We decided to remodel one of our bathrooms. After taking down the vinyl tub enclosure we found mold. And not a little bit of it. The wall that houses the water spicket crumbled in our hands.
I would find it hard to believe in 1990 if CA housing building codes didn’t require proper backing. In other words, when we took the tub enclosure off all that was behind it was drywall, which was rotted and moldy. It is interesting that no type of waterproof backing was there, just moldy rotten drywall.
At any rate, where would I find building codes? I have tried the City but they are not much help. Are building codes done by the City? County? State?
Thanks!
All three governmental entities are usually involved in adopting and administering building codes.
The state legislature usually determines, in a very broad manner, which of several "model building codes" will be adopted for use state wide. They also sometimes adopt specially written special provisions to deal with things like energy consumption, hurricane damage, and earthquake damage that may be applicable on a statewide basis. The state usually provides funding to the counties for the actual administration and enforcement of the building codes. The County may further amend the State adopted building codes. Cities often do the same. This sometimes leads to confusing differences between regulations from one area to another.
As for practical information, and actual enforcement, your County Building Inspection office is usually the place to start. Most smaller villages and towns arrange with the County to administer building codes within their incorporated boundaries. Larger cities usually have their own City Building Inspection offices and employ their own field inspectors. If you are certain that your town has it's own office, it is the place to start.
The key to getting information is to be as professional and knowledgable in your demeanor as is reasonably possible. Keep in mind that the employees of these offices work for you ... the taxpayer, but it still pays to treat them with courtesy and respect. If you go to their office and complain, "I've got a moldy mess behind me tub enclosure and I want to know why!", you are not likely to get much of a response.
My advice is to go, in person, to your County or City office and ask them to tell you which model building code(s) are applicable in your area. Also ask them for any pertinent amendments that have been adopted on a local level. "Model Building Code Books" are usually expensive and not worth the investment unless you are a building contractor. The Building Inspectors office will not give you a book, but you may well find one in the reference section of your local library, especially if you live in a larger municipality. As for any local amendments to the code, the Building Inspectors Office will usually print them for you. Sometimes they are free, but usually they will charge you a very small fee to cover printing expenses ... usually something like a dime a page.
You might also want to consider hiring the services of a certified home inspector to give you advice on your problem. Your problem could be as simple as leaking plumbing behind the wall which is creating the damp environment that mold just loves. It could be that the vinyl enclosure was not caulked properly and allowed water/moisture to migrate behind the wall. I could be that inadequate bathroom ventelation created similar conditions. Since this would not be a "whole house inspection", the price of an opinion should be very reasonable.
I hope you find this information useful. Good luck with your problem.
Cutting Vinyl on a Cricut - Part 3 - Sure Cuts A Lot SCAL Software
Everyday Uses For Custom Vinyl Stickers
Custom vinyl stickers are best known for their use on the rear bumper of vehicles, but there are many other uses for these fun novelties. The ability to speak your mind and express your opinions is your right in this country, and this extends to more than just your vehicle.
While it is a lot of fun and very convenient to make your own bumper stickers and completely control everything from design and logo to color combinations, you can never order just one custom made sticker. You always have to purchase them in bulk, since the printing service will have to set up their press especially for your design.
This may stop some people from purchasing custom stickers because they simply don't have 50 or more vehicles to put their design on. That is where thinking out of the box and away from the vehicle altogether comes into play. There are lots of other everyday uses for a vinyl bumper sticker!
For starters, why not give them away? If you value what you have to say enough to create those custom vinyl stickers, why not make an impact on the world and spread them around? They can be slipped into gift bags at a child's birthday party or handed out to adults at other types of parties. They make good gift bag stuffers and can be placed as gifts on the table at social or business functions.
If your custom vinyl stickers are even remotely related to your business, you could use the excess order to hand out to customers or other businesses that you come into contact with. You can simply set them out on a counter or reception desk and watch them walk away into the world effortlessly.
You may be quite surprised to find that people who like your sticker will ask where you got it. You may be able to pull one out and give it to them on the spot, spreading your word a little further into the world.
Custom vinyl stickers will also stick in places other than a bumper. You can place them on walls in your home or in your office, on the side of a desk, or outside on the door to your home or business establishment. Anywhere that other people will walk or drive by and see the sticker is a great place to stick it.
Amy Wells has a B.A. in Cinema from San Francisco State University. A former English Teacher, she writes and reports on a variety of consumer issues and trends.
Two of her interests are rubber stamping, and paintball, and she writes a variety of articles on both and has a comprehensive rubber stamp crafting website, and also a paintball website.
