Fix It Fast: Start here for DIY help! (You'll know when it's a problem by smell.)

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Hobbies, Crafts, & Houses > Fix It Fast: Start here for DIY help! (You'll know when it's a problem by smell.)

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Motronic: Nov 6, 2009

Slugworth posted:

I had an inspector come in once to check some plumbing I was doing. He failed me for some minor thing. I fixed it, and when he came back he dinged me for something else that was already there the first time he inspected, and he missed. When I argued the point, his words were something along the line of "it doesn't matter when we notice it, if it's not to code, it's not to code".

Is that a universal truth? Who knows. But I wouldn't gamble on something like what you're proposing.

Yes, it's a universal truth. I felt bad about it when I happened to miss something in a previous visit, but code is code and it's super minimum and when your inspecting for life safety stuff I don't care when I find it.

This "you've been here and didn't see it then" poo poo can also turn into hiding things from the code officials to play that game, so none of us are willing to play that game.

Now, in the situation described here: if the plan clearly shows property lines and is clearly marked with distances any competent AHJ is going to immediately reject the permit because it doesn't meet the setback requirements. Even if they don't their error/omission isn't permission. It's likely they aren't even able to grant such a variance on their own - that would most often take the zoning official and/or the entire zoning hearing board.

Also, variances have to be specifically documented because if you got one then your closest neighbors are almost automatically granted the same (not really but close enough under most systems).

# ? Jun 1, 2022 15:07

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# ? May 30, 2024 23:33

glynnenstein: Feb 18, 2014

Most aspects have already been addressed, but...

In my experience, buildings or alterations that are found to have been approved in error may be subsequently addressed in any way from destroying the structure entirely to being allowed without changes and you can't assume anything. This goes for full single family homes to treehouses and doghouses. Whether or not your actions were in good faith is a factor as well, and being found to have been trying to pull a fast one will always make it worse for you.

There was an especially fun one near me a few years back. It's a different situation from the OP here, but it goes to show that a fully approved project can become a massive and expensive headache.

The Washington Post posted:

Kingery has been tussling with the Arlington County zoning officials ever since they ruled in 2001 that he had built the house too close to the street. In 2002, an Arlington County Circuit Court judge ruled that the house could stay if Kingery cleaned up the construction debris and made a few small modifications, such as landscaping and diminishing the size of the roof overhang. Around that time, neighbor Dorothea Hanchar was out in her yard one day and saw a worker suspended from the roof in a sling, slicing off the house's back eave with a chain saw.

Zoning officials say that Kingery did not comply with the terms and that variances for the house are no longer valid. Kingery is currently appealing the ruling to Arlington Circuit Court, but in August he complicated matters by filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, saying that the zoning dispute prompted his bank to demand full payment of his $700,000 home loan.

Kingery said the house has been egged and his tires have been slashed; neighbors say curiosity seekers with out-of-state plates stop to take pictures, blocking traffic. They just want the ugly structure torn down. Kingery is afraid it will be.

Subsequently posted:

It's a renovated, 7,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom, seven-bath house in a desirable part of North Arlington, and it's on the market for less than $750,000.

In an area where houses often carry million-dollar price tags, the deal seems extraordinary.

But little about the house has ever been ordinary.

The home, at the corner of 27th and North Sycamore streets, probably is Arlington's most controversial residence. A blue behemoth, it violated zoning regulations -- and in many opinions, good taste -- almost as soon as it was framed. Neighbors refer to it as the "airplane hangar" and the "blue brick."

It sparked a four-year legal battle between the county and its former owner and continues to breach zoning ordinances. But it's on the market for "just the right buyer," said listing broker George Greene of Star Homes Realty Inc.

"If someone had six or seven kids, it might be a good place for them. It's in a nice neighborhood with good schools. It really has a clubhouse feel," Greene said.

The house was bought at foreclosure last month by Bereen & Barry Investments LLC of Fairfax at a bargain price. The county has assessed its worth at $993,600 -- about $275,000 for the lot and $718,000 for the structure.

"You can't buy a home in today's market for below the tax assessment. It's unheard of," Greene said.

Potential owners might appreciate the house's ballroom-size living room (at least 50 by 100 feet), its basement with marble walls, the seven-room master suite or the bathrooms that adjoin every bedroom.

But much of the home remains unfinished. Several rooms have plywood floors, three flights of stairs are roughed in, the kitchen lacks countertops and the makeshift porch seems downright dangerous, with a plywood floor resting precariously over a 12-foot-deep cement foundation that houses a hot tub.

A buyer wanting to take on the monster project would first have to deal with Arlington County, which plans to enforce a variance granted to owner Paul M. Kingery in 1999, requiring that the house meet setback regulations.

Under that variance, two of the house's four sides must be moved by at least nine inches each, zoning coordinator Tony Burnett said this week. "The county is going to pursue this. We are not going to let it slide," Burnett said.

Just shrink the house by 9 inches in two dimensions, problem solved.

glynnenstein fucked around with this message at 16:30 on Jun 1, 2022

# ? Jun 1, 2022 16:24

PremiumSupport: Aug 17, 2015

Yeah, let me just wave my magic wand...

