Building Code, yup, can be a dirty word sometimes...

[Charron]

For those of us who have begun the building process and hit the 'brick wall' of the building code (shoulda been a tire or strawbale wall) how about giving the rest of us a heads up?

Let us know where you are (what area's code are you trying to mesh with?) and what code you seem to have violated. Even better, if you have managed to deal with or work around a prohibitive rule, let us know how you did it.

Hopefully we can gather enough information here to help avoid frustrating and costly delays at the hands of well-meaning code enforcers. (Yes, Building Inspectors... we love you and want to be your friend! Cookie?)

[Charron]

In Southern Ontario, Canada...

Apparently code requires that the exterior of all below-grade foundation walls be smooth. The logic is that bulges and lumps can be latched onto by frost and ripped apart with heaving.

Is there either a way to 'smooth' the exterior of a tire wall that doesn't require ten dumps worth of concrete, or a reason to plead to the inspector to allow an exception?

[gatherer]

where in Southern Ontario?

each county happens to have it's own building code. for example in Bancroft you can build them without worrying about smoothness of the outside walls.

which is why I want to move there for building my earthship, plus I'll be part of a community of earthship builders in eastern Ontario

[Charron]

The area I am shopping for property is around Durham.

The code issue came up when I was discussing foundation details with my cousin-in-law, who is an experienced concrete worker. He mentioned that a few times inspectors made them grind down lumpy bits on poured foundations, and he got me worrying about mine. (I'm planning a rammed earth tire foundation, built into a steep hill, with post and beam/strawbale upper floors)

[gatherer]

Well I was reading through the building code and I didn't find this "below grade walls have to be smooth" rule.

of course I haven't read the entire building code but I did look into Foundations section. I think thats where it would typically be? right?

Anyways here is a link to the Ontario Building Code:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/tocBrowseCL_E....t,%201992#act16

section 3 of 5 is whrre the foundation stuff is.

[Charron]

That's awesome... thanks. I had no idea that the code was available online. You've made my day!

[gatherer]

yeah I didn't either till I got bored and went hunting for it. I was looking for it because I had heard that different counties in Ontario had different rules. however it now seems that there is one code. it also seems like it's the zoning specs that are different from place to place.

[Charron]

A guideline on how to Work with city officials when building alternatively