I'm looking for advice on how to evaluate some house plans that have serious issues. I hired a design and build contractor who turned out to be incompetent, and now I'm trying to recover a significant amount of money they took. Their plans were full of mistakes that I, without any engineering or architectural background, noticed. They've failed building plan checks twice, with lots of comments they never addressed. I'm particularly concerned about missing foundations, the wrong roof pitch, and omitted interior elevations. I want to know if there are services that can review these plans and provide a detailed report on what's wrong. I've heard about "expert testimony" engineers, but they seem very expensive, and I'm not yet at the legal stage. I'm situated in LA County, if that helps.
2 Answers
Sounds like you've had a rough time with that contractor! You might want to consider reaching out to local architects. They know their stuff when it comes to construction and the relevant building codes. While hiring them isn’t cheap, they can serve as expert witnesses if needed and really help you sort through those plan issues. Definitely worth it if you're looking for an honest assessment of what's wrong with the plans before taking further action.
I totally hear you, that’s a frustrating situation. Honestly, getting a local architect's opinion could really save you from further headaches. They might not be the cheapest option, but they understand all the nitty-gritty details of building regulations in your area and can give you solid feedback on what's wrong with those plans. This could be key for any legal steps if it comes down to that.