Seriously though, if the zoning board is going to enforce the regulation then the structure has no value and should not be able to be sold except as a demolition job. Trying to shave 9" off of two sides of an existing structure is a cost prohibitive operation, assuming the building has proper footings and isn't on a slab.

# ? Jun 1, 2022 17:20

glynnenstein: Feb 18, 2014

PremiumSupport posted:

Yeah, let me just wave my magic wand...

Seriously though, if the zoning board is going to enforce the regulation then the structure has no value and should not be able to be sold except as a demolition job. Trying to shave 9" off of two sides of an existing structure is a cost prohibitive operation, assuming the building has proper footings and isn't on a slab.

Property values being what they are inside the beltway... it ended up selling for $450,000 to the folks who made the required adjustments. It was crazy to watch, just took off two entire sides of the house and cut it back.

It sold again most recently last month for $1,620,000.

# ? Jun 1, 2022 18:53

PremiumSupport: Aug 17, 2015

glynnenstein posted:

Property values being what they are inside the beltway... it ended up selling for $450,000 to the folks who made the required adjustments. It was crazy to watch, just took off two entire sides of the house and cut it back.

It sold again most recently last month for $1,620,000.

Hope they got an engineer to sign off on the plans...

# ? Jun 1, 2022 19:02

The Spookmaster: Sep 9, 2002

My house is over 100 years old and has the original wood floors and they are in need of a good refinishing. My issue is.... I have pet pigs.. five of them, and one is close to 400 lbs. What are my options as far as durability that may be able to hold up 7 sets of feet when five of them are cloven for at least for a few years?

Big baby for refrence

The Spookmaster fucked around with this message at 22:02 on Jun 1, 2022

# ? Jun 1, 2022 21:59

Anne Whateley: Feb 11, 2007; i like nice words

Sincerely, train him to wear shoes

# ? Jun 1, 2022 22:06

withak: Jan 15, 2003; Fun Shoe

Holy poo poo.

# ? Jun 1, 2022 22:14

tangy yet delightful: Sep 13, 2005

The Spookmaster posted:

My house is over 100 years old and has the original wood floors and they are in need of a good refinishing. My issue is.... I have pet pigs.. five of them, and one is close to 400 lbs. What are my options as far as durability that may be able to hold up 7 sets of feet when five of them are cloven for at least for a few years?

Big baby for refrence

I think having the wood floors refinished (sanded/stained/sealed?) would be the best bet. I kind of doubt even the high end LVP will last long term better than good old 100 year old 3/4" thick old growth flooring wood planks.

Or you could not have a motorcycle theft deterrent in the house.

# ? Jun 1, 2022 23:00

Not a Children: Oct 9, 2012; Don't need a holster if you never stop shooting.

Goddamn sometimes you just see a post that reminds you of why you keep posting on this dead-rear end forum

# ? Jun 1, 2022 23:22

KKKLIP ART: Sep 3, 2004

This is going to sound dumb but for my horizontal fence, I know ground contact pressure treated 4x4s as the posts, but what about the slats? 2x6 PT? 5/4 PT deck board?

# ? Jun 1, 2022 23:27

The Spookmaster: Sep 9, 2002

tangy yet delightful posted:

I think having the wood floors refinished (sanded/stained/sealed?) would be the best bet. I kind of doubt even the high end LVP will last long term better than good old 100 year old 3/4" thick old growth flooring wood planks.

Or you could not have a motorcycle theft deterrent in the house.

Yea i definitely want to have them refinished I'm just wondering what the most durable coating would be. We have lots of rugs and runners that help with the traffic but it's still a ton of wear and tear.

Not a Children posted:

Goddamn sometimes you just see a post that reminds you of why you keep posting on this dead-rear end forum

The Spookmaster fucked around with this message at 23:33 on Jun 1, 2022

# ? Jun 1, 2022 23:30

wesleywillis: Dec 30, 2016; SUCK A MALE CAMEL'S DICK WITH MIRACLE WHIP!!

Not a Children posted:

Goddamn sometimes you just see a post that reminds you of why you keep posting on this dead-rear end forum

This is the pig balls website after all.

# ? Jun 1, 2022 23:30

TooMuchAbstraction: Oct 14, 2012; I spent four years making
Waves of Steel
Hell yes I'm going to turn my avatar into an ad for it.; Fun Shoe

KKKLIP ART posted:

This is going to sound dumb but for my horizontal fence, I know ground contact pressure treated 4x4s as the posts, but what about the slats? 2x6 PT? 5/4 PT deck board?

The slats just need to be opaque, pretty much. Often, fence slats are redwood or cedar, because those have some natural rot resistance. Moisture resistance is nice but not essential, because they aren't in constant contact with water.

# ? Jun 1, 2022 23:49

KKKLIP ART: Sep 3, 2004

TooMuchAbstraction posted:

The slats just need to be opaque, pretty much. Often, fence slats are redwood or cedar, because those have some natural rot resistance. Moisture resistance is nice but not essential, because they aren't in constant contact with water.

But a 2x6 of whatever wood is perfectly fine assuming it is either moisture resistant or pressure treated?

# ? Jun 2, 2022 01:45

babyeatingpsychopath: Oct 28, 2000; Forum Veteran