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Subject

Author

Date

Cat and Mouse

Michael Bulatovich

09-25-2007

tbasc@bellsouth...

Michael Bulatov...

tbasc@bellsouth...

Michael Bulatov...

3D Peruna

Michael Bulatov...

3D Peruna

Michael Bulatov...

3D Peruna

Michael Bulatov...

3D Peruna

Michael Bulatov...

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Posted by Michael Bulatovich on September 25, 2007, 5:42 pm

I had three field inspections today, two of them 'finals'. After bothering
with making very explicit, specific drawings that convey code-mandated
arrangements, two out of three site supers (the mice) took it upon
themselves to make significant (layout) changes that contravene the code.
Most of these are life safety issues in public buildings.

Now they've forced me (the cat) to spend tomorrow banging out reports
saying what they've done and then send it to the municipalities. These
spaces are *painted*. The users, in one case, can look forward to prolonged
mess and bother as the mice are forced back to make good. The contractors
can look forward to lost money and time.

Even worse, one of them, who's ignored the drawings when work was easy and
the implications visible, is tomorrow going to ask me to trust that he's
done the invisible and difficult things correctly, since they're covered in
paint. Problem is that some structural work that should be apparent from
outside is missing....Does it still say "idiot" on my forehead? I thought I
rubbed that clean.

Last time this happened to me, a few investigatory holes indicated the most
blatant attempt to pull a 'fast one', triggered a series of return visits,
deficiency lists and incremental compliance, until they finally and
grudgingly complied on all points. It went on for months.

I basically would like to like builders, and have a lot of respect for
people who make things, so I really resent it when they try to make me out
to be 'the bad guy.' The only redeeming moment today was when I found a
lovely set of arts-and-crafts-inspired bed linens for sale at one of the
sites....one of the sales people told me to come back in a month during the
'family and friends' sale and I could be her 'friend' and save $150 on
them... : )
--

MichaelB
www.michaelbulatovich.ca

Posted by tbasc@bellsouth.net on September 25, 2007, 6:32 pm

> I had three field inspections today, two of them 'finals'. After bothering

> with making very explicit, specific drawings that convey code-mandated

> arrangements, two out of three site supers (the mice) took it upon

> themselves to make significant (layout) changes that contravene the code.

> Most of these are life safety issues in public buildings.

> Now they've forced me (the cat) to spend tomorrow banging out reports

> saying what they've done and then send it to the municipalities. These

> spaces are *painted*. The users, in one case, can look forward to prolonged

> mess and bother as the mice are forced back to make good. The contractors

> can look forward to lost money and time.

> Even worse, one of them, who's ignored the drawings when work was easy and

> the implications visible, is tomorrow going to ask me to trust that he's

> done the invisible and difficult things correctly, since they're covered in

> paint. Problem is that some structural work that should be apparent from

> outside is missing....Does it still say "idiot" on my forehead? I thought I

> rubbed that clean.

> Last time this happened to me, a few investigatory holes indicated the most

> blatant attempt to pull a 'fast one', triggered a series of return visits,

> deficiency lists and incremental compliance, until they finally and

> grudgingly complied on all points. It went on for months.

> I basically would like to like builders, and have a lot of respect for

> people who make things, so I really resent it when they try to make me out

> to be 'the bad guy.' The only redeeming moment today was when I found a

> lovely set of arts-and-crafts-inspired bed linens for sale at one of the

> sites....one of the sales people told me to come back in a month during the

> 'family and friends' sale and I could be her 'friend' and save $150 on

> them... : )

> --

> MichaelBwww.michaelbulatovich.ca

It is the same from coast to coast.
Spend time with the client and the code, make careful drawings, find
the contractor 'knew better'.
Worse, the contractor says the client told him to do it and the client
claims ignorance.
T

Posted by Michael Bulatovich on September 26, 2007, 9:12 am

>> I had three field inspections today, two of them 'finals'. After

>> bothering

>> with making very explicit, specific drawings that convey code-mandated

>> arrangements, two out of three site supers (the mice) took it upon

>> themselves to make significant (layout) changes that contravene the code.

>> Most of these are life safety issues in public buildings.

>> Now they've forced me (the cat) to spend tomorrow banging out reports

>> saying what they've done and then send it to the municipalities. These

>> spaces are *painted*. The users, in one case, can look forward to

>> prolonged

>> mess and bother as the mice are forced back to make good. The contractors

>> can look forward to lost money and time.

