The Building Square

Keeping A Construction Archive - December, 2009

When doing substantial remodeling work around your home, it is a good idea to create an archive binder. The binder should contain your permit documents, blueprints, contracts and photos of the work in progress. Photos can be especially useful for future reference and for “seeing through walls” at a later date. A photo of a framed wall before drywall is applied will let you see where hidden electrical, plumbing, heating, and various obstructions may be located before you decide to do additional future work.

Keeping the contracts and contact information for the contractors who work on your house, as well as receipts from suppliers, may help you locate replacement items such as millwork, windows, doors, even paint colors if any of these items are damaged or worn out.

One of the many benefits to properly permitting work in your home is that the Village keeps the approved permit documents on permanent file. Should you wish to perform additions or renovations, there is a good possibility that we have some of the documents from previous permitted work on file.

Remember to keep your archive binder in a safe location, and pass it on to future owners.

The Building Square is a quarterly feature, in which the Building Division of the Community Development Department will present information intended to provide useful advice to our residents about building related topics. Our goal is to provide you with information that can assist you with building projects you may undertake in the future, to help understand why problems may have occurred in the past, and to relay some of the experiences and responsibilities our division faces throughout the year. Should you have any questions or comments regarding building related topics, please send them to us and we may use your query in one of our quarterly features.