit. I hired a contractor and assumed it was all taken care of. I didn't research it thoroughly because I thought it was a simple lighting project.

[davester]

davemchine wrote:
And to further clarify, it was never my intent to do this without a permit. I hired a contractor and assumed it was all taken care of. I didn't research it thoroughly because I thought it was a simple lighting project.

Upon finding that he isn't licensed and didn't get a permit (assuming he didn't inform you of any of this) I would fire his ass immediately and not pay him. I might eventually reimburse him for materials if the whole mess didn't cost me an arm and a leg.