Plumbing code in Maine???

Jed_2

But that's what perpetuates the "Maine Charm". But, Bill; it's " Bangah".LOL

Jed

Luke Lefever_3

We have a customer that owns a property on an island off the coast of Maine. He has not found a plumber that he trusts there. He would like for us to go there and do some new construction plumbing for him. Questions...

What code is in effect in Maine? In Indiana we use a conglomeration of the UPC and the International Code.

I'm guessing we could not be recognized as licensed there. Indiana seems not to have reciprocity with most other states.

Are there any limitations for materials. I've heard that some states don't like PEX, don't allow press fittings, etc. Are we going to find idiosyncracies that will make it obvious that we're not locals?

Thanks, Luke

Maine Doug_32

Well,

for one thing there would be your accent and vocabulary...


>>>>Are we going to find idiosyncracies that will make it obvious that we're not locals? <<<<<

Maine Ken

If you are "NOT" the howowner then you cannot legaly do anything. It is unfortunate that the Maine guys can't be trusted!!!!!

MAINE Ken

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Bill Nye_2

A'yup, been to Maine.

A'yah, wee'l take a day and go to town for pahts. Might hafta' go all the way down to Bangor............

Jed_2

On an island off the coast of Maine

you probably won't have any inspectors at all! What's the island called? Where is it? There are many plumbers and there are a few good Contractors all over Maine. Maybe he hasn't looked far enough.

Jed

Luke Lefever_3

I didn't say there weren't any that could be trusted... I said he hasn't found anyone he trusts. He's a little on the careful side. Maybe thats how he has the money to be building a house on an island in the Atlantic Ocean.

I kinda' figured we couldn't do anything unless we were the homeowner. We'll probably need to refer him to the PHCC near there and have him ask for a recommendation. I'm think I won't travel that far to work for free.

Luke Lefever
Lefever Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Elkhart, IN
574-293-8709
www.lefeverph.com

Rodney Summers

Luke

Which island? I did a pre-fab house on Vinalhaven island many years ago for a friend, and I contacted the local administrators office, who put me in contact with an inspector in Rockland (main land). I loved doing this job and as a matter of fact I actually rented this same house many times when I went back for a vacation (this is my most relaxing vaction place). I loved this island. The inspector never even caught on that I was really from New Jersey but back then enforcement isn't like it is today. Doing the installation in all cast iron (lead & oakum)and copper (which I believe was the first time it was used there) didn't hurt either. My experiences with local government (building department) was quite enjoyable.


Robert O'Connor/NJ

S Ebels

Luke

If he wants you to do it, and YOU want to do it, just have him pull a homeowners permit and go work for him. Happens ALL the time around here. Usually the hacks are the ones that perpetrate this scheme but I don't see that being the case with you and your level of work.

Al Letellier_9

Maine plumbing

Luke, to answer your question directly, you do have to be licensed to work in Maine and it irritated me to read some responces here about "beating the system"....Maine adopted a new code January 1 this year adopted and adapted from the Uniform Plumbing Code. ALL UPC approved materials are accepted here and PVC DWV and PEX is widely used. If your client would like some help finding a qualified contractor, have him give me a call. I'm getting away form the tools myself, but do a lot of consulting and would be happy to assist him any way I can. Where is the job located.


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Maine Ken

Steve, Let's not subvert the system. It is illegal in Maine to perform heating and plumbing work without proper MAINE licensing. The only exception is that a HO can do it by HIM/HERself. Just because it is done all the time does not make it right.

Luke I took offense at what I felt you were saying. It sounded to me that "I can't trust the locals to do the work, so why don't you locals tell me how I need to do it." It sounds now that that was not your intent. I frequently deal with heating systems that were installed by the HO's favorite homestate workers. Sometimes the systems don't make code here and before I work on them there is considerable expense to fix what should have been done in the first place. Let's face it if the HO paid enough to have an out of state company do the original work they are not inclined to have to pay again to get it redone. There have been warranty issues as well.

Can you tell this is a sore subject with me???

Good luck,

Maine Ken



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S Ebels

I would have never guessed

The bottom line for me is that the codes are there primarily to protect the safety of the public and the function of the system. (They are especially weak in the last area) It's a mistake to assume that codes are in place in order to protect and maintain the business of a contractor.

I feel your pain Ken. As I said in my post, I run into the scenario I described around here ALL the time. Way too often with less than stellar results because the guy doing the HO's install for him is not licensed for a reason. Whatever the case, the HO is ignorant enough to believe Joe Plumber/Boilerman can do the job. Joe Plumber/Boilerman is perfectly content to circumvent the system as it absolves him of responsibility and the costs of being licensed and insured. Usually turns out to be a lose-lose situation.

