MyFloridaCode.com

What builder is making 15-20% and yes Architects do commonly  make 10% of 
the value of a home , so there is good reason to run the cost  up designing 
with unnecessary features, they assume very little liability with  the" 
Contractor to verify all dimensions in the field" 
 
Chris Kavala
Marquis Const. & Dev. Inc. _www.southernsips.com_ 
(http://www.southernsips.com/) 
3714  Covington Drive
Holiday, Florida 34691
Toll Free  ............................. 1-877-321-SIPS
main: (727) 937-3090
fax (727)  937-1849
cell (727) 243-2717

FL. LIC. # CBC036455 
(residential / commercial)
LA. LIC. # 33845 (commercial  GC)
GA. LIC. # RLCO000624 (residential / light commercial GC)  

 
In a message dated 4/14/2010 7:08:14 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
codetalk-request at myfloridacode.com writes:

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Today's Topics:

1. Re: To all my professional associates (Ken  Rodgers)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message:  1
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:06:42 -0500
From: "Ken Rodgers"  <Ken at artisanbilt.com>
Subject: Re: [Florida Code Talk] To all my  professional associates
To: "'Eric Kuritzky'"  <kuritzky at bellsouth.net>, "'Building Officials
Association of Florida, Inc.'" <boafdiscussion at boaf.net>,
<codetalk at myfloridacode.com>
Message-ID:  <000901cadc27$264baf50$72e30df0$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain;  charset="us-ascii"

I have a wonderful suggestion.why don't we try to  answer the man's original
question instead of using it as an excuse to  unzip our pants??  I don't
disagree with most of the points mentioned  from either side but think they
could be presented in a more professional  manner and then only after
addressing the original question.  Whether  you agree with it or not he is
still operating within the code isn't  he?



Just my humble suggestion to keep this as a forum and not a  chopping block.



Ken

Residential  Contractor



From:  codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com
[mailto:codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com]  On Behalf Of Eric Kuritzky
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 2:52 PM
To:  Building Officials Association of Florida,  Inc.;
codetalk at myfloridacode.com
Subject: [Florida Code Talk] To all my  professional associates



Soap box time....

I am amazed at  how, when I suggest architects and engineers should be a
required part of  the residential design and document process, fully knowing
the exceptions  in codes and statutes, how bizarrely defensive everyone 
gets,
as if the  only thing I'm trying to push is some income source for 
architects
or  engineers, or that I'm trying to put residential designer out  of
business.  I work with some excellent residential designers.   So many
participants out there seem to think that Hurricane Andrew, which  set in
motion the most radical code changes in the country, meant oh so  little to
residential construction, as if I'm totally  ignorant.

Please.  

The residential exemption is purely  political.

And this repeated mantra that architects are ignorant of the  codes, which
justifies their exclusion from residential construction.   No one ever
suggests the less than qualified contractors or municipal  representatives
that are equally represented in the ranks of  the  'less than knowledgeable'
construction   professionals.

Please.  

No branch of this industry is  without it's weak links.

But those of us who are tested, educated and  licensed know that there is a
regulatory board or two, a national licensing  and code agency or three,
that we ultimately must answer to, besides our  own conscience.  Our ability
to practice what we do is subject to  scrutiny, and can readily be taken
away.

If I might be a bit of a  smart ass for moment....(really, just this
once?)......architects and  engineers don't make the 15%-20% that many
builders make on homes (yes,  when the economy is ticking away as it used
to...no one is making squat  right now, including architects, so I don't 
want
to hear about it.   Homeowners all too often try to build their own home to
avoid that 15%-20%  markup.  Stupid as they are.).  On the best, biggest
custom  homes, they might make 10%.  And they assume remarkable liability,  
as
we all are.

At what point does adding a layer of protection for a  few thousand dollars
not make sense in the construction of the biggest  investment anyone
makes....their HOME.

Should all those other little  code requirements, which all cost something,
be routinely excluded from  homes?  Better windows, doors? Wind resistant
exteriors? Smoke  detectors? Arc fault or GFI?  Egress windows in bedrooms?

History  has shown that the industry has not collapsed from the ever
increasing  costs placed on construction from ever more demanding codes.  No
one  stops buying homes.  No one stops putting 60 inch plasma TV's and  Ford
350 dually's in their garage, or bass boats, or jet skis, or anything  else.
Yet everyone yells about the sky falling.

But our  responsibility is the security and safety of that home and it's
contents,  whatever it might be.

And if architects and engineers are so ignorant  of the codes, why not
eliminate them from all construction, and let those  wonderful commercial
contractors design hospitals, hotels, city halls,  commercial buildings, 
etc?
Why?  Because we actually do know what  we're doing more than we get credit
for.

But we are no more perfect  than everyone else.  There are miscreants on all
professions, even  architects and engineers.   I have seen too many  
building
departments approve plan stamping by engineers of the most  offensive sets 
of
plans. I'm reviewing a suit now on a multi-story condo  project, the plan
approval of which should not have happened. But we are  the first, and
usually the last line of defense.  Once the building  department signs the
CO, and the contractor's company folds, it's usually  the architects and
engineers left standing to face the problems.

But  I digress, as usual.

Those that know me should appreciate that my  interest is in the public and
the quality of my own profession.  I  prepare better than average plans, I
consult with building departments, I  respect and work with contractors, and
my obligation as a member of the  Board of Architecture has required me to
punish far too many of my own  profession to not comprehend all that is
really associated with what we  do.

So why should homes be excluded?  Really, why?   

And $$$$ is not the answer.

Thank you for your indulgence. I'll  go back to being quiet....for a while.





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