I get a call today from a guy in Atlanta who wants me to measure the height of the roof of his neighbor's house. I thought, 'ok, this is weird and I am not sure I can legally?' Any body have any thoughts. Physically I could have very easily done it without being intrusive on his neighbors property, but ethically? He sounded like he was trying to cause trouble talking about going to the commission about this guy's roof height is in violation of such and such. I quoted him $1250...........silence.
Sometimes people find that "but it's the principle of the thing ..." can be more expensive than it's worth.
If Google can do it, why not you?
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Typing class 9th grade!
> Physically I could have very easily done it without being intrusive on his neighbors property, but ethically?
I see no conflict with professional ethics. Only you can know whether it's a violation of your personal ethics.
I got that same call.....luckily did not answer and certainly will not be calling back. I have had enough of the crazies from last week. Extended my time on the job by like 4 hours because "I was stealing their property", "the county came and surveyed my property" and my favorite "my real estate agent told me the silt fence was the property line". :-/
Didn't you know? Power poles and silt fence are ALWAYS placed on the property line!
Your license entitles you to certify to what is inside of your professional expertise.
Measuring the height of something is certainly within that scope.
Around 1973 we We had to locate monuments and could not be on the property. They were tall enough to see from outside the property so we triangulated to them.
A few years ago I was ask to map where shot had supposedly hit roofs and fallen into rain ducts and across a few neighbors yards after a neighbor discharged shotgun. Had the use of prismless this time.
It is amazing what a neighbor will wake up one morning and develop a grudge about. I would charge them accordingly for my services.
😉
> "the county came and surveyed my property" and my favorite "my real estate agent told me the silt fence was the property line".
Gotta love those comments...the last one drives me nuts, also "that's where the guy I bought it from told me the line was, he should know"...frustrating.
i don't have an ethical problem with it.
My last one was in a platted small lot subdivision - "We already had to move out fence five feet one time." Me - "Why didn't you get a survey at that time?"
It just seems odd to survey a feature on a neighboring house without their permission. No? Maybe I am just naive.
> It just seems odd to survey a feature on a neighboring house without their permission. No? Maybe I am just naive.
If there is a height restriction on the building, then hiring a surveyor as a fact-finder seems like the right way to go. Shoot the sucker reflectorless and don't give it a second thought.
Many properties around here are deeded with a view easement so that the neighbors won't build a monstrosity and block the view of the mountains.
Sounds routine to me. No different from checking the neighbor's house for setback or encroachment violations. Maybe your client just wants his new house or addition to be high enough to see over it. If your state has a surveyors right of entry law, just do it. If not or there is a big pit bull or a big fence, use reflectorless or triangulation.
Elevation Of Roof Not Equal To Height Of Roof
Height of roof is variously defined in many ordinances, and some not very clear.
Peak of roof to lowest ground elevation.
Peak of roof to average ground elevation.
Cheching the roof peak from offsite is not a problem, getting ground elevations all the way around could be.
Peak of roof to ground elevation at front.
In some the roof height is to the 50% of roof area line.
Some do not define height but call for 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 story max.
Some say 25' or 35' max. Some both.
Then you have to find the definition of 1/2 story.
Typically 1/2 story is 50% or less of floor area with walkable height.
For example; two months ago I did a foundation inspection for a fire damaged dwelling, including proving the garage on slab had a frost free footing. The clients wanted to replace their bedroom square footage, but the previous second floor area exceeded 50% of the first floor area. This was in a community association area with a 1 1/2 story limit, no height specified, 1/2 story meant 1/2 the first floor area. To get the required bedroom area, they would add to the first floor area by building an additional first floor room on the garage foundation and a new attached garage. While right next door was this house towering into the sky. I asked about this apparent 2 1/2 story house and was told it was OK. The details were that it had a garage and walk in (all around) basement on a slab at grade, and the first living floor was 1 story up and the deck that you could walk/drive under was the front porch, topped off by 1/2 story bedroom area.
Huh? Whatever? I did what I was asked to do, got paid and the client was happy.
Paul in PA, PE, PLS
It happens all the time. No worries.
In some districts the zoning states the maimum roof height is 35 feet above the "original" unfinished grade prior to construction. Many contractors get into trouble not knowing the difference.
Causes many owners to appeal to the Board of Adjustment for a variance after the fact.
> i don't have an ethical problem with it.
Ethics... schmethics
> I quoted him $1250...........silence.
$1250.00 for 15 minutes of work could be un-ethical?
oh how do you figure that, either the unethical part, or the "15 minutes?"
I'd be happy to bill out $1,250 for a quarter hour of work...
It's not an hourly thing.
I have the skill, knowledge and expensive equipment to make the measurement and I can state the answer with professional credibility.