SHE BUILT IT

A tonque n' groovy endeavor

2010-10-13T18:24:00.000-04:00

101 In the shade!!!! only 50 more to go

Wired for Sound and then some

2010-02-10T17:10:00.000-05:00

Problems Even the best efforts to check the contractors seem to fail

2010-02-10T17:07:00.000-05:00

Trying to MAKE it fit Plywood in Floridas rain

Faulty workmanship

You're Grounded!!

2010-02-10T17:04:00.000-05:00

There is one time in your life you will be happy to be grounded.

An earth ground usually consists of a ground rod (or a set of ground rods) driven into the soil. At sea, the salt water forms a good earth ground if a corrosion-resistant metal plate having large surface area (such as the hull or keel) is placed in contact with it. In a car, a truck, a boat in fresh water, an aircraft, or a spacecraft, there is no such thing as a true earth ground. But if the mass of metal comprising the vehicle is substantial, that mass can simulate an earth ground reasonably well. An earth ground minimizes the susceptibility of electronic equipment to interference from other devices. In large, base-station wireless installations, a good earth ground also provides a certain measure of protection from the destructive effects of lightning.

An electrical connection to earth. The part directly in contact with the earth (the earth electrode) can be as simple as a metal (usually copper) rod or stake driven into the earth, or a connection to buried metal water piping. Or it can be a complex system of buried rods and wires. The resistance of the electrode-to-earth connection determines its quality, and is improved by increasing the surface area of the electrode in contact with the earth, increasing the depth to which it is driven, using several connected ground rods, increasing the moisture of the soil, improving the conductive mineral content of the soil, and increasing the land area covered by the ground system. This type of ground applies to radio antennas and to lightning protection systems.

Todays advanced plumbing systems that use little or no copper have created a problem previously solved by grounding you house electrical supply to the existing copper plumbing pipes.

What do you do if you use all PVC or better yet Pex Flexible Piping with no copper?

Here are some easy solutions

Some building codes call for a 20' long rebar rod be placed in the footer nearest the electrical service entrance.

This rod must come in contact with the soil and be bent up to a height of not less than 8" and not more than 18" above grade for proper grounding of your house wiring.

This is the least desirable method in my opinion.

If you use and underlayment vapor barier that wraps under the footers and up the side of the slab then you are required to do the following.

Two metal rods must be sunk deep into the ground and measuring 25 OHMS resistance between them.

Choose this for the best solution.

Now you are grounded for life!

Good News for Florida Residents who want REAL Hardwood flooring

2010-02-10T17:03:00.000-05:00

You’re also up against a challenge if you’re building on a slab foundation, ( and everyone does in Florida) especially in flood-prone areas. The reason: water. If water makes it through the front door, it’s good-bye, finished floor.
But customers increasingly want the world below grade — and live in greater and greater numbers in hurricane and flood zones. They don’t always realize that the moisture present (or potentially present) is a challenge builders must solve before they cut the first piece of 2-by.
Even with sump pumps, perimeter drains, and proper landscaping and guttering outside, there’s always the potential for water penetration. After all, water always — and inevitably, thanks to gravity — seeks the lowest point. That’s tough to forget when your customer requests cherry floors, raised panel wainscot, or hardwood column wraps in their downstairs upgrade. You know that if a washing machine line bursts, water breaches the the house every drop of water is making a disastrous bee-line for the lowest point in the structure.
There’s no way around the fact that accidents will happen and a catastrophic flood will do plenty of damage. But the key to building out a structure that has the greatest fighting chance of surviving small amounts of water — while creating a substrate that gives your customers the most flooring options — is to give the water somewhere to go that’s away from the finished floor and the furnishings on top of it.
That’s where DRIcore® comes in. DRIcore is a modular subfloor system that consists of engineered wood panels bonded to a rigid, moisture-resistant polyethylene sheet with a molded-in grid pattern on the underside. The grid design lifts the wood core off of the concrete, which allows small amounts of water to drain away and keeps dampness away from the finished floor. The resulting 1/4-inch space also permits air to circulate between the concrete floor and the subfloor to help to dry up moisture.
The 2-foot-by-2-foot DRIcore panels have a tongue-and-groove design and are installed as a floating floor directly over the concrete. You do have to patch large floor cracks and use a self-leveling compound with a seriously uneven floor before installing DRIcore, but small uneven spots in the concrete can be fixed using the DRIcore leveling shims. DRIcore panels can be easily cut to fit around pipes, columns and other obstructions. You can add new partition walls right on top of it.
Once the system is in, cover it with the proper underlayment for your customer’s floor selection and rest easy (okay, easier) knowing that if water does get in, it has a way to get back out without destroying everything in its path.

