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Where I live, homeowners aren’t allowed to do most plumbing or electrical work on their own homes. Anything beyond replacing an outlet or a faucet and you’re in
by tmm 9y ago
Where I live, homeowners aren’t allowed to do most plumbing or electrical work on their own homes. Anything beyond replacing an outlet or a faucet and you’re in master tradesman territory.
I’ve no issue with getting the work inspected, but there is no reason that I can’t be allowed to do my own work. Of course, I do it anyway (and so do many others) but technicallly it’s illegal.
Related to this, it amuses (and saddens) me whenever I hear of a shortage of skilled trades workers. When it takes 7 years of apprenticeship to become a master electrician, plumber or gas fitter is it really any wonder that kids coming out of high school would choose something else?
- dsharlet 9y agoOn one hand, I agree with this sentiment, you should be free to do your own work on your own property. On the other hand... my landlord in college. He did a lot of work on his house himself, and did it really badly. One example: he installed a cheap indoor light fixture outside where rain would get into it. It also happened to be on the same circuit as our refrigerator. So, sometimes when it rained, the circuit with our refrigerator on it would trip its circuit breaker. You might be perfectly competent to do your own work on your house. The problem is, everyone that works on their own house thinks they are competent, and many of them are not. I feel like this is one of those issues that is doomed to oscillate. A few generations will exist with these rules complaining of not being allowed to work on their own houses, and maybe these rules will change. Some injuries/deaths/just plain tiring of janky poorly done house modifications by prior owners will see a return of these rules. Repeat...
- throwanem 9y agoSounds like the kind of thing that'd last until you tried to sell the house, and a prospective buyer's home inspector caught it. Then you'd end up paying for proper work to be done, one way or another.
- falcolas 9y agoAssuming the inspector can catch it. They're detail orientated, but they can't see inside walls or through roofs.
- thomastjeffery 9y agoI think there is a clear middle-ground here: You should be allowed to work, and when your shoddy work is to the detriment of someone else, they should be able to react accordingly.