Home Construction Help

[howdy20012002]

i don't know how you should be responsible for moving the windows.
whoever built it had to pass code.
so I don't know how it is an issue now.
if it is a new house, the builder should definitely be responsible.
and if it has been around for a few years, the city passed the windows initially.. not sure how it can be a problem now.
as for doing the work yourself, take it from someone who just built his own house, don't try it unless you know what you are doing. in the long run it just ain't worth the hassle and will definitely hurt your bottom line when selling if not done right.
Neal

[Borderjumper]

The house next to you has to remove their windows too right? To protect YOU in the event of a fire??

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by sphelps

.

Unfinished basement
Remove two bedroom size windows
Fill in area
Stucco outside area where filled in
Install new window on other side of basement (hopefully use one of the removed windows)
Building permit required

Thanks

first I would see if this is something that the builder shopuld be responcible for fixing, if not then check with your lawyer about your title insurance and so on.

what is to close the actualy house or the window well because it is atached to the house. if it is the window well then remove it and cut 5cm off each end reinstall about 3 hours work no cost.

if it is the house then title insurance should cover it as the survay doesnt jive with the actual layout. My guestimate would be 2500 to 5K if you hire it out. looking at it I would be tempted to remove the windows and fill it up myself with cinderblocks and morter. as for putting the new window in... how is alberta with home owners permits? I get permits and do my own work which still has to be inspected, I just read up on what I have to do and do it right the first time. I have yet to fail an inspection out of 5 permits. (two electrical, 2 plumbing and one structural)

now of course you have to decide if you are capable of doing the work and or if you want to or even have the time. for instance, I will do small mud repairs of drywall but I will hire out mudding of a room as the cost is worth the lack of mess and fustration to me

a good idea would be to get a few contractors in.. ask them how they are going to fill the holes, ask if they have to install a lintel in the new window hole they cut. you shouldn't need a permit to remove and fill in the two windows there but ya you should need one for a new window but ask them and see what they say. find out what they would charge just to install a window. if you knwo anyone who does this kind of work find out whats involved, go to the mike holmes forum and ask about it in the basement forum (that forum is a welth of info, and a lot of strait up contractors and people in the know would problably give you more info that you could hope to get here. they all push hiring a pro, but thats cuz half them on there are contractors of some sort, but they have helped me with some stuff I had a hard time finding any info on.

I don't know where everyone is getting there ideas of finnishing the basement but I don't see that in your question. if you do want to completly finnish the basement then some people are dreaming of how cheap they think it can be done. I have a 1000sq^ft basment that I am renovating and I am over 35K with only 1/2 of it done. I have finnished a bedroom and a family room with a wet bar so far. I still have the bathroom, laundry room and back entry to do yet so I am looking at another 10 to 15K and thats with me doing all the work myself. you can double what I have spent and have yet to spend by getting some one else to do it.

a basic 1000 sq ft basment finnish with one bathroom should be in the range of 25 to 35K, if you have champain tastes then your looking upwards of 50K

Steve

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by sphelps

These are the windows that need to be removed. On a side note if anyone is familiar with fire code I'd love some advice on how I could fight this and keep the windows. The problem is the side yard is 5cm too narrow so it doesn't meet fire code, in order to get a variance from the county we will have to remove the windows to prevent a fire from spreading to the next house as easily. I understand this issue but what I don't get is the house has a fire sprinkler system just as you would find in Condo buildings. Now condos and townhomes can be connected because they have these systems so why would 5cm make a difference in my case.

what happens if you don't get the varance?

Condows are different rules.. they need a 1hr fire rating between them and no openings, so a double layer of 5/8 drywall gives you the 5 hour fire rating. the problem with windows is that when they get hot they can blow out and the flames can leap that way.

Steve

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Borderjumper

The house next to you has to remove their windows too right? To protect YOU in the event of a fire??

nope the other people are probably the proper distance from the property line. the measurment isn't between houses but from the property line to the house.

Steve

[Borderjumper]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

nope the other people are probably the proper distance from the property line. the measurment isn't between houses but from the property line to the house.

Steve

Omg that's crazy. So two houses side by side, each have basement windows facing each other, but only one house is deem a danger in case of a fire?

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

first I would see if this is something that the builder shopuld be responcible for fixing, if not then check with your lawyer about your title insurance and so on.

what is to close the actualy house or the window well because it is atached to the house. if it is the window well then remove it and cut 5cm off each end reinstall about 3 hours work no cost.