Click here to see a time lapse video of Dri-Core Installation in a Florida Coastal Home

www.dricore.com

Flutie Field and Gemini Elementary .8 miles from home

2009-03-17T19:07:00.006-04:00

Locals out to play on a typical evening in Melbourne Beach

2009-03-17T19:04:00.003-04:00

Gemini Elementary

My Kids

2009-03-17T18:24:00.006-04:00

Pretty White
Tommy . Although he has moved on to the other side he still lives in our hearts

2009-03-17T18:20:00.007-04:00

Sassy Momma aka Girlie girl
Billy Bob Thornton Wilder ( the one eyed wonder cat)
Gus and Ruby
Ollie Ollie Oxen Freed
Izzy Izzy Cat

Around Town

2009-03-17T18:12:00.006-04:00

Brian,
I walked 300' West from my house then went 3 blocks South to the pier and then 3 blks East to Downtown Melbourne Beach and Ocean Park . I then stopped at Ocean park and turned and walked 3 blocks north to sunset boulevard and turned West and walked 3 blocks back to Xanadu my home.

So basically everything you see here is within 3 blocks any direction from my home.

The only thing we don't have is a local clinic but that may change soon.

ENJOY YOU TOUR: More TO COME. I am headed to Flutie complex a litte less than 1 mile across from the local elementary school to watch Jason coach Emma in softall. We have softball, soccer, baseball and lots more all year round.

2009-03-17T18:08:00.007-04:00

The little Cottage kitchen
Jason in his cave
Future Recording studio, art studio but current Sanford and Son junk yard storage
Xanadu's sittin porch getting ready for the old folks decade PS I made the working Hurricane shutters all 122 of them myself
The future site of the yellow brick road that leads to Xanadu

2009-03-17T18:04:00.005-04:00

Inside the "Little Cottage" aka the "sanford house" and Jason Temp den
The kids across the street. In this Town everybody is out walking at all time of the day
Sunset Boulevard from AIA
Sunset Boulevard Beach Access. Every street has deeded beach and river access at the ends of the streets as each street goes Ocean to River

2009-03-17T18:02:00.004-04:00

The Beach 2 1/2 Blks

2009-03-17T17:59:00.006-04:00

Ocean Park 6 blks
Port D'Hiver Bed and Breakfast
Volley Ball courts at Ocean Park

Local Bait Shop and FEMA Ice access

2009-03-17T17:55:00.007-04:00

A restaurant call the Toast. I used to own it and called it Granny's Kitchen Now I just have coffee there every morning after my 5:30 AM run. I am the only women in the early morning men's club "PS I built that railing 19 years ago. " Also the local Drug Store . Takes about 5 min to get a prescription and they deliver too
The "O" Local Bar
Best Eggs benedict in the country
Local Hardware store where you can "run a tab" 5 blks
Local Commissioner and another commish's wife

2009-03-17T17:51:00.005-04:00

An Office for you
Library

Melbourne Beach Supermarket Best wine and food in the county
The library 4 blks

2009-03-17T17:46:00.005-04:00

Best Burritos on the beach Downtown Melbourne Beach 3 1/2 blks

The only stop light otherwise know as the 4 way stop Ocean Ave and Oak Street
Local FULL SERVICE gas station

