Important Facts You Should Know about Stem Wall Repairs in the City of Phoenix
Stem wall repair work is modifying a structural component of the foundation system. It supports 100% of the roof and wall loads of your home. When a home’s stem wall fails, it is often due to the oxidization of the rebar located within the stem wall. Failing stem walls may crack, flake, spall or even break off in chunks.
If your contractor tells you that a permit and special inspections are not required, it is because they are unaware or they trying to save costs. Either way it is not in your best interests to cut this corner.
This stem wall repair work, by code, requires both 3rd party special inspections and permits in the City of Phoenix (Arizona). This means a separate engineering company approved by your municipality must inspect the work and submit their approval with their engineering stamp to the city before the city will give final approval and close the permit out. If your contractor tells you that a permit and special inspections are not required, it is because they are unaware or they trying to save costs. Either way it is not in your best interests to cut this corner.
This work may require shoring to temporarily support the roof and wall loads while the work is going on.
Aside from the fact that you want the work to be done in a safe manner and one which will last, there are other reasons why it is in your best interests in pulling a permit for this work. At some point when you sell this house, the real estate SPUDS forms require you disclose all work done and if a permit was pulled. If you your contractor has not pulled a permit, you will have to disclose that work was done without a permit when it was required to do so. We don’t recommend not disclosing permitted repairs, as it leaves you wide open for litigation after the sale even many years later.
Ultimately, doing things the right way means not cutting corners… stem wall repair or otherwise.
