But you know that. Your project could be simple if there were an express line at the Building Department and all the people involved in your project — owner, architect, contractor, workers, plumber, electrician, air conditioning installer, you name it — worked safely, efficiently, to code compliance, following the plans, following common sense, carrying out their work as if the future was as important as the present, as if work quality were meant to last. Where is that world? I want that, too! Instead, the whole system, from the defying of the permit process by building owners to the built-up mistrust by officials, is based on all the real-life situations officials have to look at, or when firefighters get hurt (or worse) because someone created another safety violation.

For every bad news story you hear, think about all the ones that are prevented by having the team of people who measured, designed, built, and checked their work. I understand that the disasters are extreme and probably won’t happen to you. Plan for several weeks to get permits or pay penalties later, which vary from doubling fees (a few hundred dollars) to redoing work, and even going to court.

©2014 Monte Leeper. Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.