Home flipping in haste – and the risks of fatal structural errors

In September 2014, following a Toronto house-under-renovation collapse that killed the lone worker in the basement doing underpinning, we heard from several contractors warning that too many “interior renovations” firms are taking structural risks. Those risks are taken because today’s white hot housing market – and flipping – can lead to stupidity. Joe from Clearwater C0nstruction posted this a few days ago…

“Hi Steve, we feel the same way. Our company solely performs the following tasks: demolition, excavation, form and build at the same time. We went from working for investors (home flippers) to end users. Our clients know hand-in-hand with us, what the liabilities are before we start, and we communicate closely with them until the hazards are tamed. Yesterday’s poor building practices are just that poor. There also old structures which require extensive work when replacing.

I’ve never seen a home flipper worry about safety. I’ve seen excavations collapse where the client would do anything to avoid the cost of shoring (which we perform).

I’ve been involved in residential construction now for more than 20 years. We work closely with engineers on projects. I call it a duck when I see a duck. (Which usually scares the client, and kills my opportunity to get the job.)

An interior renovator tackling a old Toronto structural renovation is a recipe for a major disaster.

Maybe this is a city issue and can be regulated from an inspection perspective? Regardless, we can’t keep letting cheap labourers pay with their lives because of the lack of regulations – and because of “thrifty” investors.”