permits & inspectors

DIY Homeowner

I'm not sure of the requirements in your state, but in mine, a homeowner is allowed to install copper piping and baseboard without a license or building permit. As part of a basement remodel, I re-piped 90% of the first floor zone, and installed a basement zone. But double check with your juristiction, as YMMV. My heating contractor replaced the boiler and made the final basement zone connections. The boiler installation, IMO, is definately a pro job.

If you are comfortable doing the heat loss analysis, and cutting, sweating and routing pipes, I don't see any reason why, during the summer, you couldn't run all your pipes and install all your baseboard, pressure test all your zones, and leave everything stubbed up to the future boiler location. If you are going with a high efficiency/sealed combustion unit, this will generally be located along an outside wall to permit venting through the rim joist.

Good luck.

Jim_44

permits and documents

As an experienced DIY HO in Nassua L.I. N.Y. I was thinking of replacing my 50 year old forced hot air system with a hydronic system myself during the non-heating season but the more research i do on the subect the more i see that hiring a pro is the only way to go. I have learned a lot and that will only help when it is time to sit down with a pro and finalize the contract.
what i need to know is do i need a permit to change over?does the inspector come to the site to inspect the job? who takes out the permit if needed?
I am planing on getting at least 3 estimates and choosing the one I think is the more competent and informative pro. What should i ask for from the pro as far as licences and legal documents so that everything is done legal . I am thinking of asking for a list of past customers i may randomly call. Is that too much to ask? I dont have a big house- wide line cape with basement- but i want the job done right and suited to the house. Anyone in the area that would like to email me with their phone # will be given cosideration when i am ready to do the job.

thanks.
Jim

jim lockard

whats up

hey Home owner --It looks to me like you have a few cracked floor joists? May need to put on your carpenter hat for a while. Best Wishes J.Lockard

Mark J Strawcutter

look closely

and I think you'll see he's alread sistered joists along side the split ones.

Mark

DIY Homeowner

sister

Yes, there were many, many floor joists that needed sistering. Prolly sistered 20 joists in total. But I did take care of 'em all before drilling the holes for the new heat pipes ;-)

Greg Swob

Best to just simply ask the local inspection office

Codes will vary from city to city, county to county, state to state. Most always, codes allow an owner to perform any work whatsoever on their own dwelling and only upon that dwelling or related structures. Local ordinances may possibly place more stringent restrictions on to what extent a homeowner can work. Last time I looked, this was still the USA and we do have certain freedoms and the responsibilities which come along with those freedoms. To answer your other questions- it really all depends upon the local inspection office and the ordinances which have been written into law. Basically, whenever new equipment is installed, any new piping is run, any wiring is touched, a permit will be required. In our area, for example, no permit is required for re-roofing, water heater installations, etc., but don't even think of building a dog house or storage shed without a permit. Yes, an inspector will (should?) arrive at the site to perform code related inspection- be prepared to discover other code requirements possibly unrelated to the project may arise. Some will be quite helpful with interpreting codes to your situation, others may even perform a 30 mph drive-by inspection on the way to the coffee shop!

Inspectors are just like anyone else - some are absolutely worth their weight in gold and others need to find another line of work. Beware! Work done without a permit can bite you hard upon sale or transfer of property. It's better to ask ahead of time than to try for forgiveness later. Greg

jim lockard

did not see

that 2nd joist sistered but take your word. Can not help but wonder what caused all the floor joists to crack ?. Best Wishes J. Lockard

Robert O'Connor_7

permits?

If your gonna hire a contractor. Check em out first. YES, get refferences. As far as a permit goes. We don't even know what state yet, and yes, it depends. If your in NJ, you need to follow the UCC codes, them being the 2000 International Mechanical Code & Int.Fuel gas code & the National Standard Plumbing Code.. Yes to the permit. No to taking the permit out yourself. If the work fails upon inspection, YOU! are the one on the hook with the municipality NOT the contractor. Technically on new &&& retro-fits, your suppose to show calculations as to how you arrived at this BTU amount, and size and lenght of radiation, in regards to sizing. This is so it's gonna get done properly. If you have a contract with someone and the job fails (i know i'm gonna get blasted for this one) Technically IF the job fails, and the contractor secures the permit. It shall be brought up to code at NO additional cost to you. good luck... the Inspector.......

Mark Hunt

I think


He said he's from LI, New York.

I'm from upstate NY and only a few places require permits. There is no liscencing for heating contractors here either.

ALWAYS get references and ALWAYS call them.

Mark H

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DIY Homeowner

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Jim, the best I can tell is the use of cheap wood when built back in the 50s. It's loaded with knots. The floors are not overspaned, 2x8s over 11.5 feet, but if I had built the floor, I would have gone with 2x10s.