Why Is It Risky to Bypass Building Inspections for an Extension?
Posted on: 4 November 2015
Share
Are you a risk taker? Do you think that you can get away with adding an extension to your home without inviting the authorities to inspect it prior to giving you a building permit? Read on and discover some of the serious consequences of not obtaining building permits after a building inspection has been conducted.
It May Be Very Expensive to Get the Permit Later
Some building permits can only be granted once different stages of the project have been inspected and certified as conforming to all applicable building codes. Follow the correct procedure to avoid meeting a very high cost to obtain that permit later. This is particularly possible if the extension to your home (such as an attached garage) falls under projects for which building inspections have to be done before a permit is issued.
How can the cost be higher? The municipal authorities may demand that a certified architect documents that you used the right materials and building techniques to construct that extension. Many architects will insist on drilling or breaking into sections of the extension in order to confirm that you used the right materials and that you used the appropriate building techniques. Such a process involves the cost of breaking and restoring the dismantled sections. The cost of the permit may also include a fine. Do you want to take that risk of incurring those extra costs?
The Extension May Be Demolished
The extension may have violated zoning regulations. This could have been avoided if you had had a building inspection done to confirm that you are not violating any code. A belated discovery of a violation may only be rectified by demolishing the parts of the extension that go beyond the accepted limits. Avoid this risk by having building inspections done at the right time.
You May Find It Hard to Sell That Property
Many homebuyers conduct pre-purchase building inspections. One of the areas looked into is whether all alterations have permits from the municipal authorities. A buyer may back out of completing a purchase if the inspection report reveals that there is no permit for an extension. Do yourself a favour by having the building inspected so that a permit is issued for the extension you have constructed.
Not all home extensions require building inspections to be conducted before a permit is issued. Pay the municipal authorities a visit. Get information on the specific extensions for which an inspection or inspections are mandatory, and then follow the advice given to you. You will not face the risks above.
For more information about inspections, contact the professionals from a company like Jeffrey Hills and Associates.