This is definitely not the case with Luke and his company.

I still say if the HO in question wants Luke to do it and is comfortable with the fact that he has no local serviceman, let him hire Luke. Provided of course that Luke is comfortable with that scenario himself. If the HO in question here is smart enough to have made the $$ required to afford a place on an island, he'll probably figure this out too.

Call Luke, ask him for the guys name and contact him yourself.

Brad White_9

Ayuh, Maine plummin' code is clee-ah..

If a house has ovah two bedrums, gotta hava two-holah in the back yahd. A one-holah don't have room for the newspapah...

Brad White_59

Two fellah's from Berwick was tawkin...

Says one wistfully, "I used to date a gal upstate yeahs ago..

His friend asked, "Bang 'er?

"Nope. Watah-ville."

EJW

Maine

All this concern about the code and 1/2 of Monhegan island still has sewer lines discharge into the harbor. Go figure.

EJW

Maine Ken

That make it right????

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Chris_65

can't find a plumber!

Since when does having a lot of money make you smart(smaht). There are lots of professional service people from all the trades here in Maine. It sounds as though he just dosen't want to really find a Plumber or maybe he just thinks he is better than the "locals" cause he is "from away".

Rodney Summers

Al

I'm hoping I wasn't included in the "beating the system" comment. I had to take a test for the inspector on site, but before, I had to fill out an application that didn't even have a line on it for ones address, it simply said in or out (in-reference to the county/town). I circled out, and then signed my name. This job (did I mention this is almost 30 years ago) I installed a septic tank. Pretty weird Ah? The funny part was when I was all done and was ready to leave, I put my truck in the que for the ferry which came twice a day (I was 3rd). I waited 5 days to get off the island because this was lobster harvest time. AAAH!


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Ron Schroeder

Brad

Not bad for someone from away, but when in Berwick we don't say upstate we say down Maine or ifin its on the coast we say downeast, ayuh!!

Unknown

There are some very good plumbers here in our lovely state.

There are also a large number of "also-rans".

I would not fault anyone who knows a quality outfit and does not want to take a risk on an unknown quantity. It's hard to find a good mechanic, and when you do, you don't go anywhere else. Same deal here.

Brad White_60

Shame on me, Bruce

Shouldaknownbettah..

My Grandmother was from Beh-wick! Bohn in 1898 she was...

Was the telephone operatah back durin the Great Wawah, a mee-ah teen-ajah!

Ayuh.

Luke Lefever_3

I believe that we would do a fine job for him, but given the legal issues surrounding the idea... we'd better not. It would be a summer home for him, he has not spent much time determining what tradespeople are available to him there, nor asking for references. Eventually, he will need a plumber, electrician, etc. and he'll have to call someone local. I'm going to suggest that he find out from his neighbors, who has been used previously and whether they would be used again. Might as well start that relationship now. Thanks for the input. I wasn't trying to step on anyones toes, sorry if I did. Luke

Al Letellier_9

beating the system

No harm meant, Robert, but it gets done all the time hea'
Only 2 State inspectors and a bunch of other locals that never lifted a wrench....we pros do what we can to keep things civilized, if you know what I mean.

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Rodney Summers

Al



Robert O'Connor/NJ

Jed_2

CN

Don't think "smaht" has anything to do with it. Just, maybe, the "fear of the unknown". Put yourself in his shoes: you're in position to start a technical project of importance to you "far away, in a distant land". You may not be savvy to this sort of thing, and jump in; making contact with the first person you come across, and he just got out of the "lobsta boat bilge with a wrench, a hammah, and a roll of duct tape". "Yaah, I'm the plummah". What's a bloke to do?

Just wildly "imagineering" here, with no disrespect to anyone. There is the full gammit of competancy levels throughout Maine, as in most places. But, the good one's I know are top notch.

Jed

Bob Forand

Supply houses

Perhaps he could visit some of the local supply houses.

Robert O'Connor

Maine Ken ...... . Has it!

We have a system here in Maine . Definitely not perfect. However they our are regs.

All politics are local....

Good thing for you is Maine Ken has lots of work and wouldn't be worried if you came here. None of us would but...

I cleaned up a heating system on an Island with the agreement that the caretaker had n oil burner license.


My bill was better than the price of a couple nice SUV's...

AND..... Do you have time and money to play in court if things go baaaaad.

Indiana looks good on ya. If ya get here as a tourist .. Lobsters on ME!!

All the best,

Robert

ME

PS: Bobby O'Connor

lobsters on me too if ya get this way!!