Regarding your recent editorial concerning the need for a homeowners Bill of Rights, by Andrew Villeneuve.

I have recently, with my wife, Carolyn, moved to Kirkland. I was in the construction business for 40 years. We were required to have a construction contracting license and be bonded. When we built any project, whether a home, a commercial or industrial building, or a simple shed, we went through a series of procedures to guarantee that the structure was properly designed and constructed.

First, it was designed to the Building Codes, by an architect or engineer. Then we obtained a permit, which entailed a plan-check by city, county or state officials. If there were discrepancies, they were found and corrected.

Then we posted the permit at the jobsite, where a building inspector, after a check of each stage of construction, signed it. If he found any defects in the actual construction, he called it to our attention. If not, he signed it off.

The completed building could not be occupied until it had passed a final inspection and signed off as complete.

If, after all these checks and counter checks, the owner, after occupying the structure, found a defect, we were responsible for it’s correction.

It is hard for us to believe that this area does not have similar safeguards.

Yet hereabouts we see section of concrete on major road projects being torn up and redone, because the plans were not correctly calculated and designed, or the proper materials were not used. And the contractor is not held responsible for improper construction. And, in dwellings we see shortcuts and improper materials which are a hazard to the occupants.

Your column made no mention of engineering and jobsite inspections. Why does not the municipalities bring the construction industry up to date?

Gene Ingram, Kirkland