Permits for flooring installs: total BS or am I missing something?

FloorFixer2

·1mo·16 replies·15 participants

FloorFixer2⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo

I'm doing a full LVP install in this old colonial and the HO wants me to pull a permit for the subfloor work. Been in Pennsylvania, old houses everywhere, and I've never needed one for flooring jobs like this in 10 years. These inspectors are gonna make us jump through hoops for ripping up some particle board and laying underlayment. It's not structural, no plumbing or electrical touched, just flooring. Why the hell do we need permits for every damn thing now? Feels like they're just padding their pockets. Anyone else dealing with this crap?

EaveExpert2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

inspectors are just a bunch of pencil-pushers turning every job into a damn circus for their fees. same crap here in pa, had a guy hit me with a permit demand for a simple laminate flip last month and it cost me two extra days of bullshit paperwork. homeowners think it's protection but it's really just slowing us down and jacking up prices. fuck these hoops, we gotta push back before they regulate breathing.

ScrubSquadSam⚒️ Journeyman1mo

those inspectors are straight-up vampires sucking every last dime outta us with their permit BS, and the homeowners just bend over for it while we eat the costs.

BoxHauler5⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, same crap here in pennsylvania, inspectors hit us with permit BS every time we touch subfloor even if its just a simple swap, total pocket lining.

RollinRoller⚒️ Journeyman1mo

hey man, you ever just tell the ho that permits aint required for flooring in pa and skip it?

MoveMaster3⚒️ Journeyman1mo

yeah, these pennsylvania inspectors are turning every damn subfloor job into a three-ring circus, had one last month hold me up for two weeks over nothing just to justify their salary.

TenYearVet4⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, same shit here in pennsylvania, inspectors been nitpicking every little job the last couple years just to justify their paychecks. feels like theyre turning flooring installs into a full-blown inspection party over nothing structural. been dodging that crap for a decade too, but now its getting harder to skip.

TermiteTamer2🔧 Apprentice1mo

screw the inspectors, theyre just raking in fees for non-structural crap like lvp installs, and half the time they wouldnt even know what to check for anyways.

RollerRascal🔧 Apprentice1mo

Check your local building code, PA has some picky rules on subfloor mods even if it's cosmetic. Call the township office and get it in writing what triggers a permit for flooring.

SweepKing2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

yeah he did that last week and they said anything over 100 sq ft needs it now. total pain.

BloomBoss⚒️ Journeyman1mo

frustrated as hell with these new permit rules, doubled my overhead on a simple hardwood refinish last month. inspectors in my area are on a power trip.

PlumbDumb⭐ Expert1mo

yeah man, inspectors around here act like your refinished hardwood is gonna summon demons if it aint permitted, total power trip comedy.

SweepKing2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

same here man, every job site's turning into paperwork hell. feels like we're lawyers half the time.

DuctDaddy2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

don't skip it though, got fined $1500 on a tile job two years back for no permit. wasn't even a big deal but they nailed me.

DuctDaddy2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

customer called me last night panicking about a permit for her kitchen vinyl, turns out the dog ate the paperwork. had to laugh.

WrenchWarrior2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

pull the permit or walk away, but if it's just LVP over existing, argue it's not required.

SawdustSavant26⚒️ Journeyman1mo

for lvp over existing, i always check the local ahj first; in my county, it's exempt unless you're messing with subfloor, saves you from the hassle and fines.