if it is the house then title insurance should cover it as the survay doesnt jive with the actual layout. My guestimate would be 2500 to 5K if you hire it out. looking at it I would be tempted to remove the windows and fill it up myself with cinderblocks and morter. as for putting the new window in... how is alberta with home owners permits? I get permits and do my own work which still has to be inspected, I just read up on what I have to do and do it right the first time. I have yet to fail an inspection out of 5 permits. (two electrical, 2 plumbing and one structural)

now of course you have to decide if you are capable of doing the work and or if you want to or even have the time. for instance, I will do small mud repairs of drywall but I will hire out mudding of a room as the cost is worth the lack of mess and fustration to me

a good idea would be to get a few contractors in.. ask them how they are going to fill the holes, ask if they have to install a lintel in the new window hole they cut. you shouldn't need a permit to remove and fill in the two windows there but ya you should need one for a new window but ask them and see what they say. find out what they would charge just to install a window. if you knwo anyone who does this kind of work find out whats involved, go to the mike holmes forum and ask about it in the basement forum (that forum is a welth of info, and a lot of strait up contractors and people in the know would problably give you more info that you could hope to get here. they all push hiring a pro, but thats cuz half them on there are contractors of some sort, but they have helped me with some stuff I had a hard time finding any info on.

I don't know where everyone is getting there ideas of finnishing the basement but I don't see that in your question. if you do want to completly finnish the basement then some people are dreaming of how cheap they think it can be done. I have a 1000sq^ft basment that I am renovating and I am over 35K with only 1/2 of it done. I have finnished a bedroom and a family room with a wet bar so far. I still have the bathroom, laundry room and back entry to do yet so I am looking at another 10 to 15K and thats with me doing all the work myself. you can double what I have spent and have yet to spend by getting some one else to do it.

a basic 1000 sq ft basment finnish with one bathroom should be in the range of 25 to 35K, if you have champain tastes then your looking upwards of 50K

Steve

not sure if covering the window is an option unless you plan to leave the basement as is, if you plan to have a bedroom im pretty sure you need to have an out in case of fire outside the bedroom door.

they wouldnt take the measurement from the window well they would take it from the structure.

most have said between 25000-50000

and its assumed its going to be a finished basement as he wants bedrooms and such.

doing the work yourself is not a good idea unless you have 10hrs a day to do so or dont mind reno's happening for 5 mths, hire the work out.... alot of times unless your qualified to do so it will and it will take you three times as long. i can mud a wall i guarantee alot faster than someone whos being very careful and arent familiar with the products, i go in i know right what to do i know the fastest way of doing it and i make sure it gets done so as i make money and the job is done fast with a happy customer.

you wouldnt belive how many half started jobs i go in to do, just last week i went in to a failed insulation inspection on a house, this guy had hired some labor at $15/hr and after a couple days they finished the job.....it didnt pass inspection for about 50 reasons and so iu got called in to repair..... now normally i can insulate a small house by lunch time with a few of my guys but it took the better part of a day to re-do their work and get it up to par....passed inspection no prob

later the guy says to me i didnt think there was much to it really so i just hired some fellas who done it before.....

my point is alot of the work isnt brain surgery or difficult sometimes it takes a strong back but more so it takes knowlege and experience and knowing what inspectors and customers are expecting.like spawn i too am glad the market stabilized as alot of those high bidders and inexperienced people have been weeded out and there were alot of them over the past years....these same people dropped their prices drastically in an effort to find work when it hit and alot of them couldnt keep up with the demand of finding contracts and moved on i have never been jobless or unemployed for over 10yrs and i have some great employees who count on me for their financial life and regular work schedule. basically like anything you get what you pay for , you could hire out a couple young fellas for 15$/hr and watch over them and when they mess up you can say no worries we will get it fixed or you can hire the work out to people who have workers and take all the responsibility.

your house is very nice and an investment for years to come ...its your home so why take the risk for saving a few bucks or possibly paying more in the long run.........

not a big mike holmes fan but he does say one thing i like......"do it right the first time " its the cheapest way and youll end up[ with professional quality work



************edit********* would seem the poster doesnt mention finishing a basement only removing the windows and replacing the one on the other side of the basement and then stucco the filled in opening to match. sorry

[darb]

Don't get quotes, get a lawyer.

That place smells brand new from here. It was the developer/prime contractor that screwed up and located it too close to the property line.

Not only is there the cost of removing two windows and reinstalling one, but the impact that not having the two windows will do for useability of the space and the future resale value.

[sphelps]

Ok thanks for all the input so far. To clarify I'm only looking for an idea on the cost for closing the windows and installing a new one. Developing the basement would be another project down the road.

Also I should explain that I don't currently own this house, we are considering buying it and our offer has been accepted but it's conditional based on the variance, among other things. The house is a foreclosure as a result of the builders going under. The house is not complete but the potential investment is huge. The house is sold as is, once the sale is closed all responsibleness to get the house up to code will be the buyers. There are no builders to go after.

The house was build slightly off center so the side yard on the one side is too small. It's 1.15m at one point and the limit is 1.2m. However there is 10 feet between the houses.

We will be contacting the banks (sellers) lawyer on Monday to ask for assistance with dealing with the county of Wheatland. We will try this approach first before investing in our own lawyer which might cost us money with no result.

[sphelps]

Anyone know if it's possible to buy 5cms off your neighbors lot? If this is possible it would sure solve all my problems right now