Is Failing Inspections Bad For Business.....

Bsecdone

I have have heard both sides of this argument.
Some people say it happens all the time. Other say that you should know your trade and NEVER fail.
Thoughts?

AtlanticWBConst

I don't believe it is bad. We have never technically 'failed' an inspection. We have had the: '' I'll sign off, just take care of one thing...'' (Missing fire blocking)

Besides, who uses the word 'fail' inspections. Most contractors say....the inspector just wants us to ''add this or that'', or....''change this or that''....and then to call him to come back and OK it.

My electrician had a 'failure' on one of our jobs last year. It was his first 'failure'.

It was for a Rough electrical inspection. Difficult and picky town wiring inspector.
Addition was tyveked with new windows in and roof on.

Inspector wanted it 'weather tight' (he wanted the siding on it).
He also wanted all siding nails banged flat on the inside of the wall bays - where there was any kind of wiring.

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Mike Finley

To me it is failing an inspection, for me it's you either pass it and move on or you fail it and have to do something.

I say you should never fail one after you've been doing what you are doing for any amount of time and working with the same building depts. There is always the exception, codes change, inspectors change, inspectors suddenly get a bug up their butt over something they've never been concerned about before (fresh out of a a seminar or some article they just read or ass chewing from their boss)

But for the most part I schedule jobs super, super tight and have no lea way for failing inspections and I expect our subs to know the code, know the building dept inspectors and what they are going to expect.

As far as bad for business, I would rather avoid it and not have to worry about it.

Some customers don't care about the inspectors failing you, some expect inspectors to be pain in the butts and sympathize with you, some know nothing of the process and just need one out of place thing like a failed inspection to verify all their suspicions that the sky is about to fall on them, and they just knew they were going to get screwed no matter who they chose for their project.

There is also the issue of getting a reputation with a building dept and getting more scrutiny then average because of it.

In_Mexifornia

It seems like every job I'll get the regular inspector, but maybe for one inspection I'll get someone else and they will want something not on the plans and not required. One time a guy wanted blocking somewhere it wasn't required,but what can you do? Cant say no. Just do what they want so you can pass. I usually pass even if we missed a couple of A35's or something. They just tell me to get them in there, but sometimes you get inspector hardass who tells you to call for reinspection. I dont know about where you are, but here they can fine you if you call more then two times and keep failing. Ive never been fined though.

Scott Young

i agree with mike. the only time i have had trouble, is when there was a new inspector, or the current one has been chewed on. i have built decent relationships with inspectors. the inspectors i have had trouble with most is osha.

Bsecdone

I failed in one jurisdiction here in Aurora,Colorado. I got called on things like.
1. cover plate being off 3 receptecles (painter was doing touch up).
2. burnt out light bulb
and
3. He wanted specs on a can trim I put it. GC wasn't to happy, ( cuz he wanted paid. Me too.)

Samething happened on the next job. I had corrections (not the same corrections. They are always super minor.) At this point the GC is just started workin with is gettin worried. He hired a crappy electrician.
Very next 2 jobs, I saw the same inspector an he looks around for (no joke) 30 seconds and says good job and signs off on the inspection!!!!!!!! OK?!

Maybe he just didn't like me the other days.

jproffer

And that's exactly what he wants you to think...that he has unlimited power and is all knowing.

But the fact is, you CAN say no. If it's not required by the codes that THEY write, then you don't have to do it. He has a boss...and his boss has a boss. If he goes vigilante on ya, you have a right to tell him no.

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Jim P.

mdshunk

Ask for a code citation, while pretending you're wanting to learn from the the all-mighty inspector god. When he can't find it, and changes his mind, try to control your arrogance and move on. That's how I do it.

mahlere

I used to think failing inspections would be like getting shot...

then we got employees...i got used to it....we just acknowledge, repair and move on...

Driftwood

In S. F. there are about 30 plumbing insp. They go by the U.P.Code ,as well as their own amendments ,to it. On top of that ,at least one Insp. I know, adds His little ideas to the code . Soo I say "ok I'll make the change" There's been times I wanted to through Him down the celler stairs. Those days are over

Magnettica

I'll go with the latter. You should know your trade and never fail. But that's only in a perfect world. You're still going to have dopey inspectors who will insist they're right when you know damn well that you're right. I also believe that failing inspection makes customers raise their eyebrows and leaves them nervous and unconfident about the work you're doing for them.

