Anyone know if I need a 'trade certificate' to frame the new support in our main living room? Same goes for framing the second story?
Does this need to be done by a 'trade carpenter' or similar to what
@backmarkerducati indicated with electrical where the work can be done by the homeowner but needs to be inspected regardless by the proper authority?
Anyone I've talked to about my projects are NOT interested because they're too 'small' of a job.
Second story addition...too small so pay me for almost a full house so that it's worth my time.
Removal of chimney...too small so pay me more so it's worth my while.
Have run into this with plumbers also. Everyone feels this is too small for them to bother. But if they come, you pay 4x just for them to show up.
EDIT: Hell maybe it's better to find a framing / roofing company on my own to do this instead of going with bigger builders that aren't interested.
Just IMO but the only thing you can't do to your own house is gas connections. Permits are required of course.
The only thing I didn't do myself was install the new breaker panel. I applied for the permit (Pre ESA) and an electrician buddy helped. All done by permit.
Kitchen moved to another level of the side-split
Re-ran ducts
Added inside door to garage.
Bathroom where the old kitchen was
Bigger dining room
Added a stair
Re-structured the rear wall including doing the bricks
What is small?
A few years ago it was "We don't quote jobs under $10 K. We show up, do the job and you pay whatever the amount."
That may have doubled or worse.
I was talking to a tile guy in the last recession and they were keeping their heads above water with small jobs. They were still getting them because they didn't snub them when times were booming.
In my case I did the drawings and got the permits. If I wanted to sub anything out it was to my choosing. That was before CAD. Now the right person can walk you through the addition before the first hammer blow hits the plaster, right down to the colour of the paint.
If you had accurate drawings you could do a mental dry run of the procedure that would get you a weather-tight enclosure. After that you DIY or sub at your discretion.
Supply chain or lack thereof is a big issue today. A few months down the road??????
Shingles, OSB, nails can be stored in a garage but will the prices be better in X months when you need them?
Dimensional lumber tends to warp when sitting. I buy as needed.
Windows are slow in coming but you don't need them all at once. Frame the opening and sheet over them. Cut in and install when needed. Leave a big one out for the drywall to be lifted in.
Sticks or trusses would be a factor for me. Trusses have advantages but I can cut and assemble sticks on my own schedule and wouldn't need a crane.
Good drawings are an investment. Your drawings, your control. You don't want to hear "Oops" or "S**t" after the plaster comes down.
For some reason this reminds me of the guy with frosted up windows at a gas station. The attendant offered to sell him a scraper for $20.
Guy: "I don't have any cash on me"
Attendant: "Use your credit card"
Guy: "Good idea" and he proceeds to scrape his windows with his credit card.
