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House almost burned down today

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Originally posted by: LoKe
You should invest in steel plating where your wires meet the support beams.

Hm...re-read your post...looks like a recent contractor made the mistake. 🙁
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The only mistake was using a screw longer than 1 " . That the wire was located too closely to the edge of the 2 x 4 is possible, but as the OP said , not likely the cause.

I have seen people re-siding a home using too long a nail short out wiring as well.
 
Originally posted by: CFster
The reason he screwed into a wire was because a previous contractor (2 yrs ago) had installed a circuit beneath that window. Apparently he ran the wire down inside of the stud that the window attaches to. From what I understand it's usually good practice to install the wire on the far stud just for that reason (people change windows). He said it's technically not against code - but it's just good practice.
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I am trying to understand what happened here. What is the "far stud" in relation to a window? Isn't it relative? Is it the left stud or right one?

Great story, btw.

 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Originally posted by: CFster
The reason he screwed into a wire was because a previous contractor (2 yrs ago) had installed a circuit beneath that window. Apparently he ran the wire down inside of the stud that the window attaches to. From what I understand it's usually good practice to install the wire on the far stud just for that reason (people change windows). He said it's technically not against code - but it's just good practice.
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I am trying to understand what happened here. What is the "far stud" in relation to a window? Isn't it relative? Is it the left stud or right one?

Great story, btw.
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Meaning there are two studs that the window is attached to on either side. Now picture the stud on the left side of the window - to the left of that stud is the next one, usually 12" or 16" on center. If there is an outlet in the wall between those two studs, the electrician has the choice of either attaching the wire to the stud that borders the window or the other one that borders nothing. He attached it to the stud next to the window. So, when the builder had to frame the window slightly to accomodate a slightly narrower window, that meant screwing into that stud. Of course since there was drywall there he had no idea. And from what he says, it's just not a common practice to put the wire next to a window stud - because at some point the homeowner might replace the window.


 
the contractor should be glad himself that he saved the house from burning down else he/his insurance would have to pay for the damages to your house.
but again, great thinking from the person. I would definately get a nice present for him. He saved your house (and even though, it would not have costed you financially, it is still a big stress).

A similar scenario happened at my cousins house lately. He was getting some plumbing work done in the upstairs restroom and the contractor messed up. One of the pipes leaked and there was water everywhere on the 2nd floor. But the contractor's insurance is paying for all the damages now. They have to change some walls/ceilings and dehumidify the whole house and get rid of any fungus that has formed up over the days. Didnt cause anything to my cousin financially but still a lot of tension and stress dealing with the insurance companies.
 
Seems kind of queer to me that insulation would burn. 😕

Offer to prime & paint that wall after he tapes it. That will save him a good bit of time, and won't be that difficult for you.
 
Originally posted by: CFster
Originally posted by: Baked
You owe the guy a keg of fine beeeer.
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He doesn't drink I guess.

Maybe a big gift card to Home Depot or something - seeing as he's a contractor heh, heh.
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:thumbsup: very good idea

and a thumbsup to the contractor as well 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Biggerhammer
Definitely tell people about him- your neighbors will hire him for their projects.
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"hey hire Company XXX for the job, he almost burned down my house, but he stopped it..."
 
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: Biggerhammer
Definitely tell people about him- your neighbors will hire him for their projects.
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"hey hire Company XXX for the job, he almost burned down my house, but he stopped it..."
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It's not like it was his fault..
 
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: Biggerhammer
Definitely tell people about him- your neighbors will hire him for their projects.
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"hey hire Company XXX for the job, he almost burned down my house, but he stopped it..."
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It's not like it was his fault..
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i know it wasnt.

but its not the easiest reccomendation to make to someone.
 
he'll get workmans comp
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Not likely, if he is self-employed. It is one of the risks of doing business. If he filed a claim, his rates would go up more than his compensation for that incident.
That's just some bad karma to hit the wire direct, because most windows are framed with a 2x4 to carry a header, sandwitched to another that goes all the way to the plate.
He probably used a 2" screw, which would barely protrude into the second 2x4.
 
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: Biggerhammer
Definitely tell people about him- your neighbors will hire him for their projects.
Click to expand...

"hey hire Company XXX for the job, he almost burned down my house, but he stopped it..."
Click to expand...

It's not like it was his fault..
Click to expand...

i know it wasnt.

but its not the easiest reccomendation to make to someone.
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Not really... you could say "Hey hire Company XXX for the job. He saved my house from burning down at risk to his own health."
 
Originally posted by: Connoisseur
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
Originally posted by: Biggerhammer
Definitely tell people about him- your neighbors will hire him for their projects.
Click to expand...

"hey hire Company XXX for the job, he almost burned down my house, but he stopped it..."
Click to expand...

It's not like it was his fault..
Click to expand...

i know it wasnt.

but its not the easiest reccomendation to make to someone.
Click to expand...

Not really... you could say "Hey hire Company XXX for the job. He saved my house from burning down at risk to his own health."
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"So how did your house almost burn down"?
 
Originally posted by: CFster
A contractor working on my house screwed into an electrical wire. He heard a pop and backed out the screw only to see that it was burnt. Then he noticed smoke coming out of the wall. He then did something that I'll be on one hand forever grateful for, on the other hand I feel terrible that he did it. He just grabbed the edge of the drywall (he was installing a window), and just started tearing it off the wall. He then reached in with both hands and started yanking burning insulation out. He ended up with second degree burns on all his fingers but one, but he kept my house from burning down. It was right below the attic. A couple more seconds and it would have caught the insulation above and it would have been all over. He said the adrenaline was driving him - I'm not sure at what point I would have just stopped and just got the hell out. I feel terrible that his hands are burnt.

The reason he screwed into a wire was because a previous contractor (2 yrs ago) had installed a circuit beneath that window. Apparently he ran the wire down inside of the stud that the window attaches to. From what I understand it's usually good practice to install the wire on the far stud just for that reason (people change windows). He said it's technically not against code - but it's just good practice.

So, the guy with the burned fingers says he's going to fix everything - but I somehow feel responsible, even though I'm not the yahoo that put the wire there. I guess it's just the hazards of the job.
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Damn nice of your contractor to do. That's called professional responsibility.

The contractors working on my Aunt and Uncle's place in California were using a blowtorch.

They burned down more than half the house, doing almost half a mil in damage, and killing their two siamese kittens and their finch aviary. Apparently, the guy who runs the contracting company showed up at their door, crying as he looked at the burned-down house. But they're gonna sue his ass anyways.

Luckily, they managed to get their two dogs, Parokeet, African grey parrot and other cat out. But my uncle restores classic cars, and his 1957 Chevy Bel-Air was torched, along with his collection of Pepsi antiques and die-cast cars. Most of what he spent his life after Vietnam collecting.
 
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