Georgia now has a builder state license requiring a exam, performance bond, and background check. Hope that helps the home buyers.
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I worked my way through college at the end of a trim carpenter's hammer. I would not trade my experience with 2 old master-carpenters for the experiences in the classroom at Emory. They blessed me with training and tricks only known to CRAFTSMEN.
All the permits and safety regulations in the world had NOTHING TO DO with the quality of work we performed. Today any man can go to Lowe's, buy an air compressor and nailer along with an expensive miter saw and "CALL HIMSELF A TRIM CARPENTER." The real control needed is not with technicalities of permitting and inspection. It has to do with skills and knowledge of the man doing the job. Most inspectors I know have never done the work they are inspecting! One example of today's building world is pre-hung door units. In my day we built door from the frame up. The basic frame is composed of substantial boards nailed together at the corners, then set in the opening, plumbed, and straight-edged, then shims and casing nails are applied to make it strong enough to stand any abuse in the future. The next step is to apply trim which requires a perfectly square and straight frame to have no cracks at the corners. Upright trim is first applied, then you turn the top piece upside down and mark the corner by the outside edge of the upright. Trim has no cracks! A router was our magic tool to mortise hinges in the door and frame which held everything together. Finally you took the other magic tool of electric drill to cut openings for the handle. The entire process took 2-3 men, each doing his part to do it right so it hung without movement; could stand a kid deciding to swing on it for fun on a rainy day; and last 100 or more years without failures! The prehung door unit is now the "way to make big money." They are fully assembled on a factory line using air nailers to shoot staples instead of finish nails. The staples are about 1/10 as strong as finish nails. The typical trim carpenter today takes the unit apart, front to back, installs one side that has the door hanging on it, then pushes in the other side to a snug wall fit, shoots about 10 quick pops with his air nailer, and walks away to fill out the bill. *Did he check the door for plumb at the uprights? *Did he apply casing nails and shims to insure it's strength? *Did he even close and inspect it to make sure the crack between door and trim is perfectly straight and equal all around that door? The inspectors never put a coin or shim all around any prehung door unit installed in the house. They dare not slam it or it just might fall out into the floor. Would a 200# man swing on that door to check for strength? Naw, he is headed to McDonald's for a quick lunch because he is paid more than the man who installed it! What I am describing it quality skills no longer needed nor questioned in any modern housing tract. The person who is buying one of those retirement community places on a concrete slab better hope he only uses it for 10 years and that no grandkids come to visit. The first angry kid who slams that door will be the real inspector. Nine out of 10 slams will surely make it's putty crack. The 10th will had it falling out of the opening and into the middle of the floor. All the inspections in the world cannot correct cheap and unskilled labor producing a house that won't stand up to living in it!!! |
Short story. A friend refused to pay his HVAC contractor in a dispute over a minor issue. I advised him to pay to guy if he passed inspection. They guy had not permitted the job and settled for half. I advised friend to pay in full but he did not.
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Try owning and operating a Tree Surgery Company in NC --- it is anything BUT "friendly to small businesses." If you have more than 2 on the job site you must have Workmen's comp (most expensive non-insurance of all)---it matters not the man getting hurt and paid well is an independent contractor responsible for his own health and safety . . .
I you need a crane anymore, you won't believe the OSHA rules and regs---made up after a college frat party by idiots who never did any work of the sort!!! I now know why so many fresh college grads who can't really read nor write get that $65K job to harass people smart enough to wire a house and remove trees without hitting it!!! Don't get me started, gentlemen . . . |
One more thing we have in common Ted - contracting.
Bureaucrats may be a necessary component, but that does not make it any less onerous. |
I spent many years in the construction industry and remember the cost of permits and the worker comp payroll cost. I am sure many homeowners were tempted to use unlicensed workmen.
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As long as you made the Company big bucks, you could say whatever you pleased --- as long as it was't in writing!