Communication a Common Construction Issue

Brynna, A recent inspection client getting into the house flipping business tapped an e-mail out to me last night.  Her electrical contractor had asked her if she wanted to put a “ground box” at the location of the meter at the … Continue reading →

Brynna, A recent inspection client getting into the house flipping business tapped an e-mail out to me last night.  Her electrical contractor  had asked her if she wanted to put a “ground box” at the location of the meter at the exterior as there currently was not one present.  When I talked to her on the phone later to find out what a “ground box” was she indicated her contractor was Latino and did not speak much english.  After 10 minutes of quizzing we came to the conclusion that he was asking if she wanted a main disconnect panel installed at the exterior meter.  The current configuration was a main disconnect panel inside the home  located directly on the other side of the meter in the bedroom.  I informed Brynna she could install the exterior disconnect if she wanted turning the interior disconnect panel into a sub-panel but that it was not necessary.  If an interior mounted main disconnect panel is located directly behind the mounted exterior meter an exterior disconnect panel is not required.  A little concerned that the contractor was not aware of this; or was aware of it.  It is also noted this was an older installation and there was no compulsion to improve the system to modern requirements even though it already met current requirements.    This is a typical technical question that I get after inspections in my business but the greater issue is communication.  In this case expense was saved.  But sometimes this can as easily equate to safety.  It is hard enough as a home owner or newbie renovator to get work done as you want it.  You will have to work extra hard if there is a language barrier.  There are also issues with this on a grander scale with large track home builders.  The majority of the labor is latino and the supervisors are not and sometimes something is lost in translation.  This often comes through in the quality of construction.  We’ll talk later about how important it is to get a home inspection when buying a newly constructed home. Oh yea! Lets keep in mind as well that is not just language barriers that create gaps in communication.  Listening listening listening.  If your contractor and/or you are not listening to each other than you are not communicating.  You are setting yourself up for a struggle regardless of the language being spoken if you are not communicating clearly with your contractors.   As you go through the process of selecting contractors make sure you can clearly communicate with whomever you select.  

Inspector Bill Carlson Nashville’s Home Inspector