[wilyum]

My father-in-law is planning on building a house himself using wood off his own concession, mostly pine and spruce. He would do most of framing but hire subcontractors for foundation, plumbing, hydro, etc. Legally can he do this? doesnt the wood need to be stamped/certified? What issues would he have doing this? Would the banks even mortgage him for the rest of his materials/subcontractor work?

 

[Chris Johnson]

He won't get past the first inspection, unless he finds some engineer to sign off on his lumber...don't worry, he won't find one willing to do that.

 

[wilyum]

thanks Chris, im sure he'll avoid having it inspected. His plan is to build it in the same fashion that he built his camp, not to code, with his own wood and probably without insurance. What size does a house have to be before it has to meet local building codes and pass inspections?

 

[knucklehead]

Probably depends where it is. I would hope he could.
Fight the power

 

[jcalvin]

In our county, the size of the building doesn't matter, what matters is the use of the building. The only thing that we don't have to get inspected is buildings that have no power of water and used for agricultural purposed only.

 

[mmike032]

wheres he building it? out in the boonies.
there are small counties around here that have no kind of inspection process.

is he going to cut/mill/dry the lumber hisself?

 

[wilyum]

he plans on building it in a municipality for residential use in Northern Ontario and yes he would cut, dry, mill himself. I agree knucklehead but would any subcontractors go near a house without it going through inspections, and without the lumber being stamped?

 

[DavidC]

In our little corner he wouldn't have a problem with the lumber provided he bought it from a small sawmill. They have been exempted from the grading/stamping requirements due to the high cost of having someone on staff to certify every stick. The general consensus in the end was that wood is still wood even if not certified.

The inspections are a different matter, the house will be difficult to sell without a building permit. There are ways around it but it greatly reduces the resale value.

If I was a sub I could work for him as long as he paid me and didn't ask me to do anything illegal. Roofing and siding for example don't require permits or inspections.

A few years ago a neighbor of my son built his house with green lumber and passed every inspection. The trick is to use all green lumber. Throwing in a few peices of dried lumber or plywood/OSB would not be good.

Good Luck
Dave

 

[Tinstaafl]

A few years ago a neighbor of my son built his house with green lumber and passed every inspection.

What's it look like now?

 

[willworkforbeer]

What's it look like now?

Its about 50 sq ft smaller now. arty:

 

[BobsLandscaping]

He could inspect and certify the lumber himself. If I recall correctly LCSC has a night class that gets you certified as a lumber inspector in the state of Idaho for $150. Perhaps your state has something similar?

 

[DavidC]

What's it look like now?

Still looks good although I'm sure it is tad smaller :>)

Good Luck
Dave

 

[Chris Johnson]

Read chapter 1 of the Ontario Building Code...it tells you EXACTLY what stamps are required on lumber, it also tells you the powers of the Chief Building Official.

So, basically it is a crap shoot, it will be fine until someone drops a dime on him or he goes to sell the land with it's improvements and if that is after he's dead it becomes the next of kins issue.

 

[naptown CR]

A few years ago a neighbor of my son built his house with green lumber and passed every inspection. The trick is to use all green lumber. Throwing in a few peices of dried lumber or plywood/OSB would not be good.

Good Luck
Dave

that wouldn't be in Wellsville would it

 

[WarnerConstInc.]

All old house were built with green lumber, left to sit for a year and then finished.

 

[BobsLandscaping]

Aren't timber frame and log homes built with green lumber?

 

[greg24k]

My father-in-law is planning on building a house himself using wood off his own concession, mostly pine and spruce. He would do most of framing but hire subcontractors for foundation, plumbing, hydro, etc. Legally can he do this? doesnt the wood need to be stamped/certified? What issues would he have doing this? Would the banks even mortgage him for the rest of his materials/subcontractor work?

Tell your wife you will never visit that house after its done, and tell your father in-law to hang this sign at the entrance :thumbsup:

 

[knucklehead]

I don't know about Canada , but I think he should be able to do whatever he wants.
Fight the Power
Give me Liberty or give me Death.

 

[PA woodbutcher]

My father built his own house from rough sawn hemlock up to and including the trusses in '72 and it still looks good. Had to resheath the roof the last time we did it because he had used T&G....other than that nothing.

 

[DavidC]

that wouldn't be in Wellsville would it

No, but a generation or two ago it was common practice. There may be a hold out in Wellsville still.

Good Luck
Dave