2009-03-17T17:42:00.005-04:00

The local vet and the Shell shop Cant have a beach community without a shell shop
The bird Lady and her 100's of parrots and Cockatoos
The Bird lady sells spas
The Town Chapel 3 blks
Town hall , Volunteer fire dept and the police station 3 blks

2009-03-17T17:38:00.005-04:00

Community Center . I started a monthly potkuck " Free food once a month"
Old Men Playing Bocci in the park
Ryckman House. PS It is my old house fence That I made myself -morphed into the railing
Basketball in the park 3 blks
The old Post office and the Gazebo in the park (Movies and stuff in the park happens here)

2009-03-17T17:34:00.005-04:00

Ryckman park 3 blks from my house
The local dentist and DiJions Restaurant 3 blks
The Ocean Ave Pier 3 blks

View at the end of my street 3 houses away

2009-03-17T17:32:00.005-04:00

The pier from end of Sunset Boulevard
The Indian River from my front yard
Xanadu
The sanford House

What makes THIS house different???

2009-03-10T12:22:00.003-04:00

Can you find all the unique and unusual pieces that make this house different?

Status Report

2009-03-10T12:15:00.002-04:00

2009-03-10T12:10:00.003-04:00

Powder room AKA "The Jet Plane Toilet"

2009-03-10T12:04:00.003-04:00

Retro Bathroom upstairs

2009-03-10T11:58:00.003-04:00

Courtyard view from upstairs dormer
Unfinished game room/ bathroom /family rec area
Living room from stairs

2009-03-10T11:51:00.003-04:00

View of Courtyard from Kitchen
View from the unfinished kitchen of stage

2009-03-10T11:42:00.003-04:00

Eating Area and Kitchen
Stage

Master bath Shower and Jacuzzi

2009-03-10T11:31:00.003-04:00

My Frame shop and workshop

Library/ Additional Guest Room

Server Room All wiring for telephone/computer/ Audio/ video/Security/ Fiber / Cable/ Satellite

2009-03-10T11:21:00.003-04:00

Server Room
View of Future Courtyard pool from Guest House
Guest House Main Floor
Guest House main from Upstairs Lounge
Lounge Balcony

2009-03-10T11:06:00.002-04:00

Loft Bedroom and lounge

Guest Pool Bath

Master Bath

Important Note!!!!!

2009-02-03T15:02:00.003-05:00

Any previous reference to the "Building Inspector" in this blog is a reference to the "Current" Melbourne Beach building inspector.

Aimee makes Thanksgiving a real Table affair

2008-12-17T14:14:00.005-05:00

Kids line up on an old Atlanta Railroad Train Station bench for Pizza.
Tables in Waiting for a new Restaurant

Game tables

Dining Tables

Fred Remarks Remarkable Table.

2008-12-17T14:01:00.003-05:00

I saw a photo f this and I asked fred if he could make it for me. The next thing I know here he is at my door with this!!!

THANKS FRED I LOVE IT>

Aimee is going to paint on the pull outs can't wait for it to be finished.

Coming Soon

2008-12-17T13:32:00.000-05:00

www.shebuiltit.com

Cabinet Update/Reborn with WELLBORN CABINETS

2008-12-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

The cabinets were successfully returned to the so called Thomasville cabinet company. Thats a story in itself. Home Depot gladly refunded ALL my money. Too bad they still sell Thomasville.

Thomasville only licenses Masterbrand cabinets to make their cabinets. Masterbrand is owned by another company that is owned by yet another company. Something like Furniture Brands International. They make all kinds of cabinets under multiple labels. Like a house of cards when it comes to getting service and good quality work.

Here is a copy of the people and companies that control a good portion of the cabinet industry. I wrote pleading letters to all of the CEO's but alas got no response. So much for Thomasvilles promise that their logo goes on only the finest highest quality products. They might be sorry they did not listen.

