Code Overload

Well, the building inspector was here yesterday and did decide to make us fix the big entryway between the kitchen and family room. He didn't seem to appreciate the fact that we weren't the idiots who cut into a load baring wall without putting in a header, or that we have made it better with the new post and the wall won't fall on our heads now. Nope. The wall is open, so it has to be brought up to code. Of course there is also plumbing running right in front of where the header has to go. Our contractor, carpenter, and another associate were pow-wowing in the kitchen shortly after the inspector left about how exactly this process is going to happen. I am happy to report that by the end of the day yesterday, the carpenter had a new temporary support wall up, the plumber was scheduled and the engineered wood was ordered. I learned that engineered wood is stronger, and therefore you can have a smaller header, but the wood must have a stamp on it, visible to the inspector, that says it's certified engineered wood. The game plan for today, is to get the old wood of the non-existent header out, put the new one in, and get the plumber back to replumb along the wall. We've determined the old pipes won't handle a transplant, so we're putting in the new plastic pipes as we have in the rest of the remodel. If all goes well, the inspector will even come back by close of business today! Wish us luck!