Porch Renovation 12
Monday, December 12 – Well, one of the reasons why our builder doesn’t show up, might be because the Architect likes his work and has asked him to supervise the framers on another job. They are the same framers that did our wing. On the good days when the builder doesn’t show up, I wonder if he is working on the Architect’s project?
Tuesday, December 13 – Dave and I took off early on this beautiful, sunny morning to drive to the Board of Elections office in Syracuse. I had been invited to test the software up-date for the handicapped accessible voting machines, also called BMD (ballot marking device). I’d used the BMD for the 2010 and 2011 elections and I think they have made several good improvements, but I hope they’ll tweak it a bit more.
We arrive home around 2:30 to find our builder installing the wall for the powder room. Then, we walked around with him as he marked locations for the electrician to thread his wiring. We had just enough time to get to the Pal-Mac High School to watch Tyler swim in several events.
Wednesday, December 14 – Late this morning, the builder scared the heck out of my guide dog and me, by flopping bundles of shingles on the old dining room roof. Apparently, he is going to try to get them nailed down before the rain, which is forecasted to return this evening. He finished the south wing’s roof ridge, but left the section over the old dining room for another day.
Dave came home early to do a walk-through with the electrician. The builder had marked many of the spots we’d talked about, so the electrician said yea or nay and made some suggestions, according to codes. He asked good questions and I think the electrical set-up of switches for lights, fans, and outlets will be very efficient.
We went to the Newark High School pool to watch Tyler swim. He came in first in the 100 yard Free Style and the relay team came in 2nd. He looked up at us when he won the first and smiled, giving us the thumbs-up sign.
Thursday, December 15 – The builder is working on the roof section over the old dining room and the electrician is drilling, hammering, and whatever else he does to run the needed wires through the studs to connect everything. The hot tub will require a special ‘break away’ (panic) box that will cut-off the electricity to the tub if there is a problem. Code states that the box must be visible no closer than 6’ and no farther away than 9’, otherwise, we’d put it behind the tub.
Friday, Dec16 – Both the electrician and builder are here today, continuing what they were doing yesterday. The roof is now complete.
Porch Renovation 11
Saturday, December 3rd: from 7:10-7:25 AM, a worker was here. It was the plumber, who had been asked to return to put in a ‘trap’ for the dehumidifier’s drain in the linen closet.
December 4 is Alexanddra’s 11th birthday, but, I’m afraid that her card will be late, as Dave is picking it up this morning while he’s out shopping.
Monday’s activity in the rain was pouring the cement floor in the powder room and spa room, as well as the stoop outside the 9’ sliding glass door. In the spring, we’ll have a landscaper come to re-do all of the brick walks and patios. If we can swing it, we’ll have them install a small fountain in the Monet Garden.
Tuesday, Jeff is on the roof stapling shingles. It is cold and over-cast, but no rain or snow.
Several fellows came during the week and put all of the windows in. We thought they looked pretty good, but, when the Architect saw them, he was not a happy camper. Apparently, while he was out with a sore back, the framers installed a few more studs then the blueprints called for. This is not so much of a problem, except that it reduces the amount of foam insulation that can be blown it-between the studs. The bigger problem was that an extra stud was put on each side of the large, arched window. Thus, when the awning windows are added on each side of the big center window, it won’t look like a single unit after the trim is put on. The Architect has requested the builder to take out the extra stud on each side of the big window, but did not insist the other extra studs be removed.
ABC’s of Renovation
The ABC’s of Renovation
A – Architect, blue prints to bring a dream into reality
B – builder, the over-all contractor who will co-ordinate sub-contractors
C – construction
D – demolition, making way for the new
E – electrician, who enables everything to activate
F – Foundation that will hold it all up and be firm
G – Gable where the arched window is
H – Home that the new wing will enlarge
I – Increased taxes we’ll have to pay
J – Jacuzzi in the new wing
K – the kind and considerate workers with good work ethics
L – lumber that frames the new wing
M – many hours of labor by many people
N – Neighbors, who will enjoy the new landscaping
O – ordering fun of new appointments for the powder room and other fixtures
P – porch that will metamorphosis into a 3-season room
Q – quiet and peace that will be attained by the well insulated walls
R – the new roof of architectural shingles
S – sliding glass doors that will bring the outdoors in
T – tile flooring in the spa area and powder room
U – utilities close at hand in the powder room
V – vinyl siding outside that will be low-to-no maintenance
W – wood laminate oak flooring in the dining and sitting areas
X – the x-factors that always crop up in any big project
Y – years of enjoying the fruits of our labors
Z – Zest for staying healthy to enjoy the rest of our Golden, empty nest years.