>> Even worse, one of them, who's ignored the drawings when work was easy

>> and

>> the implications visible, is tomorrow going to ask me to trust that he's

>> done the invisible and difficult things correctly, since they're covered

>> in

>> paint. Problem is that some structural work that should be apparent from

>> outside is missing....Does it still say "idiot" on my forehead? I thought

>> I

>> rubbed that clean.

>> Last time this happened to me, a few investigatory holes indicated the

>> most

>> blatant attempt to pull a 'fast one', triggered a series of return

>> visits,

>> deficiency lists and incremental compliance, until they finally and

>> grudgingly complied on all points. It went on for months.

>> I basically would like to like builders, and have a lot of respect for

>> people who make things, so I really resent it when they try to make me

>> out

>> to be 'the bad guy.' The only redeeming moment today was when I found a

>> lovely set of arts-and-crafts-inspired bed linens for sale at one of the

>> sites....one of the sales people told me to come back in a month during

>> the

>> 'family and friends' sale and I could be her 'friend' and save $150 on

>> them... : )

>> --

>> MichaelBwww.michaelbulatovich.ca

> It is the same from coast to coast.

> Spend time with the client and the code, make careful drawings, find

> the contractor 'knew better'.

> Worse, the contractor says the client told him to do it and the client

> claims ignorance.

Worse yet, the client *is* the builder, and looks you in the eye and says he
won't fix it.

Posted by tbasc@bellsouth.net on September 26, 2007, 7:45 pm

> >> I had three field inspections today, two of them 'finals'. After

> >> bothering

> >> with making very explicit, specific drawings that convey code-mandated

> >> arrangements, two out of three site supers (the mice) took it upon

> >> themselves to make significant (layout) changes that contravene the code.

> >> Most of these are life safety issues in public buildings.

> >> Now they've forced me (the cat) to spend tomorrow banging out reports

> >> saying what they've done and then send it to the municipalities. These

> >> spaces are *painted*. The users, in one case, can look forward to

> >> prolonged

> >> mess and bother as the mice are forced back to make good. The contractors

> >> can look forward to lost money and time.

> >> Even worse, one of them, who's ignored the drawings when work was easy

> >> and

> >> the implications visible, is tomorrow going to ask me to trust that he's

> >> done the invisible and difficult things correctly, since they're covered

> >> in

> >> paint. Problem is that some structural work that should be apparent from

> >> outside is missing....Does it still say "idiot" on my forehead? I thought

> >> I

> >> rubbed that clean.

> >> Last time this happened to me, a few investigatory holes indicated the

> >> most

> >> blatant attempt to pull a 'fast one', triggered a series of return

> >> visits,

> >> deficiency lists and incremental compliance, until they finally and

> >> grudgingly complied on all points. It went on for months.

> >> I basically would like to like builders, and have a lot of respect for

> >> people who make things, so I really resent it when they try to make me

> >> out

> >> to be 'the bad guy.' The only redeeming moment today was when I found a

> >> lovely set of arts-and-crafts-inspired bed linens for sale at one of the

> >> sites....one of the sales people told me to come back in a month during

> >> the

> >> 'family and friends' sale and I could be her 'friend' and save $150 on

> >> them... : )

> >> --

> >> MichaelBwww.michaelbulatovich.ca

> > It is the same from coast to coast.

> > Spend time with the client and the code, make careful drawings, find

> > the contractor 'knew better'.

> > Worse, the contractor says the client told him to do it and the client

> > claims ignorance.

> Worse yet, the client *is* the builder, and looks you in the eye and says he

> won't fix it.

Yes, I had one recently.
City Zoning, Board of Arch Review, & Bldg Department required
presentations.
Owner / Builder with building permit in hand built something other
than the plans.
My complaint to the City architect and to Chairman of the BAR resulted
in a shrug.
T

Posted by ++ on September 26, 2007, 11:23 pm

Michael Bulatovich wrote:

>Worse yet, the client *is* the builder, and looks you in the eye and says he

>won't fix it.

hmm, sounds like someone wants to get away with less than standards and
codes and transfer their liability to you for doing so in the process.

As far as what may have been covered up: Perhaps a simple letter
expressing your "concern" over the specific items covered given the lack
of the builder's concern over code/standards?

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