May is officially National Home Improvement Month! When the weather warms up, homeowners start getting the itch to make updates to their home. Taking care of your biggest investment is definitely worth your time and is very rewarding once the project is complete. Perhaps you want to improve your outdoor areas or maybe one of your bathrooms needs some updating. Whatever the case may be, there are some important building code violations that are commonly made, unknowingly by DIY remodelers. We’d like to bring these to your attention, so you can avoid making them yourselves.
- Forgetting to get a permit. This is one of the most common code violations. Permits are important for a number of reasons. Most importantly, a permit requires that your improvement be inspected upon completion, which ensures your safety as well as a lot of headaches and potential expense to you when you go to sell your home in the future. Examples of remodels that require a permit include: adding or removing walls, building an addition or deck and most changes to your electrical or plumbing systems.
- Improper or unsecured deck ledgers. The ledger is the part of the deck that attaches to the house. It supports the joists and provides strength to the framing. Different fastening methods are necessary depending on the exterior of your home. If your ledgers aren’t secure the deck could collapse.
- Skipping the Egress Window. Any sleeping area must have an Egress Window, regardless of where it is in your home. If your finished basement is below the fourth floor, you must have an Egress Window.
- Improper Bathroom Fan Venting. Fans must be vented to the outside of your home with a 4” diameter vent pipe. Inspect the fittings that come with your fan to make sure they are adequate and if not, purchase a converter pipe. Don’t be tempted to vent the fan into the attic as this is against code and also pumps humid air into attic, which can cause mold and rotting.
- Electrical Wiring Mistakes. So much can go wrong when an inexperienced homeowner attempts to make electrical updates. From installing inadequate circuits to missing GFCI’s, which are necessary in areas where water is present, one mistake can be very dangerous.
The best way to avoid these and other common building code violations is to do your research, ask questions to reliable professionals, and when you can’t handle it on your own, hire a professional.
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