At What Cost

             Yesterday I went to the project where I had to solve a few problem areas. The first issue was easy enough to find a solution to. When the concrete was being poured it was poured for 2 x6 bottom plat but when the framing was in place 3 x6 plates were used, thus sometimes the anchors and STB Hold-down bolts did not always have enough height to work as they were. My solution was to purchase connecting nuts and all thread to extend these bolts to a usable height.

            The second issue was that the last exterior wall was out by an inch and couldn’t be persuaded to come to the line. As I have mentioned in previous post, I snap control lines so as to help me establish a means of correcting an issue. I established the plate on the line at one end and then walked the wall onto the line until I reached about half way down the wall. There I had a break in the bottom plate and the two bottom plates wouldn’t come to the line together so I pulled out a large C-clamp and helped them act together then tighter the anchor bolts and Hold-down bolts. But as I when down the wall there was a bigger issue or should I say larger distance from the layout line. I kept pulling out my tape measure and checking the plate because plates should be in the proper passion before plumbing can be accomplished. Halls need to be plumbed to better resist the forced of kicking out. Once I determined the direction the wall need to move, I picked it up high enough to place a 2 X 4 beneath it and then remove a little more of the size in an elongated slot manor. Once this was accomplished, I lowered the plate and then established it on the line as need be.

            Today when I return, I will fill in the openings where the widow will be. I left the headers out because of the weight of the wall was easier to manage with my small crew. Will nail the studs to the hearers and then secure then into their positions. I will place the seal plates and then install the cripples to finish this task. If the area does not have the bottom cripples in place, it is because it is the area where the bottom plate needed to be severely weakened to allow for the plumbing to penetrate the footings to enter the unit. Now that the plate is in the proper position, I will cut a new 2 x6 and drill window hole in it so I can re-tighten the nuts as need be and also allow for the penetrations of the plumbing. This is flipping of the notches will strengthen the bottom plate, but has prevented the ability to add the bottom Cripples until this is accomplished.

I could nail the cripples onto this plate and then secure it into place, but I will cut 14 3/8” blocking and stagger them along the bottoms plates that have been nailed together for strengthening purposes. These blocks will allow me to toe nail the cripples into position using the block as pressure blocks. The blocks are cut at an 1/8 inch undersized to allow for the gaps which occur and keep the 16 inches on center layout.

            I understand that many people have jobs which require them to do things following the status quo in their minds or the minds of their bosses. My question is, at what cost. When I go looking for a property, I don’t necessarily go looking for what is in front of me. I look for the potential of what that item in front of me can become. That is where the potential profit can be gained. Your ability to see what others miss is your greatest asset in real estate. I also believe it is the greatest asset for one’s life. The problem is many people cower under the pressure of being different. I’ve heard said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Maybe it is time we as a society embrace those who dare to solve problems in differently. If we don’t, what will be the cost?

Note: Images on this blog site are from a free source or taken by the author. No image or group of photos is intended to represent the people the author serves. The author does not care about Race (that is a politically correct term that he does not like because we are all of the same Race, the Human Race. He prefers the term ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender, marital status, disability, genetic information, national origin, source of income, Veteran or military status, ancestry, citizenship, primary language or immigration status.) He is a service provider for all people. We will all rise together when we band together and help one another. Joseph Erwin is a Real Estate Broker, DRE # O2131799, and a CA general contractor # B 696662. He’s a member of the CRMLS and The East Valley Association of Realtors located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California.