If you’ve bought a new house in the past, if you’ve built a house before, you may have heard someone say “This house is built to Code”. Just exactly what does ‘Built to Code’ mean?
‘Built to Code’ can mean many things. It can create confusion and misunderstandings. It can also create a false sense of security.
Building Codes are meant to serve as a minimum design standard for construction. There is little that precludes at builder from building to a higher level, or using common sense when the Codes don’t specifically prohibit a design or installation.
‘Built to Code’ doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the standards written in the Code book are adhered to. Builders and tradesmen often exert undue influence on municipalities and city government to amend the Codes or overlook issues so as to allow the builders and their contractors to construct homes to a ‘looser’ and less safe standard.
Regardless of the Codes that your House is being built to, there are certain features, specifications and standards that every homebuyer should insist upon.
• Site-specific soil analysis and foundation design criteria based on the soils found directly under the proposed home site
• Safety Features such as gasoline vapor garage venting, self-closing garage passage doors, elevated water heaters located in the garage, carbon monoxide detectors, bedrooms that allow proper egress/escape.
• Strict Compliance with manufacturer’s installation requirements and installation guidelines.
• Secondary Condensate Pans and drain lines under all air conditioning systems. Drain pans and drain lines under all water heaters.
• Exterior paint with a 5 year minimum performance warranty.
These are just a few of the items homeowners just simply don’t think about until the builder is telling them “NO, WE DON’T or NO WE WON’T”.