Totally agree on permits being a headache. Had a similar issue when renovating our kitchen—thought it was just cosmetic stuff, but once we opened up a wall, surprise... structural beam issues. City inspector caught wind and shut us down until we got an engineer involved. Ended up costing way more than planned. DIY is great, but sometimes the hidden stuff makes you wish you'd called a pro from the start.
Yeah, permits are a pain, but honestly, they're there for a reason. I get the frustration—been there myself—but imagine buying a house where someone skipped permits and hid structural problems behind drywall. Nightmare waiting to happen. On the other hand, city inspectors can sometimes go way overboard. Wonder if anyone here has actually challenged an inspector's decision and won... or is it always easier to just bite the bullet and comply?
I've challenged an inspector once—had to provide detailed documentation and even got a second opinion from a structural engineer. It was a hassle, but the city eventually backed down. Depends how much time and patience you've got, honestly...
"Depends how much time and patience you've got, honestly..."
Yeah, patience is definitely key. Curious though—did the inspector's initial concerns turn out to have any merit after you got the structural engineer involved, or was it more of a misunderstanding on their part? I've seen cases where inspectors flagged something minor that escalated into a huge ordeal, only to realize later it wasn't even a real issue...
Honestly, inspectors can be overly cautious sometimes. I get why—they're covering their bases—but I've seen people spend thousands on engineers only to confirm what was obvious from the start. Had a friend who got flagged for a "structural issue" that turned out to be nothing more than cosmetic cracking. Makes you wonder if some inspectors jump the gun a bit, especially when it's not their money on the line...
