My Two Cents: Building Inspections and What They Mean

About Penny Construction

Penny Construction has been remodeling and building for over 30 years. We have built New Homes, Remodeled Whole houses, Kitchen Remodels, Bath Remodels, built Additions, made Repairs, even Honey-do lists. We build because we are passionate about making it your home. We are sticklers for details, are picky, fussy, particular and our standards are extremely high. We like working with people who expect thoroughness, workmanship, attention to details; who expect us to be innovative, organized, problem solvers.

There is a belief by the public that Building Inspectors are there to make sure that quality is built in. Sorry, Wrong. Building inspectors do not inspect for quality and/or workmanship, only for Code. Code is the Minimum Requirement. Code does not imply quality. So when someone says, "It passed code!", what they really said was it passed as at least the minimum requirement. It does not mean that anything is necessarily right, or done the best. Quality, function or livability are not necessarily covered by code. Inspectors and Code are focused more around health and safety. Stairs have the legal tread and rise, handrails, smoke detectors, GFCIs in baths, kitchens and exterior. When you are working out in the yard and trip the GFCI that is located in the powder room is to Code, but has nothing to do with function or livability.

Welcome to the Penny Construction Blog

Penny Construction's goal is to create a home that is livable with the details that make it esthetically pleasing, yet functional. Doug Penny began as a carpenter, in the field, hands-on, in 1975. In 1980, Doug established Penny Construction, with a focus on Home Personalization, Customization, Remodeling and Maintaining. The past 35 years have been devoted to providing the highest quality of service and workmanship on New Home Construction, Remodels, Kitchen and Bath 'updates', as well as Additions and Second Homes.

Penny Construction not only provides quality management, workmanship, attention to detail, honesty, integrity and respect, it provides Doug Penny, President, as project manager; as a hands-on carpenter who gives his personal attention and involvement to every aspect of your project; no matter the size.

Penny Construction represents the experienced voice of reason, dedicated to oversee your entire project, protecting your interests and your needs. Architects don't always listen to what their clients want. Salesmen only sell what they have to sell. Subcontractors think particularly about what they subcontract. Our job is to take every bit of our knowledge, understanding, skill and determination and apply that to your project.

Doug appreciates the opportunity to discuss any homebuilding or maintenance project that you may be considering.

The Philosopher's Corner

Don't get tired of doing the right thing.  

The bitterness of poor quality remains, long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.  

"Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort." - John Ruskin

"Skill is the unified force of experience, intellect and passion in their operation." - John Ruskin

"Quality is more important than Quantity. One home run is much better than 2 doubles." - Steve Jobs

"Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains. - Steve Jobs

Don't pick life to pieces. Just live it. - Grandma Warwick  

Be Cheerful. Strive to he happy. - Max Ehrmann  

Self-government won't work without self-discipline. - Paul Harvey  

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.  Life isn't fair, but it's still good.  

When in doubt, just take the next small step.  

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. - Winston Churchill  

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. - Thomas Jefferson  

The more you know, the better your luck. - J.R. Ewing

  Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

  Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.  

Over prepare, then go with the flow.  

Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.  

Whatever doesn't kill you, really does make you stronger.  

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. - Max Ehrmann

Tourist are passive, expecting interesting things to happen to them; whereas Travelers are active, in search of people, adventure and experiences.

The quality of a product is directly proportional to all the worker’s pride in it.

It is attention to detail that gives a home the feel of quality. Detail in things so small that they might not be immediately noticed.

The secret of joy at work is contained in one word--Excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.

The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was.

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing - Abraham Lincoln

Notable Quotes

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe , we shall become as corrupt as Europe.

Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.

Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes, a principle which if acted on, would save one-half the wars of the world.

Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

Thomas Jefferson

No free man shall ever be deprived the use of arms.

Thomas Jefferson

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.