Good reminder about the ventilation—mine got flagged last year because the fan wasn't strong enough for the inspector's liking. Had to swap it out, wasn't a huge deal but kind of annoying. Maybe they're cracking down more on that lately?
Yeah, ventilation seems to be one of those things inspectors are getting pickier about lately. I had a client last summer who thought their kitchen was totally ready for inspection—beautiful cabinets, countertops, the works. But when the inspector came through, he zeroed right in on the hood fan. Turns out it wasn't just about strength; it was also about proper ducting and clearance from combustible materials. They'd installed a gorgeous custom wood trim around the hood, but it was too close according to code. Had to rip it out and redo the whole thing, which was a real shame because it matched the cabinetry perfectly.
Honestly, inspectors can vary so much in what they focus on. I've seen some breeze right past ventilation and obsess over outlet spacing or countertop height instead. But lately, ventilation does seem to be a hot-button issue (pun intended, sorry couldn't resist). I think it's partly because of newer building codes emphasizing indoor air quality and safety standards. Plus, with more people cooking at home these days, inspectors might be paying extra attention to how effectively kitchens handle smoke and grease buildup.
If your kitchen's still a disaster and the inspector's coming tomorrow, I'd say prioritize clearing any obvious safety hazards first—blocked exits, cluttered counters near heat sources, that sort of thing. Inspectors tend to notice the glaring stuff first, and if they see you're generally on top of things, they're usually more forgiving about minor details. And hey, worst-case scenario, you get flagged for something small and have to fix it later... annoying, sure, but not the end of the world. Good luck!
I feel your pain on the ventilation issues. Last year, my brother-in-law had his kitchen redone—everything looked perfect until inspection day. Inspector got hung up on the ducting route being slightly off code. It was stressful, but honestly, once they fixed it, the second inspection was a breeze. You're right to focus on obvious safety stuff first... inspectors usually appreciate seeing effort and care, even if a few minor things slip through. You've got this!
Had a similar experience when we renovated our bathroom—everything looked spot-on, but the inspector zeroed in on this tiny gap around the plumbing. Felt like nitpicking at the time, but looking back, it made sense safety-wise. After sorting that out, the rest went smoothly. Curious though, did your brother-in-law have to redo much of the ducting, or was it just a minor tweak?
Had something similar happen with ductwork a while back:
- Inspector flagged a small kink in the ducts, seemed minor but airflow-wise it mattered.
- Quick fix though, just adjusted one section—no major overhaul needed.
- Bet your brother-in-law got off easy too... inspectors love their tiny details, huh?