Attention: RALPH P SCOZZAFAVA
CHAIRMAN/CEO
Furniture Brands International Inc.
101 South Hanley Road
St Louis MO 63105
jbotsford@furniturebrands.com

Attention: Ed Teplitz
President
Thomasville Furniture Industries Inca
900 12th Street Dr NW
Hickory, NC 28601-4763
Phone: (828) 396-3240

Attention: Customer Service Department
Thomasville Furniture Industries
401 E. Main Street
P.O.Box 339
Thomasville, North Carolina 27361

Attention: Richard E. Forbes, president and CEO of MCBI
MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc.
300 Webster Road
Auburn, AL 36832
334-887-5600
and

Bessie Preston Inspector of Cabinets Auburn Alabama

Tony Mosca Home Depot Salesman for Thomasville Brand Cabinets Melbourne/Orlando Florida

Attention: Store Manager Anil / expeditor Stacey
Home Depot Store #636827
o260
2829 West New Haven Ave
West Melbourne, Florida 37904

Fortune Brands, Inc.
520 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015

P. 847.484.4400
mail@fortunebrands.com

All these people had some interest in the process of the consumer getting the product they order if you have any problems save these names and companies for future reference. JUST IN CASE

Buyer Beware when buying kitchen cabinets or other name brand products. You might want to ask if the company branding the item actually makes the item. If they don't my suggestion would be to RUN the other direction.

They don't seem to know or care about what happens to their product. The funniest part came when MasterBrand sent me a magic marker and 2 grease pencils to repair the damage. Then a few days later I got 4 cans of paint that must be used in a sealed chamber and used under strict conditions for health safety with instructions on how to repaint the cabinets that were badly damaged and had no finish on some of them. !!! Sorry boys I paid for new and undamaged not used and abused needing repair. That was the last straw.

Also...

They left about $2000.00 worth of material here. Interesting enough when they came to pick up the cabinets the driver did not even know what he was suppose to pick up. All he said was he was suppose to pick up some cabinets but he did not know which ones or how many. His pick up order was for one cabinet.After he got here he called and they gave him a list which did not include several drawer bases and all of the very pricey trim. I mentioned it to the shipping company and called Home Depot but never heard from any of them. and I Haven't heard from them since.

Well I have now ordered from WELLBORN CABINETS Seems WELLBORN is WELLBORN and makes WELLBORN. No triple layer of middleman. I CAN'T WAIT until January when they are suppose to arive.

Stay tuned.....

Plummer Bummer "The worst yet" Inspection disaster

2008-10-03T21:06:00.000-04:00

Newsflash: BOTH

Just found out that a gas line under the kitchen floor was done incorrectly. What is upsetting about this is it PASSED THE BUILDING INSPECTOR'S INSPECTION!!!! ( As did the faulty electric that had to be completely redone by ripping out the entire second floor flooring. Theleaky plumbing in both showers, The gas connection for the propane water heater that was passed but done for a natural gas connection not propane and many other over sites that have cost me dearly in money and loss of use as in the kitchen island)

So what does this mean? Well don't trust the inspections! If you can't even trust the inspector then who do you turn to? YOURSELF

Be in formed. Read everything you can get your hands on about the work that is being done. Take matters into your own hands. Just like the medical field ask questions, follow your instinct and read the codes. It does not matter or effect the contractor or the inspector when something is done wrong. The ultimate victim is you so don't allow your money to be wasted and your fate to be left in the hands of anyone who is not directly impacted by their work.

In this case the line was run in conduit with a flexible gas line OKAY ACCEPTABLE ( if not in conduit it has to be copper line). BUT what they forgot to do is to VENT the line to the outside!!! And it is required to be sealed which it is not!

This is CRITICAL. Without a vent to the outside the gas has nowhere to go . If it leaks it leaks into the home. If God forbid it ruptures then it EXPLODES in the Room when it is located.

So not only do you have to watch the contractors you have to make sure the inspector knows what he is doing. AND guess what. Your tax dollars are paying for the inspector to do his job right or wrong. He has no accountability . He is the final voice in any municipality and the only recourse to his FINAL decision is the courts! How is that for a mixed up set of rules and values?