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Bsecdone

I agree. I hate when I have to tell a customer a inspection failed. i feel like I screwed up royally. I triple check everything.

I feel like it is my job to pass every inspection with flying colors. I feel like putting a staple through the inspectors eye when i fail..... did I say that out loud?

Jcllc

I agree with the majority, you should know your trade ,but I can remember one time while running between 3 houses we had going on my lead man calling to remind me that we needed an inspection on their house today.I asked if everything was complete,told it was (as I usually go over the job myself) but being clear across town and him knowing how I am,I just took his word for it.
That day after lunch I got the call that all went well except for some nailers that he wanted added. Minor oversight but it is a pain to have to go back and add/change when you beleive you have done it right the first time.. I now take the time, even if clear across town to dbl check every thing myself before the call goes out to the "Gods"

Mike Finley

Not for nothing, but you have a 'lead' carpenter that can't determine inspection ready or not? Ouch. Personally he wouldn't be a lead by my definition.

AtlanticWBConst

Sometimes, the best craftsmen are at the job, but their heads are elsewhere...

Example: Death in the family, divorce, serious insomnia, sickness (sick as a dog with the flu, but trying to be there to get things done)...etc, etc...

(Personal experience: My first sick wife died at age 30 while I was at work, I was lead foreman, I was at the job, It was my sense of responsibility, I was there....but my head wasn't 'all' really there...
....."lighten up Mike"....)

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mahlere

How many have there been?

Mike Finley

Lighten up?

You're citing a temporary or exceptional incident that is effecting the performance of an otherwise qualified individual.

I've got a guy working for me who's wife is having a tough time in the beginning diagnoses of a health problem, we're working around his schedule.I'll cut anybody slack for a legitimate reason.

I didn't read anything from Jcllc that indicated there were extraneous circumstances, maybe I missed it and you caught it, if so I stand corrected. But all I read wasWhich I took that he has a lead that he doesn't trust and he still is having to go over the jobs himself.

Like I said, he wouldn't be a lead by my definition if he can't determine inspection ready or not.

My definition of a lead carpenter as in utilizing the lead carpenter system is a guy who is capable of running a job himself from start to finish with minimal guidance. Maybe I've got a different definition for what a real lead carpenter is?

AtlanticWBConst

Sorry Mike,

It's just that you come off as so ''Black or white'', It's either ''this or that''...sometimes
...and, it's a 'soft spot' for me. 'Bad memories' of just a 'few' people I worked under as a 'young'n'...
When I was a young lead guy, it was very frustrating to deal with bosses that didn't cut you that 'reasonable' slack once in a 'blue moon'....

I guess that 'one' post on this thread hit me in the past......because I have empathy for the lead guy that "work's his butt off, but is going thru a temporary crisis, and is just trying his best to be at work...but his head is somewhere else...and he doesn't even realize it...and the job suffers....completely unintentionally"

Right now: We have the best lead guy we have had in over 22 years. He averages about 1 to 2 ''off''' days - a month. But he is the most talented, yet humble & acknowledging: .....'accepting responsiblity for his actions' ....kid that I have ever trained, taught, supervised, etc...(I wish I had an ENTIRE crew of 'him')... (If he knows he messed something up, he'll OFFER to come in on his own time to fix it or make it right...or he'll even OFFER..... that you take it out of his pay....)

Anyhow.....my point was that there are guys that have those ''off'' days for legit. reasons...(Just as you said....and that you clearly acknowledged in your last post.... )

(Some guys...pathetically have those days.....every day...)

But there are some that deserve a 'lil slack and understanding...that is the point I was just trying to make...(Again, I apologize for miss-interpretating your post)

Regards...

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Mike Finley

I hear ya, and totally agree.

Greatest asset I have is the guys I am lucky enough to have working for us, and yep, everybody has off days. I always try to personally thank my guys at the end of each day. A "great job today", "couldn't do it without you guys", "a you're the man!" can go a long ways. Gotta always remember these are people not machines, they have lives outside of work just like I do.