Yes, absolutely. That is messed up to not have access to the prints. They should be part of your contract documents.
Sounds like you need to turn this situation around or fire the contractor. They need to work for you. You need to have clear, written requirements, deadlines, and penalties, or...
Right or wrong doesn't really matter here, it all comes down to what leverage you have.
If it's on the plans, and you have a contract that says to follow the plans, you just withhold payment until the conditions are met. If you can find a code violation (this isn't one), and your contract says...
I do a significant amount of work with the local fire department. While a fire can damage a concrete foundation if it burns hot enough for long enough, it is extremely rare for that to happen. I have never seen locally a foundation that had to be removed/replaced/repaired because of a fire...
The company should have access to a report from Nationally Registered Testing Laboratory like UL or Intertek that tested their product and supports their claim. If he has the leverage to do so, he should get them to provide him with that data. If they are a legitimate company that has been...
I have seen many cases where someone who is an expert that is there to look out for the homeowner would have saved owners a lot of money and damage, not to mention (usually emotional) pain and suffering.
I have inspected thousands residential jobs, and I can tell you that all contractors miss...
Try a digital magnetic angle finder like people use on a table saw blade, and then attach it to a drill bit (or just a properly sized steel rod, I bet all-thread would work pretty well).
The 10' from the end and 20' "rule" in the IRC is entirely to make it easy enough for a contractor to figure out how to brace most houses without using an engineer and without really having to understand anything about shear wall calculations. It's not the only answer by any means, it's just the...
Assuming one or two family residential. Hoping a commercial guy didn't do that...
From the 2021 IRC Table R602.3(1).
Then size the joist hangers/angle brackets per span.
