Why Not Require A Permit For Roofing?

J-Peffer

If your roof leaks, it can cause a lot of damage. If your plumbing leaks, like wise.

It would save a lot of us from dealing with hacks and the weekend warriors.

The state gets to inspect the work, gets to ensure it's done right and gets to collect a fee from the contractor.

I think the state is hurting for money anyway (almost all of them).

Where would you call/write to suggest this?

bert0168

It is probably going to be a local thing. Some municipalities here require a permit for re-roofs.

Your reasons are valid IF they actually inspect. Here, it is only a money making thing. I haven't actually seen an inspector get up on the roof to inspect. Usually a drive by to see if it was done.

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www.ddcontractors.net

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCCo. Yep, you guessed, sold by a fancy white guy, installed by the brown army.

AtlRemodeling

One of the little burbs of Atlanta (Johns Creek) requires a permit for any and everything. We had a building inspector out for a framing inspection and he commented that he had 3-4 re-roof inspections in the same neighborhood. Went further to say that he NEVER got on the roofs but simply looked up from the ground for obvious things like flashing.

Surprised he actually got out of the vehicle.

tinner666

We used to need them here. Several of us legit roofers lobbied for them to inspect the roofs. We said we wanted them to check for nail patterns, specific flashing details, etc. We wanted to get rid of the hacks. (They only did drive-by inspections.)
They decided to drop the permits and inspections. So, nothing changed except the legit contractors could now save some money. We still do the work to code/specs.

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

J-Peffer

I'd just like it to be required to pull a permit to save me from having to turn everyone it for using unlicensed contractors for the work.

We had a super picky building inspector that was trying to make it so you had to pull permits for re-roofs. He was pretty detailed and helpful also.

The city fired him, he would not approve a condo building residency permit because they did not have an elevator. He sued them, under the whistle blower act, and they paid him 250k to keep it out of court.

The city here, really pushed these condos cause they bring in a ton of property taxes. They don't want to ruffle the feathers of the builders.

I loved having a super picky inspector. If he can show you, why it has to be done like this, or re-done, that's okay with me. He was picky with me, and everyone else. I can deal with that, the hacks can't.

mikec

We need to get permits here, but there are no inspections. Maybe a drive by in some towns.

bwalley

Florida requires a Permit for roofing.

It would be nice if you would put a location in your profile or thread, so people would know what area you are talking about.

SLSTech

Same with a few cities here - but they don't want a call unless there is rot

Ahhh Florida, where you need a contractor & a roofer (at least in certain area's

I agree fully with BWalley - PUT YOUR LOCATION IN YOUR PROFILE

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mdshunk

Not all of us believe that we need special permission from the government to maintain what's ours in the first place.

bwalley

The reason for permits is to make sure the job is done to current building code, without inspections being done or permits required a client has no way of knowing if the job is done properly.

Do you think electrical work should be permitted, or should just anyone be allowed to be an electrical contractor?

Duane1982

new york state requires permits.

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tinner666

Having inspectors can be a double edged sword though.
On this project, http://rcs.si-sv2628.com/show_album_...2&file=593&s=0, I got held up for weeks because the 'inspector' didn't like full sized, uncut panels beside the skylights. He thought I should tear the roof open and install those silly Velux rubber metal roof flashing gaskets around the skylights??? WTF??
I ironed it out, but

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

mdshunk

You're asking the wrong guy there. I'm a Libertarian. I don't think there should be permits for any home improvement work. Let the market sort out such things. I pull permits, however, since that happens to be the law.

bwalley

I am a Libertarian as well, but I do agree with licensing and permit laws, otherwise you have no idea if things are done properly or not.

I am sure you have seen some hack work and have probably even been asked to fix other people's work that botched a job, could you imagine how bad it would be if licenses and permits weren't required?

Grumpy

IL requires a state license, infact the only 3 licensed trades are plumber, electrician and roofer. You don't even need to be a licensed builder, however almost any municipality will require their own builder's license.

Almost every village around here requires a roofing permit, except the big city of Chicago, which does only for commercial. There are too many hacks operating in Chicago I can't wait for the day they start requiring AND ENFORCING roofing permits.

mdshunk

Yes. Yes I can. I just don't think that's the government's job.

bwalley

If not the government, then who?

BTW I am not a fan of the Government, I will not do work on Government jobs.

Buck25

Unfortunately, I think that's might be a bit idealistic, even though I completely agree.
I dunno about the whole permit process. In so cal, you need a permit to flush the toilet. And most the work is still crap. Some of the inspectors for the county were postmen their whole lives, then took the 6-month class and now they're telling us how to build?!
I've seen an inspector staring at the struc. page for a house we built (3 story in california: struc. page basically looked like a Simpson catalog), and it was obvious he didn't have the slightest idea what he was looking at. Oh but he knew best. Is he making sure we have better and safer buildings?? When we demo'ed that same house before rebuilding it, there were header hangers supporting 4x12x14' around a stairwell opening. But there were, maybe 2 8d's in each hanger. Built in early 80's, and I assume it was inspected. Oops, didn't catch that one. Also didn't catch the back wall, balloon framed but completely unattached to second and third story floor. After the roof came off, it was swingin' in the breeze. The HO needs a good builder, not a bueracrat for a safe building.
The "good" inspectors are the ones who used to be builders, and once you have a rep. with them, they just shake your hand and don't even look at the work. Well that only wasted my time and money, didn't make for a better and safer building.
There's no way they can properly inspect a house unless they're there watching you build the whole thing and that would be prohibitively expensive and absurd.

mdshunk

The market.

maceycon

You need a permit and a license in Massachusetts.