Q. I'm really distressed about my home reconstruction.
Posted
Between delays, excuses, cost overruns and not being finished, I want to tell everyone not to do this unless they have a strong stomach. I'd never do it again. My latest problem is that the contractor never called for inspections, and the so-called architect was a draftsman with no license. The inspector wants a letter from an architect or engineer to cover their not seeing things before we get signed off. Why do I have to hire an architect or engineer when the inspector is supposed to inspect?
A.
It's all about responsibility. Who wants to be responsible for work they don't see? Who wants to put their neck on the chopping block in court when hidden problems show their ugly face? My question is, did anybody reading this get the idea that the contractor was responsible? You didn't even mention them when it came to getting a letter. Who was there to see the work being done, the architect or engineer? No. The person doing the work. But strangely enough, building departments don't hold workers responsible for their actions. Letters, by themselves, don't hold up buildings.A columnist and engineer, Dan Holohan, once wrote that "when a worker used to do a job, they were proud to put their name on it." In essence, they "owned" it. Instead, your state gives licenses to architects and engineers, so contractors and building officials can take that to mean that architects and engineers have passed a rigorous educational process, professional exams, internship, and most important, are able to see through buildings. In fact, most architects and engineers (though it may seem hard to believe) cannot see through buildings - and those few who can are hard to find. Unless your building official or building department reviews their policy and decides to get the truly responsible individual to write the letter - namely the contractor, whose insurance and license number were required in order to grant your permit in the first place - you're stuck with finding a licensed architect or engineer to write one of those bogus letters.I was very impressed with one inspector, however, whom I wish I could name, who did ask a contractor for a letter because of an unorthodox framing method used on a project. During a field visit to review the work, I noticed the problem and brought it to the contractor's attention. He sheepishly informed me that the inspector also brought it up, and asked the contractor to submit a notarized letter of safety before work could continue. I contacted the inspector to compliment him on the decision.Ordinarily, the inspector would have asked the contractor to get a letter from the architect. This would have created friction between the architect and contractor, and ultimately the owner, who would have gotten involved when the architect balked at providing a letter vouching for the safety of workmanship they could not condone. It's great that the official avoided the instigating of arguments over responsibility and recognized that the person performing the work, as Ricky Ricardo used to say, has "some 'splaining to do." Responsibility is everyone's. Good Luck!Readers are encouraged to send questions to: HERALD Homes, 379 Central Avenue, P.O. Box 220, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559-0220Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