In this case this is the second MAJOR screw up for this inspector. The first was the electrical service that had 37 lights, 14 receptacles and 4 ceiling fans connected to ONE ONE ONE circuit breaker and electrical feed line. IT PASSED with flying colors. Once passed I was obligated to pay the contractor and now he is long gone. SO WE PAID TWICE AS WE WILL WITH THE GAS LINE FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE

It should not be that way but it is and everyone needs to know that you trust NO ONE but YOURSELF. The codes are difficult but they are on line and once you get used to them they become easier and they are your best friend.

Opps!!!

He mentioned that he would have found it on the final??? Then what even more expense than what was incurred since a final would and could not be given until everything is up to code.

The Plumbing Saga drags on...

2008-10-03T15:08:00.002-04:00

Gas pipe is the yellow flex pipe closest to the slab and entering the conduit installed within and terminating in the block wall.

The plumber has again violated the current building code and installed a gas piping line incorrectly to the Island in the kitchen

The piping was installed in a non vented conduit under the floor. The conduit used was originally installed for water lines. The conduit was installed UNDER the concrete slab.

Section 404.11 Florida Fuel Gas Code® 2007 FINAL DRAFT violations...

The space between the piping where the conduit emerges from the ground is not sealed, The conduit does not extend beyond the building and is not vented above grade. The conduit terminated in the West wall coming up out of the footer and and terminating in the block wall.

The improper installation of this gas line was putting the occupants and the building at serious risk and had to be disconnected to properly pass code. (Even though the building inspector never caught it we chose to follow the code for our safety)

Thanks to the keen eye of the plumber hired to fix all the bummer mistakes we averted a possible tragic event in the future.

But......

The island has now lost its ability to have gas appliances.

So far the island has lost gas cooking , the ability to have downdraft venting and decreased hot water flow because of the inadequate demand water heater installation.

The cost to repair the line was $255.00. The loss of usage of the appliances $900 for a gas wok and $600.00 cost of the down draft system . The island had to be completely redesigned.

The cost of installing a new and adequate water heater will be around $1500.00

Total potential loss on this 1 mistake $3300.00

The additional mistake of not terminating the vent line for the downdraft posed additional problems for the island. But then that is another story altogether.

Florida Fuel Gas Code® 2007 FINAL DRAFT

404.6Pipinginsolidfloors.Piping in solid floorsshallbelaid
inchannelsinthefloorandcoveredinamannerthatwillallow
accesstothepipingwithaminimumamountofdamagetothe
building.Wheresuchpipingissubjecttoexposuretoexcessive
moistureorcorrosivesubstances,thepipingshallbeprotected
inanapprovedmanner. As analternativetoinstallationin
channels,thepipingshallbeinstalledinaconduitofSchedule
40steel, wrought iron, PVCorABSpipewithtightlysealed
endsandjoints.Bothendsofsuchconduitshallextendnotless
than2 inches (51 mm) beyond the point where the pipe
emergesfromthefloor. Theconduit shall beventedabove
gradetotheoutdoorsandshallbeinstalledsoastopreventthe
entryofwaterandinsects.
404.7Above-groundoutdoorpiping. All pipinginstalled
outdoorsshallbeelevatednot lessthan31/
2inches(152mm)

404.11Pipingundergroundbeneathbuildings. Pipingin-
stalledundergroundbeneathbuildings is prohibitedexcept
wherethepipingisencasedinaconduitofwroughtiron,plas-
ticpipe,orsteelpipedesignedtowithstandthesuperimposed
loads.Suchconduitshallextendintoanoccupiableportionof
thebuildingand, atthepointwheretheconduitterminatesin
thebuilding,thespacebetweentheconduitandthegaspiping
shallbesealedtopreventthepossibleentranceofanygasleak-
age.Wheretheendsealingiscapableofwithstandingthefull
pressureofthegaspipe, theconduitshallbedesignedforthe
samepressureasthepipe. Suchconduit extendability less
than4inches(102mm)outsidethebuilding, shall bevented
abovegradetotheoutdoors,andshallbeinstalledsoastopre-
venttheentranceofwaterandinsects.Theconduitshallbepro-
tectedfromcorrosioninaccordancewithSection404.8.

