Safety, Efficiency, And Permits: Why Building Codes Keep Changing

Why Do Codes Change?

Renovating a home should feel exciting, not overwhelming, yet the fastest way to derail a project is to ignore the rules that keep your family safe. We open up the world of modern building codes and show how evolving standards protect against fire, storm damage, poor ventilation, and hidden energy waste. From electrical rough-ins to framing connectors and high-performance windows, we connect the dots between what inspectors look for and the long-term comfort, resilience, and efficiency you actually experience.

Jeff Bass, our general contractor in the DFW Metro, breaks down how code updates happen and why cities often revise every three to six years. We compare the International Building Code framework with local amendments, outline common misconceptions about permits, and explain why documentation is your best friend when an inspection lands at the worst moment. You will hear about real fixes that avoid costly tear-outs, the role of sequencing, and how simple photo records can satisfy an inspection when walls are already closed.

To bring it home, we share a jaw-dropping walkthrough of a high-end property riddled with open wiring, a shower built inside another shower, and ductwork blasting conditioned air into wall cavities. It is a cautionary tale that proves cutting corners is not cheaper once you factor in rework, risk, and lost efficiency. If you are planning to replace that 90s kitchen or tackle a bath refresh, you will come away with a clear path: verify your local code version, stage inspections properly, budget for energy improvements, and treat inspectors as partners in building a safer, smarter space.

Ready to remodel with confidence? Subscribe for more expert guidance, share this episode with a friend tackling a project, and leave a review to tell us your biggest code question.

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https://www.RemodelContracting.net
Remodel Contracting
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Richardson, TX 75081
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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_02 (00:03):
Welcome to the Remodel Contracting Podcast,
where outdated spaces meet theirmodern makeover destiny.
Hosted by Jeff Bass, generalcontractor, home renovation
expert, and guy who firmlybelieves your avocado green
bathroom has gotta go.
Based in the DFW Metro, RemodelContracting is here to help you

(00:24):
level up your living space.
Because hey, you updated yourwardrobe.
Now it's time to update yourhome.
Expect more.
Live better.
Let's remodel.

SPEAKER_00 (00:36):
From outdated rules to modern safety standards, Jeff
Bass breaks down why buildingcodes are always evolving.
Welcome back, everyone.
I'm Sophia Yvette co-host andproducer, back in the studio
today with general contractorand home renovation expert Jeff
Bass.
Jeff, good morning.
How are you today?

SPEAKER_01 (00:55):
Good morning, Sophia.
It's great to be here doingwell.

SPEAKER_00 (00:58):
It's great to have you on.
Now, Jeff, let's dive in.
Why do codes change?

SPEAKER_01 (01:04):
So uh codes change to to keep up with the times, to
keep up with new technologiesand new uh safety concerns and
as well as energy efficiency.

SPEAKER_00 (01:18):
Amazing.
Now, with that, what kinds ofsafety concerns typically drive
those code updates?

SPEAKER_01 (01:25):
So safety concerns would be things such as after
major fires or storm events, weyou know, we as a community look
and see what things didn't holdup and the codes get updated so
that it doesn't happen again.

SPEAKER_00 (01:42):
Now, how often do major code revisions happen in
residential construction?

SPEAKER_01 (01:49):
Well, those would be up to um your local
municipality, your local city.
We usually review code everythree to six years just to keep
up with, like I said, would keepup with new energy efficiencies
and new technologies and new,you know, new safety
information.

SPEAKER_00 (02:05):
Are these changes usually local, statewide, or
national?

SPEAKER_01 (02:10):
Yes.
So yes, there's InternationalBuilding Code, which was a
guidebook uh that would be anational guidebook that most uh
most municipalities will follow,but they're not required to, and
they could have, you know,different rules that are
specific to their region.

SPEAKER_00 (02:25):
Can you share an example of a recent code change
that surprised homeowners?

SPEAKER_01 (02:30):
Well, homeowners tend to be surprised when um you
know when they see uh delays oror or increased cost.
Um and that can surprise the thetrade as well, you know.
Um, but some, you know, in overthe past generation or so, you
know, some code changes havebeen such as moving to PECs

(02:51):
plumbing from copper, um, youknow, hurricane straps on
framing, uh, things like that,you know, uh energy efficiency,
uh, energy codes often change,and that's where you see a big
cost, you know, energy efficientwindows and insulation and
things like that.
But those make a uh they make animportant difference in the
homeowner's life once they'recompleted.

SPEAKER_00 (03:11):
Most definitely.
Now, how do contractors stayinformed and compliant with
evolving codes?

SPEAKER_01 (03:19):
That's a great question.
That would be um stayingfamiliar with the uh whatever
the building codes are for themunicipalities that you work in
and properly navigating thepermitting process and uh just
just paying attention to, youknow, to how things change and
understanding the, you know,understanding the IBC,

(03:40):
understanding the internationalbuilding codes.

SPEAKER_00 (03:42):
What happens if a homeowner unknowingly violates a
code?

SPEAKER_01 (03:48):
Well, so if a homeowner is working on the home
themselves, they don'tnecessarily have to get a
permit.
So they may not know thatthey're violating code.
So what would happen is the citycould come in and find out that
there's been a code violationand they could request them to
change it.
I mean, it could be as much as,you know, if they've added on a

(04:11):
room and they haven't built itproperly with the proper, you
know, proper framing or uhproper electrical, they could be
forced to take the entire thingdown and start over.
You know, typically what wouldhappen would be, you know, we're
framing something out and we'vegot the electrical done, and one
part, one part of our crewthinks that the electrical

(04:33):
inspection has been final, butmaybe it's just been inspected
and it wasn't final.
They put up the sheet rock, andthen now the inspector comes out
and the sheet rocks up and hecan't see the electrical.
So um, you know, you might haveto take down a little sheet rock
so he can see so he can see, orif you've taken good pictures,
which is why it's good forcontractors to keep records
daily, you know, if he's takengood pictures and you can show

(04:55):
the inspector the changes thatyou've made, you know, sometimes
they'll let that be sufficientas well.
But you've just got to got towork within the codes,
understand the codes, it'll makeyour project go faster and it
will get your inspections donequicker.

SPEAKER_00 (05:08):
Any stories you would like to share with us,
Jeff, about a time when you wentand um had to update some codes
and you know it turned outreally well for the homeowners.

SPEAKER_01 (05:20):
Well, yeah, I mean, we've gone into houses recently.
We had a house and it was uh itwas almost a$2 million house,
but the previous owner fanciedhimself as a DIY expert.
And every time we took a pieceof sheetrock down, we found new
surprises.
Uh, we found um open wiringinside walls.

(05:43):
We found actually found a showerbuilt inside another shower
without taking the tile down.
We found um open ventilationinside the inside the walls that
he never demised.
So they're just blowing airconditioning inside their walls.
Um, just just crazy things.
You never know what you're gonnafind.

(06:03):
I've taken sheetrock down andfound fire damage that was never
repaired.
It's just it's amazing what yousee once you uh start feeling
back the layers in a home.

SPEAKER_00 (06:11):
Wow.
Sounds like it, Jeff.
Thank you so much for walking usthrough that today.
That's a wrap for this episode.
See you next time on RemodelContracting.

SPEAKER_01 (06:21):
Thank you, Sophia.
My pleasure.
Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_02 (06:27):
That's a wrap for this episode of Remodel
Contracting Podcast.
Ready to kick that 90s kitchento the curb?
For a free in home consultation,call 469 831 5620 or visit
Remodelcontracting.net.
Expect more because your homedeserves better.

(06:47):
And honestly, so do you.