Communication plays a vital role in the work of Fannin County’s building inspectors, Keith Nicholson and Jody Barfield, and it’s better communication and understanding that they believe could have prevented a homeowners’ recent problems.
Nicholson and Barfield talked last Friday about the approximate 2,500 inspections they perform each year and how important their communication is with the contractors who perform the work. They believe that if homeowners, and others having work done, understand the process and their roles that many problems can be avoided or corrected.
Last week, in a Letter to the Editor, a homeowner complained of major repairs that had been required to a pair of decks added to his home. He also was told the decks were not up to code and blame was laid on the building inspectors.
However, Barfield produced his framing inspection for the deck that clearly indicated the beams were undersized to support a heavy load. The deck passed inspection for normal use.
Barfield said he told the contractor of the potential problem if the deck was to be used for large gatherings, for instance, or to support any abnormally heavy item.
Nicholson said that if the homeowner had contacted the building inspectors when the problem arose, they could have helped him work through the problem with the original contractor.
“We could mediate (for a homeowner),” Barfield explained.
“We have a great working relationship” with local contractors, Nicholson said.
Nicholson explained the steps the building inspectors take and their almost constant interaction with contractors.
Footers are inspected first before any other work is done. Next will come a slab inspection for the home’s or addition’s basement. That is followed by an inspection for framing and all mechanicals. Concrete, electrical work and insulation all receive close scrutiny. A final inspection is done when work is completed.
After every phase, the building inspector who completes the work contacts the contractor to report any problems that have to be corrected before moving forward, to report any findings the contractor should be aware of, and to say whether the work passed inspection and can proceed.
But it is seldom Fannin County building inspectors “have to tell them to do anything,” Barfield said of local contractors, speaking to the quality of their work. But it’s during this communication after an inspection that “my job stopped when he (the contractor) was informed,” Barfield said.
“Safety has always been the number one thing” Nicholson said that both he and Barfield consider when doing inspections. “We will make sure it’s fixed if it’s unsafe,” Barfield said.
“Structural stability” is next in importance, Nicholson said, noting that building codes simply provide a bare minimum to ensure a structure is safe and secure.
Sometimes things can change after an inspection.
An example is when pressure treated lumber is being used, and especially in outdoor construction. Pressure treated lumber can deflect, or sag, under its own weight because it is wet, Barfield explained. As it dries it will change shape. For instance, Nicholson noted the sun will make pressure treated lumber twist as it dries, a not uncommon problem seen when it is used for deck supports. Deck boards will also tend to draw up.
Another cause for deflection can be when the crown of a board is turned in the wrong direction. The crown should always be turned upward, toward any load. When it's installed downward, there is immediately some deflection.
Because of such variables, building codes allow for a certain amount of deflection.
But in the situation referred to in the letter writer’s problem, Barfield said “there was no obvious deflection.”
But when things do happen, or if a homeowner has a question, Nicholson urges they contact either himself or Barfield. “We have an open door policy,” Nicholson said.
The building inspectors can be reached at 706-258-5175. Nicholson can be reached at 706-455-1097 and Barfield at 706-851-6004.