Permits, Diagrams and Coffee Cans

Permits, Diagrams and Coffee Cans, what do they all have in common you ask? Well this is a funny little tale that started not long ago with a home inspection.

At the start of this home inspection, discussing the features and concerns of the home, part of the conversation concerned the finished basement. The buyer’s savvy real estate agent had done her homework, visiting the town’s building department searching for permits. Yes there were permits pulled for the basement. There was even a diagram for the proposed electrical work. It looked very professional.

Do permits and diagrams mean I can relax a bit and not worry about inspecting the basement?

Not in my experience.

All the permit and diagram show is someone was going about one of the necessary steps in process of finishing the basement. My question always is;

Was the permit closed? Meaning had the work been inspected by the building department. On this day no one was sure, because they hadn’t asked.

I eventually ended up in the basement as I always do. Entering the mechanical room, walking towards the boiler I noticed a white cover on the wall. Getting nearer I saw it was a cover on an electrical box. Funny I have never seen a white cover for an electrical box before. Upon closer examination the cover turned out to be a coffee can lid. I wonder if its UL listed.

I found another coffee can lid cover on an electrical box under an unfinished sink in the basement. This “electrician” must have a box of these covers.

Poking around further I found another little gem up in the ceiling behind a finished wall. Spliced wires not contain inside a box and in a concealed location.

One other small problem was discovered by the buyers while looking at the house on this day. A light switch in the basement buzzed and crackled when operated. And the best part, the lights do not go off when flipping the switch up or down.

So does a building permit and professional looking diagram equate to expert work done by the appropriately qualified person?

I think perhaps one should ask the guy on the job site who drinks a lot of coffee.

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:

Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.