I'd be all for building codes if they just weren't mandatory. There'd still be a premium on getting that stamp of approval. Every commercial builder would want it. Most home buyers would want the assurance. Most buildings would end up meeting the code. Yet those who didn't care about it would be free to "opt out", and deal with the reality that such a building might be harder to sell.
Are there large construction companies which lobby government to create more and more building regulations? We see this in almost all industries, where companies use the power of the state to force compliance with laws to make it difficult for smaller companies/individuals to operate.
So you have to pay $100 bucks for a Code Book that is 1000 pages in length but you only need a 6 page quick reference pamphlet to really give you the jist of what is inside the 1000 pages. Then you have to go to your local county and pay for the permits (permission to build) according to the 6 page pamphlet. In our area the permits alone are enough to prevent a private person from building their own home. They are forcing you to go into debt and pay $500,000 dollars for a prebuilt piece of ............ Ouch. I'd love to build my own cabin home on my own property with my own trees according to a 6 page pamphlet and build it with care and quality. Then pass it along to my children and grandchildren.
In California (where I am) and other seismic zones, following code can be important to ensure your structure will withstand an earthquake. Sure, you can build a rammed earth home in parts of the world where there are no natural disasters. Or a masonry building without any rebar. But having some references as to what structures have been vetted by engineers to be safe is valuable, even if you have no "building inspectors" in your jurisdiction. This also applies to tornado or hurricane prone areas, codes can be important to ensure the structure will withstand certain winds and forces. I'm not for more bureaucratic red tape, but I do see the value in following code or at the very least, using it to inform your building and design decisions.
Oh my God......900 page book of how to build a house! I am 72 years old and was hoping to get out of my expensive apartment by building not a tiny house but a small house......now I guess I am doomed to die in this apartment......when I can't paford it any more I am going to drink the cool aid.......fuck it all......
Hammurabi, circa 1750 BC, had a building code: if the house falls in and kills the homeowner, then the builder is put to death. If the house falls and kills the son of the owner then the builder’s son is terminated, and so on. Perhaps we can now see why structures from ancient Babylon are still standing.
Is chinking material regulated within the IRC? Or how do stone plinths figure into their calculations? Do you have to retro fit the traditional building methods to fit the code, in other words? Obviously, the IRC would dissuade you from building a mud cat chimney on your cabin, but how else does it tie one's hands when one is aiming to build traditionally? Thanks for this look into a traditional builder's opinion on the IRC.
I would love to hear how you applied code to your handmade houses. Do they have a section on log homes? I'm wondering how code applies to non standard materials.
They just don't let you use it unless it has undergone extensive scientific testing for durability and earthquake proofness and in some areas fire proofness. No Cob homes here. Not likely to be able to build log either without rebar somewhere in the mix of things and a concrete slab foundation.
Like everything else in the civilized world, code is a 2-edged sword. How much $ does building to code cost the average build? Or is it too case specific?
I think he said you can pick up the code for $50-100, but “building to code”? I would suspect it would be a low percentage because of the average home is cookie cutter. If you substitute materials and cutback on engineering strength and fire resistance it might get up to half the cost of a average build in residential. This is opinion and not facts by me.
It's really not about building "good enough" for code that cost extra, it's the inspections, permit fees and so forth. Lots of hold ups waiting for the inspector to come before you proceed with your work. In my county permit/inspection fees are doubled if you get them done after you build. Bit building to code is actually quite easy. Log homes in my area must have walls at least 6 inches thick. Simple trick is to always overdo it slightly. Some things you would be surprised at how lax the code is. Building to code is not as solid as you probably want it to be. Start small with the basic permits and the inspector will do well to guide you along. I haven't checked it out just yet but I know in my particular county the government has set up a program to help individuals act as their own contractors/builders. They cited the recognition that the regulations in place to keep housing safe also served to hinder lower income people from building homes themselves which gave an unfair advantage to more affluent people.
buidling codes are a need ,they are not good or bad simple because there are to many DIY people building houses with out any code. the more codes is a result of more mistakes found at building sides. Where im living there are codes but no prived people get checked only big projects ,resulting in people braking away walls that are holding flats up ( not houses only ), or where builders even do this to please the house owner, where they build with the wrong material because its cheaper etc..... Be happy there are codes i would say and that it can help others to make better houses for the future of buyers.
Consider codes as best practice. Nobody has to reinvent the wheel over and over. It's much easier to accept codes when thinking of it that way. Everybody looking at TH-cam follows code for the Web. The majority don't know them and don't ask them. They just use products compliant to get acces to the web. Why not doing the same building your home.
This is my favorite video yet! Keep up the great work, Noah, and by all means keep your sense of humor!
I'd be all for building codes if they just weren't mandatory. There'd still be a premium on getting that stamp of approval. Every commercial builder would want it. Most home buyers would want the assurance. Most buildings would end up meeting the code. Yet those who didn't care about it would be free to "opt out", and deal with the reality that such a building might be harder to sell.
you could privatize the inspection business too
Exactly what ive argued. I hate the mandatory use making what I want to build essentially illegal.
