Failed electrical inspection - now what??

We just completed our first apartment purchase/renovation and failed our electrical inspection pretty spectacularly. Basically, the electrician made a gigantic mistake and now we have to reopen the plaster walls in half the apartment to fix it. He’s been a nightmare to work with and I’m unsure what the best course of action is — he has sworn to fix it and do the patch work for free, which seems like the path of least resistance, but should we just try to pay for someone else to do the work and change over the permit? Should I get something else in writing at this point, beyond our original contract? Do I need a lawyer?

slopette

in Electricians 11 years and 7 months ago

7

Please log in, in order to post replies!

7 replies

Newest Oldest

marjgreen | 11 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4856 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4869 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180560"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "marjgreen"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bu2ls5d8Hy1z/F3aUDIbmZLz0Xzy4g0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "marjgreen"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "marjgreenwood@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:43:11"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "marjgreen"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180560)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I would immediately call the office back and why in the hell there is a difference in inspectors. Either they all do it right, or they all do it wrong, there’s not much in-between. Good luck!

mruby36 | 11 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4855 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4850 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176799"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "mruby36"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B3wBk7M3JG4.sFMK.ZlyJPf35Hdroy/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "mruby36"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(15) "matt@nyc-hs.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "http://www.nyc-hs.com"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:15:51"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "Matt R"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176799)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Musical people and licenses is one thing, inspecting something that you can no longer see is quite another. A plan gets submitted and approved, the work gets roughed in, inspected, and if done correctly, approved and signed off. Then, and only then, can you close up the walls. After electrical fixtures have been completed, there is a final inspection and sign off. I’d say you have a decent size problem and would run, run, run from whoever told you that an inspection takes place after the walls are closed. Wish you luck. Matt R www.nyc-hs.com

hdlbklyn | 11 years and 6 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4862 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4857 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176861"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "hdlbklyn"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BawdAkDKOvsSBF9FzKd.1B7HpcTCKG0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "hdlbklyn"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "hdlbklyn@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(50) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/hdlbklyn/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:50"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "hdlbklyn"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176861)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

He’d said earlier that the inspection needs to take place after the walls are closed (which is why we waited until now) — is this not the case? I haven’t ever heard of this. I could be wrong. But it doesn’t sound right.

JoeBushwick | 11 years and 7 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4856 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4858 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "6248"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "JoeBushwick"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BOa5jIrDGE2zbFff.2ZiwWLZLfe7f//"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "joebushwick"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(16) "jec344@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(53) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/joebushwick/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:13:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "JoeBushwick"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(6248)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Its not uncommon to have a licensed electrician supervising the work of assistants who are not licensed. The person with the license is still responsible for a code-compliant job.

slopette | 11 years and 7 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4855 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5113 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "36574"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "slopette"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BU99SZAhFzKCBy8PShX8lSMVWvqtAp/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "slopette"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "ahavouris@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(23) "/forums/users/slopette/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:38:01"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "slopette"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(36574)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

And, it is one of those situations where the partner has the license. I was apparently too naive when we hired this firm to know which one of them would be doing the actual work.

slopette | 11 years and 7 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4862 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5114 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "36574"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "slopette"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BU99SZAhFzKCBy8PShX8lSMVWvqtAp/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "slopette"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "ahavouris@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(23) "/forums/users/slopette/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:38:01"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "slopette"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(36574)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

He’d said earlier that the inspection needs to take place after the walls are closed (which is why we waited until now) — is this not the case?

Arkady | 11 years and 7 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5113 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4856 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "14677"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BSLpIhH1FLNbV2Qdpb/F67tu7brrgw1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "rkdillon@verizon.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/arkady/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2008-08-04 21:50:38"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "HL9P1Plx6tnm1l8GiJvd"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(14677)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Is he licensed? If so, I’d have him redo the work (maybe check his credentials first) & then have an inspection before the walls are closed again.