Tried to move a load-bearing wall without a permit

Was remodeling my basement in Austin last fall. Took a sledgehammer to what I thought was a partition wall. Brought down half the ceiling with it. Had to call a structural engineer, cost me $1200 for the inspection and fix. Anyone else make a mistake that turned a $300 project into a $1500 headache?

3 comments

3 Comments

paige42723d ago

And then they wonder why contractors charge so much (go figure).

hart.cora27d ago

Oh man, I used to be one of those "it's fine, I know what I'm doing" people. My whole attitude changed after I cut into a wall to run some cable and hit a gas line. Thought I'd save a few bucks and skip the permit. That little mistake cost me a emergency plumber call, drywall repair, and a fine from the city. Turned a simple job into a three month headache. Now I always check with someone first, even for stuff that seems small. Peace of mind is worth way more than the few hundred bucks you think you're saving.

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jennifer96527d ago

Yeah, I've seen that play out too. My buddy thought he'd save a few bucks running his own electrical for a home theater, didn't bother pulling a permit. Ended up shorting half the living room, fried his new TV, and the insurance wouldn't cover it since it wasn't inspected.