Some Finished and Some finished with Problems Pending

2008-10-02T17:52:00.007-04:00

Toilet valves leak and is set up 1" off the floor creating a problem for the finished floor. Sink does not drain correctly But we are working on solutions. The big problem is when you flush it sounds like a jet engine has just crashed on your head!!! REALLY!!!

THIS IS PERFECT AND NOTE CUSTOM DRAWER BELOW
I already washed dishes in it!!
I made My secret drawer compartments!!! Gosh I'm good! It slides in and fits perfectly around the disposal. Now all I have to do is make a shelf and pipe screen below. I also have room for a garbage can to slide in under the sink. Much better than a cabinet costing a lot more but lets see how it looks when the cabinets are in. We can change it anytime if it does not look right but

I LIKE IT!!

Some semi-final plumbing

2008-10-02T17:45:00.003-04:00

Guest Bath trim on Window and shelf
Tub Trim out to cover ugly seams and bad edge and cracked marble
Finished Guest shower with Hand Held
Finished Master shower

OH No ! The Plummer Bummers Keep On Coming!!!

2008-10-01T12:56:00.006-04:00

More problems with the powder room toilet drain.

It is not level causing the toilet to have to be shimmed up 1 1/2 " OFF THE FLOOR.

The pipe was put into the ground crooked as were several other pipes in the house.

So the end result is that we have to figure out a way to cover the gap$$$$$.

That makes it complete. EVERY pipe put in the ground before the slab was poured is either crooked, in the wrong place ( like a wall instead of room) or the pipe runs through the wall at an angle causing use to either abandon the use or build out the wall to accommodate the pipes crooked placement. Vent pipes included ALL placed in the wrong place and one still has to be periodically resealed on the roof. That one was put through a standing seam roof (and he could not have been more accurate) perfectly in the MIDDLE OF THE SEAM!! I wonder why he could not have been that accurate on all the other pipes. But then he is a master plummer. Next time I will hire the unexperienced kid right out of school. No better yet maybe my grandkids could have done a better job eh Mr. Plummer. Hope you are reading this because if not now you will be reading it in a court room!!

So today ( and we aren't finished yet) we have three major problems, We also have a problem with the master shower spray unit. It was installed incorrect. The valves need to be EXACTLY the same size and distance as the valves on the opposite side. The distance between the sides mus also be EXACTLY the same distance from the center control valve. Of course they are not causing the 4 body sprays to be stronger on one side and weak on the other.

Patience all good thing come to those who wait!!!

Powder room Multi Red Onyx Flooring

2008-09-26T13:22:00.004-04:00

Tread Lightly Least you step on Your Feet

2008-09-17T17:26:00.001-04:00

Roofus Leaking Returns

2008-09-06T13:25:00.003-04:00

The main leak was caused by the roofer who repaired this after the 2004 hurricanes. He left a piece of roofing felt attached up against the chimney and the water was being funneled under the repaired shingles. So it has been slowly leaking for 4 years and now we have a lot of dry rot in the roof panels directly under the chimney. Also we will have to suck out all the wet insulation and replace it. That's what I get for trying to patch instead of fix. But It will now last another two or three years as is!!

Game On!!!

2008-08-16T13:30:00.002-04:00

"up" dates The final Touches begin

2008-08-15T19:07:00.003-04:00

"ET" COMES HOME
Finally out of the box
The library is "booked"
got a "handle" on the Frig ?

