Inspecting New Houses (while being built) (San Antonio, Anton: construction, contractors, inspector)

[Steel Man]

For all those looking to build a new house here in San Antonio, or anywhere else, check out this web site on what things you need to inspect during the building process. Go to inspectpros.com/new%20construction.htm

[mtdave2]

a very smart thing to do. i have looked at many homes in SA being built. more often than not im horrified over the crapy workmanship i see..yikes!

great link steel man, thanks

[Steel Man]

If you see something that is not right. Take a picture and contact the builder's supervisor for the house. Demand that it gets fixed. This is what I did for my daughter when she had a house being built in this area. Remember, these are not craftsman building your house....even expensive ones.

[texasdreamin]

I was thinking about hiring a private inspector to monitor the build. Have no idea what that would cost, but I think it would be a wise decision. I'm scared to death of all the shortcuts I read about contractors taking.

[momof2dfw]

TAKE PICTURES during the ENTIRE building process. Especially the plumbing in the walls. This came in VERY handy on our second house after the plumber cut a hole in one wall to find no plumbing and started to do another until he found it. STOP!!!! I have pictures. Sure'nof, there in my pictures was plain as day where the plumbing was in the wall. Whew....... Of course all of that mess could have been avoided if the dummies that put in the sheetrock w/ their nailguns would not have missed the "dumbie plates" that are put in for things like this. But noooo, they put 3 nails into the plumbing. One in the cold water pipe and two in the hot water pipe. URGH!!! Not the brightest in the bunch.

[Sampaguita]

Good tips everyone.

The builder of the house we are hoping to build is sending us a copy of the architects floor plan. The one on-line is not to scale & we need the scale plans in order to make changes for wheelchair accessibility. We're going to be making changes to plumbing, doorways, window heights, etc.

I agree with taking pictures of the entire building process (hopefully, we'll be able to do that considering our wheelchair accessibility issues ie., temporary housing) particularly plumbing. When we did our bathroom remodel (totally gutted down to the studs & looked at the foundation for several days) we took pics of everything. Good thing as when it came time to put in the safety rails, they couldn't remember where the 2x4 reinforcements were. Thank goodness for the pics & measurements we kept.

[texasdreamin]

momof2dfw, how lucky that you were there to catch him before he could do it. Oh my goodness. See, it's things like that that really scare me. I know I sure don't want to make a nusiance of myself or get in the way, but there is no other way to do it. That was really a smart thing to do.

Sam, I'll have to do that, too, if my mom is still with me. She is in a wheelchair and I will need to make the doorways larger. Also, I will be looking down the line at myself. I will have the house built so that it will accomodate me when I am elderly. I intend to put an attached garage on the side and it will have a ramp inside that ramps up one step into the kitchen or laundry room, so that I can get into the house.

[Steel Man]

texasdreamin, et al.
Here are some links with helpful tips for either building or converting to handicap housing:

http://www.handicapaccessiblehouse.com/components.html (broken link)
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/111...ty_Housing.asp

Here is a nice site that has almost all types of construction terms.

http://www.greatamericanhomeplans.co...on_terms.shtml

[texasdreamin]

I took a look at them all. Great, great information. Bless your kind, helpful heart. Thanks.