That's a genius idea!
Making the code book 50% thicker creates a situation where some builders find 50% more corners to cut.
"We're from the government we are here to help." lol
Are there large construction companies which lobby government to create more and more building regulations? We see this in almost all industries, where companies use the power of the state to force compliance with laws to make it difficult for smaller companies/individuals to operate.
So you have to pay $100 bucks for a Code Book that is 1000 pages in length but you only need a 6 page quick reference pamphlet to really give you the jist of what is inside the 1000 pages. Then you have to go to your local county and pay for the permits (permission to build) according to the 6 page pamphlet. In our area the permits alone are enough to prevent a private person from building their own home. They are forcing you to go into debt and pay $500,000 dollars for a prebuilt piece of ............ Ouch. I'd love to build my own cabin home on my own property with my own trees according to a 6 page pamphlet and build it with care and quality. Then pass it along to my children and grandchildren.
In California (where I am) and other seismic zones, following code can be important to ensure your structure will withstand an earthquake. Sure, you can build a rammed earth home in parts of the world where there are no natural disasters. Or a masonry building without any rebar. But having some references as to what structures have been vetted by engineers to be safe is valuable, even if you have no "building inspectors" in your jurisdiction.
This also applies to tornado or hurricane prone areas, codes can be important to ensure the structure will withstand certain winds and forces. I'm not for more bureaucratic red tape, but I do see the value in following code or at the very least, using it to inform your building and design decisions.
I always ask myself this question. WWDBD ? (What would Daniel Boone do?). 😬
Oh my God......900 page book of how to build a house! I am 72 years old and was hoping to get out of my expensive apartment by building not a tiny house but a small house......now I guess I am doomed to die in this apartment......when I can't paford it any more I am going to drink the cool aid.......fuck it all......
Hammurabi, circa 1750 BC, had a building code: if the house falls in and kills the homeowner, then the builder is put to death. If the house falls and kills the son of the owner then the builder’s son is terminated, and so on. Perhaps we can now see why structures from ancient Babylon are still standing.
gomertube it is not the sons fault, killing him is wrong.
What do you do about the logs not being graded? I am in Virginia and our building inspector told me all structural parts need to be stamped lumber
Is chinking material regulated within the IRC? Or how do stone plinths figure into their calculations? Do you have to retro fit the traditional building methods to fit the code, in other words? Obviously, the IRC would dissuade you from building a mud cat chimney on your cabin, but how else does it tie one's hands when one is aiming to build traditionally? Thanks for this look into a traditional builder's opinion on the IRC.
I would love to hear how you applied code to your handmade houses. Do they have a section on log homes? I'm wondering how code applies to non standard materials.
They just don't let you use it unless it has undergone extensive scientific testing for durability and earthquake proofness and in some areas fire proofness. No Cob homes here. Not likely to be able to build log either without rebar somewhere in the mix of things and a concrete slab foundation.
Where does log homes start in code
Im just going to have to get land where it isnt required
I like your plan BBC!
Thanks
Like everything else in the civilized world, code is a 2-edged sword. How much $ does building to code cost the average build? Or is it too case specific?
I think he said you can pick up the code for $50-100, but “building to code”? I would suspect it would be a low percentage because of the average home is cookie cutter. If you substitute materials and cutback on engineering strength and fire resistance it might get up to half the cost of a average build in residential. This is opinion and not facts by me.
It's really not about building "good enough" for code that cost extra, it's the inspections, permit fees and so forth. Lots of hold ups waiting for the inspector to come before you proceed with your work. In my county permit/inspection fees are doubled if you get them done after you build. Bit building to code is actually quite easy. Log homes in my area must have walls at least 6 inches thick. Simple trick is to always overdo it slightly. Some things you would be surprised at how lax the code is. Building to code is not as solid as you probably want it to be. Start small with the basic permits and the inspector will do well to guide you along. I haven't checked it out just yet but I know in my particular county the government has set up a program to help individuals act as their own contractors/builders. They cited the recognition that the regulations in place to keep housing safe also served to hinder lower income people from building homes themselves which gave an unfair advantage to more affluent people.
Manassas Park
You can access the building code online for free. I didn't see 2018 though. I think there may be a list of 2018 amendments.
Please run for president, 2020.🙏🙌
buidling codes are a need ,they are not good or bad simple because there are to many DIY people building houses with out any code. the more codes is a result of more mistakes found at building sides. Where im living there are codes but no prived people get checked only big projects ,resulting in people braking away walls that are holding flats up ( not houses only ), or where builders even do this to please the house owner, where they build with the wrong material because its cheaper etc..... Be happy there are codes i would say and that it can help others to make better houses for the future of buyers.
Screw code!!!
Consider codes as best practice. Nobody has to reinvent the wheel over and over. It's much easier to accept codes when thinking of it that way.
Everybody looking at TH-cam follows code for the Web. The majority don't know them and don't ask them. They just use products compliant to get acces to the web. Why not doing the same building your home.
The code is free to everyone on line
Code is free but permits (permission) is not.