An invisible problem in California housing
The article discusses the challenges faced by homeowners in California when dealing with housing repairs after earthquakes. It contrasts the experiences of a family in 1955 with those of a family in 2025, highlighting the increased costs and complexities of modern building regulations. The author, a building inspector, emphasizes the burdens placed on homeowners and contractors due to evolving regulations and the impact on housing affordability.
- ▪A family in 1955 repaired their earthquake-damaged home for less than $10,000 and moved back in within two weeks.
- ▪In contrast, a family in 2025 faced a repair cost of $42,000 and a lengthy process that took five months.
- ▪The article illustrates how building regulations have become more complex and costly over the decades.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
What the hell are we building here, Part 1A building inspector's view of housing, cities and the systems that keep failing the people who need them most.Jon HarrisMay 27, 2026ShareForeword:I’m a building inspector in the Bay Area. I’ve spent basically my entire adult life in the construction industry and the last decade in building regulation. In that time I’ve watched the duties and burdens of regulation grow on contractors, engineers, homeowners, and my own colleagues. I have one goal in this series: to repeat the question I’ve heard, and uttered, on hundreds of jobs, standing over the foundation for a bomb shelter being built under a bedroom addition: “What the hell are we building here?”A Tale of Two EarthquakesIn 1955 a veteran and his family bought a brand new 1500 square foot,…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hacker News (Newest).
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