Advice Please. How much should final "Special Inspection" to close permits cost?

Hello All Browstoners! We are still recovering from the Scott Schnall debacle. Our construction was finished last year. We need a final inspection by a “Special Inspector” done to close the permits. We’ve received a quote that seems extremely high $12-15k from the Special Inspector. The work was a gut renovation of 2 separate apartments converted to a duplex with a deck installed.I would really appreciate anyone sharing their cost/experience of closing permits and “Special Inspections” Thanks ahead of time.

sovershown

in Renovation 6 years and 11 months ago

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jimhillra | 6 years and 11 months ago

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markg99,
The problem is that even if someone actually did the inspections, a new inspector will most likely not feel comfortable taking responsibility/liability for those inspections. Some inspections are quite minimal and may be able to be done with little or no destructive testing. You may be able to get some more help here if you can post the actual inspection items listed in the TR1 and TR8 as jcarch mentioned. That will also help us give you an idea of whether or not the $12k – $15k is a reasonable price for the inspections.

sovershown | 6 years and 11 months ago

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Thanks, but we’ve already had the inspection

bk123 | 6 years and 11 months ago

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please email me the plans for a quote, I have a SI agency. daverobak@verizon.net. You
need to be willing to accept and repair destructive testing. i.e. cutting etc to see what was installed.

sovershown | 6 years and 11 months ago

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OK, Thank you. I’ll look into that. Scott Schnall WAS the inspector but……. That’s why we’re doing this now at the end. Thanks for your help

jcarch | 6 years and 11 months ago

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markg99…there are many more special and progress inspections than just those (and some of those you listed are not on the special inspections list). Which ones you need depend on your project. There are also energy code inspections to be done. Google “NYC DOB TR-1 form,” and NYC DOB TR-8 form,” to see the list of inspections. If you look up your filing details on DOB’s website, you should be able to click on “virtural job folder” and see what TR-1 and TR-8 forms were filed at the start of the project. Those are the inspections that you’ll need an inspector to sign off on – sometimes your architect or engineer can/will doe some of these, sometimes the special inspection company does them all. You should have had a special inspector signed up at the start of construction. They’re supposed to sign/seal the TR-1/TR-8 forms prior to permitting.

sovershown | 6 years and 11 months ago

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Thanks so much for responding mozeeatupu!
I didn’t realize there were different kinds. I looked it up and found this –

There are four categories of special inspections:
(1) General Building Construction
(2) Fire Protection Systems and Fire-Resistant Construction
(3) Plumbing and Mechanical Systems
(4) Structural Materials and Construction Operations

Plumbing and Electrical are done and closed. So I guess it would be #1 and/or #4. It seems to me he is most concerned with structural things like new support beams which have been installed, deck supports. and steel beams which were installed above and below a large sliding glass wall which we installed on the back wall of the apartment.

mozeeatupu | 6 years and 11 months ago

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There’s a few special inspections. Which ones are you doing?