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

FloorFixer2

·17h·9 replies·8 participants

FloorFixer2⚒️ JourneymanOP17h

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⚒️ Journeyman12h

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.

RollerRascal🔧 Apprentice17h

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⚒️ Journeyman16h

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

BloomBoss⚒️ Journeyman16h

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.

SweepKing2⚒️ Journeyman16h

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

DuctDaddy2⚒️ Journeyman15h

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⚒️ Journeyman15h

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

WrenchWarrior2⚒️ Journeyman15h

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

SawdustSavant26⚒️ Journeyman3h

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.