Modifying A Load Bearing Wall.

neolitic

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(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Burby

A couple answers in one in hopes to clarify a few things, then I be done.

From all the continued education I have taken, including code interpitation classes for each new codes, having been a professional member of the SBCCI, similar to ICC, as well as over 30 years of experience in business in upper end residential construction until I closed down in 2003. That experience included from 1995 thru 2003 doing litigation jobs, at times doing 2 large ones at a time because of the amount of them against builders. One of the nice things about this type of work is what one can learn while dealing with the lawyers & laws, as well as the many Engineers you get to work with. To be considered as an Expert witness, a persons credentials are indeed verified. Then while under oath the opposing lawyers try to do all they can to discredit you or your statements, so one better know their stuff, prior to getting involved, once they make you look like just a know it all with wrong info, your time in thie just ended. If not an Engineer it can be tough. I have sat hours & had 6 lawyers for the Builder & his trades at one time question & drill all they could to discredit me. knock on wood, it never worked. Since, I have used this experience to try & help other tradesmen to avoid getting into this situation. As so many discovered, we, the builder, can not catch everything a sub does or does not do, nor does it mean because it passed final inspection, that something cannot come back on us. It can & does many times.
Again, this does not mean I am always right or properly offer in whole a complete meaning of something on here I type. Trying to explain in words on here vs speaking is a big difference. Then to explain one thing to one, have another read it and assume it was in whole or answered everything that pertained to the question, --=phew, it is impossible.
I guess that is why my responses or post may be longer than others.

From my understanding, the IRC was developed as a model to bring all the many different codes around the country under one uniform code book, for all to follow. Since 2000, there has been many versions & modifications to improve the original IRC as well as still areas not yet following any of the modern building codes, it seems by some replies. Regardless, the final authority of code interpretations is the responsibility of the code official.
But there needs to be a minimal guide to follow & build from there. Each local can and typically does add to these codes to make them fit their needs better and or include higher standards than listed in the IRC. But no one, (state, county, or individual) other than the code council can take away or lessen the codes listed in the IRC. With each class I took as well as when I questioned the SBCCI, who could lessen the codes set forth in the IRC? the answer was always the same, "no one, other than the counsil who wrote them". State, county, or individual, can improve the codes as listed, or create a new code book all together, using the IRC as a base to start from, make sense?

I don;t claim to be right on everything & typically state "imo or I believe, or in areas I have built in". This is an open forum, not government or any form of, stating how one must comply or conduct business. It is where Pros come together to vent, learn, & share. Some starting out can even learn ways to better themselves & business. There is, at times a lot of great info on here for all. "Some" take things to personal, (imo).
There are many different markets one can work in if qualified to do so. From 1st time H/Os to H/Os who own a mansion, to slum lords, to everything in between, for each mentioned, there are Contractors who work for their needs. Which ever market one fits in, that is fine & their business. One does not apply the same tech & or quality as the other, but to remain working, one should apply what is needed for that market. It does not mean what applies to repair for a slum lord can be applied to the one who owns the mansion. (talking about craftsmanship, not code).
As with changing a window sill post earlier. I think it is interesting to hear all the different ways to do so & as soon as I mentioned my way for my market, --=lordy, hahaha. That did not mean all had to do the same & reading it again, still cannot see how one could think it was.
By the same token, one new in business could read the many variations of replacing a sill & possibly improve their method or learn ways to move up to higher income customers, in turn earning more money.
From the start I have always believed being in business, one should constantly learn & grow, in order to one day enjoy an early retirement as well as have a good life while on the way there. One has all the free info here to do this, from learning new ways to better business practices, especially those that do both, work & operate their busienss, that is 2 different hats to wear, neither easier than the other. So many here offer proven ways for any who wish to, to better themselves & their companies.

I hate regulations, I am & have been a conservitive Republican since I can remember, so government & laws, I believe we need less of, but that is neither here nor there.
With the number of builders & or classes of builders & the ease of getting a lisc to be one, there needs to be some form of regulating all & the work they perform.
Codes are just a min standard to follow, regardless of the name they come under. If in business one should have an up to date code book as well as book on business law, both just as a reference to go by if questions arise that may not have dealt with in years.

Finally & I will shut up yup, I promise
If one here chooses to follow the law of the Codes, Answer with "hire an Engineer or Arch", it does not mean they are not qualified to do something, their new codes dictate that and to not chance their lisc that is what they recommend the one who ask the question does. And typically with the way most of these questions are asked, they are H/Os attempting to do a project they probably should not do.
With each respective trade, a question asked offers more than the question, it offers one's knowledge level & if in that claimed business, they would know the answer themself. So to trash, (may be a harsh term, just to simplify) others that offer their answers, I believe it takes away from this forum. In time, will cause this forum to be just another internet place to come & bitch. I think that would be a shame, because there seems to be some sincere dedicated pros here who do try to make this a far more respectable forum than others on the net.

Maybe I am way off, I dunno. I do know, 20 years of doing something wrong, does not justify it being right.
Now I must go rest my poor ole fingers & sincerely wish the very best to all & hope at least 1 of ya made it thru all this, --=phew, I know I am tired.. hahaha

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Tom M

Burby I hope you dont think my response to your last post was picking at you. It was the situation or topic you brought forth that I replied to. That was my point about seperating the abilities of a contractor with regulation. It sucks but most people fall into construction as a laborer or helping a friend or family member while in between jobs. What happens is they stay with it or try it on there own. I always said most guys in construction are only as good as the guy who they work for and learned from. That could be good or could be bad. What is not fair is a guy that puts a real investment into his trade is not at all seperated. I dont know what the answer is....more regulation sucks......I dont know where it ends either. I have a young sibling from another marriage that is being taught things I learned in school years ahead of me when I went to school. Kids will have to stay in colllege till 35 to get ahead in the future. Maybe they should treat licensing like automotive. We all drive but not all are allowed to drive a rig. They're classed.

WarnerConstInc.

I never said anything about go ahead F*&k it up. All I said was the difference between how things are run and delt with all over the country, state to state, county to county, and town to town. No **** there are building codes, did you think I was the stupid one. All I was getting at is, it is different everywhere, some of you guys have to have a stamp, some of you guys have turned drawings in on notebook paper. The point I was getting at before I got bitch slapped in the face with a code book was, there is more than one way to skin a cat.

maceycon

I can't believe this thing is still going (5 pages). The wall project be done my now...

critter

Hey NEO, Thanks for a super site. I never knew about this one. I read through a lot about public domain vs. gov. charges for information. Pissed me off that they charge for stuff that is ours to know, and that we paid to make exist. Thanks again. Great info!