The series that continues today, about a Lister resident who had a bad experience with the RDCK building department, has given me much to think about recently. I have been incredibly impressed with Lori Eyben’s good nature and a persistence that is fueled not by anger, but a sense of injustice.
When I sent some questions to the RDCK, the response to which is in today’s story, I mentioned that I am pretty jaded about building permits and inspections, our house in town having been built by a guy who should have never been allowed near a power tool or 2×4. What I didn’t bring up was my sole experience with the RDCK and the construction process, which was overwhelmingly positive.
Nearly 38 years ago, we purchased property not far from where Eyben lives now. Our plan was to use lathe-turned logs from a mill at Tie Lake, where my dad was working in his semi-retirement. Dad and I would do most of the construction. We bought the property from an architect, who worked with us to come up with a house plan. He was not the most practical guy in the world, as sub-contractors pointed out when I asked for quotes to construct our concrete foundation and basement walls. 9-foot concrete walls, we learned, would cost much, much more than 8-footers, which use standard forms. We changed the plan, of course.
As construction began, I got great support from Jay Armitage, owner of Creston Builders Supply, and his staff. If I had a question at the start of the day they would have an answer by day’s end, often courtesy of one of their builder-customers. They knew I would be getting most of my plumbing materials through my brother-in-law in Calgary, and suggested that I could do the plumbing work myself. I called said brother-in-law, whose dad and brother were plumbers, and asked his advice. “All you need to know to be a plumber is that stuff (not his exact word) runs downhill and payday’s every other Friday,” he joked.
I took my consulting a step further and asked the local RDCK building inspector for his opinion. He was a plumber by trade and he, too, was encouraging. “When you are ready to start, just run the drain pipes from your main line to the septic tank over to the bathroom on the main floor, and put it all together without glue. Then give me a call and I’ll come and have a look,” he offered. I followed his advice, called him, and he gave me the thumb up. “You know what you’re doing—carry on.” Being a reader, I had plenty of books on hand, of course.
The inspector was great through the entire process, as were my other sub-contractors. All was good until the day when he arrived at the construction site unannounced, with his boss. I was at work but my dad was working on the interior, the logs now up and the roof covered in. The boss took a quick glance around and told Dad that the log courses weren’t level. My dad handed him a level and told him to check for himself. He and I had put up every log, and he was a fanatic about keeping the courses true. The boss put the level up to the course above a nine-foot patio door opening that would provide us with our view to the east and the bubble sat dead centre in the liquid. He left shortly afterward, without much else to say.
It was the house we bought in town more than 20 years ago that soured me on building inspections. Much of the work was just awful, but not noticeable when we made the purchase. Ironically, when we started to notice leaks beneath sinks, I discovered that many of the drainpipe connections hadn’t been glued, simply put together dry and left for the sucker who bought the place to deal with. I have spent far too much time and money over the last two decades remedying the problems we inherited from an owner/builder who was either incompetent or uncaring, or both.
When Eyben came to me with her story she was adamant that she had no interest in being portrayed as a victim. She just wanted to help others avoid the pitfalls that have caused her so many problems, not to mention time and stress. I have fantasized about taking revenge on the builder. Lori Eyben is a better person, by that measure.
I truly hope she gets satisfaction from the court process, although she’s up against a lawyer who is being paid by some of her own tax dollars. Win or lose, though, she has earned herself a great deal of admiration from those who know her.
