As premier custom home developers in South Florida, our team at HART Homes understands that following Florida’s building codes is of the utmost importance. The building codes of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties lay out some pretty strict construction requirements for new buildings to ensure structural soundness and the safety of any future inhabitants. When it comes to custom home construction, here is a list of some of the most common South Florida building code violations that will lead to a failed residential inspection.
1. Premature Inspection
A sure way to fail a residential inspection is for your custom home developers to schedule it too early. Project and construction delays can and do happen during a custom build. So, if a field inspector visits the property at an inopportune time, they’ll likely find code violations because incomplete construction. Experienced South Florida custom home developers, like our team at HART homes, know that potential delays should be considered when scheduling the date of a residential inspection.
2. Missing Documentation
Another common reason a builder fails a residential inspection – not having all the required documents on site. Once the field inspector arrives to the property they must have easy access to certain documents including:
- Engineer’s Foundation Letter
- Structural Plans
- Truss Drawings
- HVAC Ductwork and Gas Piping Plans
- Energy Code Documentations
There are often additional required documents depending on which jurisdiction your new custom home is being built in.
3. Stairway Errors
Stairways are frequent problem areas when it comes to South Florida code violations. Sometimes, if there is not enough horizontal space for a planned staircase, a builder may just make the stairway steeper and the treads narrower. If the rise is too steep and the steps are too narrow, your builder will likely be fined with a building code violation.
Other staircase elements that are prone to violate Florida building codes if not constructed properly are handrails and guardrails. Rails are often the wrong height – either too short or too tall. Their connections can also not be secure enough. Both errors can result in code violations and a failed inspection.
Handrails and guardrails must also end properly – either into a wall or post. Stylistically, your builder may want your rails to appear like they’re floating and therefore not want to attach them directly to the wall. In that case, the rails must end close enough so that nothing, like clothes, bag straps or even firefighter hoses, will not get caught and cause potential falls.
At HART Homes, we stand apart as the premier choice in custom home developers in South Florida. We have more than two decades worth of experience in custom home construction projects throughout South Florida. We follow Florida’s build codes and meet the industry’s highest standards to make your dream home into a reality!