"She Built it " in 2 years 1 month , 23 Days

2008-08-13T18:23:00.001-04:00

Slide Bolts

2008-08-11T11:14:00.001-04:00

Rail Tweak ready to install

2008-08-09T14:15:00.003-04:00

I am getting that "sink" in feeling

2008-08-09T14:11:00.003-04:00

One small modification on the handrail and we are ready for inspection

2008-08-08T11:31:00.002-04:00

De - Railed

2008-08-07T14:17:00.003-04:00

Now for the railing then DONE

2008-08-06T15:48:00.004-04:00

2008-08-04T14:41:00.002-04:00

Random Acts

2008-08-04T12:54:00.004-04:00

New Life for an Old Friend

2008-08-03T15:51:00.002-04:00

2008-08-01T15:03:00.003-04:00

I promise not to "stair"

2008-08-01T10:21:00.003-04:00

And so it begins.... The final "required" construction at 531. A long time coming. 2 years, 1 month 6 days running!!!!!

Done!!

2008-07-31T11:26:00.002-04:00

All that is remaining is the tie backs and shutter bolts installed

2008-07-26T12:47:00.003-04:00

First Hair Cut

2008-07-25T14:48:00.002-04:00

2008-07-24T15:23:00.002-04:00

2008-07-24T11:28:00.002-04:00

2008-07-24T10:46:00.002-04:00

"Car Pets" coming to 531

2008-07-17T12:55:00.003-04:00

Social Security

2008-07-11T13:35:00.003-04:00

A trunk without handles $50.00

An interesting cabinet for the bath. It is really a drink server. Fits my slipper just right!!!

A bed!!! The first actual bed, I have not had a real bed in 30 years!!!. But alas I may be too old The bed is so high I need a step ladder to exit.

2008-07-11T13:01:00.002-04:00

Contractors from hell

2008-07-04T11:47:00.004-04:00

http://www.contractorsfromhell.com/index.html

"Shake n Bake" The PERFECT table for baking

2008-07-03T17:31:00.009-04:00

This is an old BAKERS SCHOOL baking table It has 4 drawers and 2 cabinets and space underneath for movable bins

AND... 4 really neat Cutting boards above the drawers! The cutting boards are held in place by hand made dowels so they can't pull out and drop your dough.

I think I will add a slotted shelf on the bottom. Then I will add 4 locking wheels and an original bakers butcher slab , that I have, as a top. The butcher block is 6' x 3" and the table is 24"so there will be a 12" overhang on the other side that can be left as a seating "nook" area or make the underside into shelves for storage space. All in all this is the perfect find and exactly what I have been looking for.

It is in EXCELLENT condition. I almost hate to put the butcher block top on I might leave it as is or add a stainless top. After I add the shelf and wheels and top it will be exactly the correct height! And it will fit perfectly into the space I had planned to house it along the South wall. If I don't put the butcher block top on, it will line up perfectly with the other planned wall cabinets

This Girl Just loves sitting in my yard surrounded by dirt

2008-06-30T13:39:00.002-04:00

Just a few of the things we gave up because of Plumber mistakes

2008-06-30T13:21:00.003-04:00

1. A theater room was lost due to 2' of wall needed for a pipe mistake
2. No hand held sprayer in the guest bath
3. Loss of an upstairs bathroom in the guest House do due pipe misplacement
4. 3 pipe chases for AC and Plumbing non functional
5. Loss of full size tub in guest bath due to misplaced vent pie
6. Leaky roof in garage
7. No Island function for cooking due to downdraft incompletion
8. Little or no hot water on the island, washer, stage and powder room sinks due to under rate water heater attached to these fixtures
9. Loss of glass wall in master bath due to pipe misplacement
10. In ability to put in privacy wall for Master toilet due to misplaced toilet pipes
11. Space lost on 2 walls in kitchen due to pipe mistakes
12 Low function of water pressure on island

And then there are the expenses we incurred trying to redo things to accommodate the mistakes such as rebuilding walls, digging out and redoing drain lines, building additional walls and structures to accommodate pipes misplaced, taking out and redoing drywall where pipes leaked and had to be redone in three places. Removing and replacing sinks improperly hung and plumbed.

We could tear out and redo all the marble on both tubs to get the proper fixtures installed but we will just do without for now.

Needless to say I am still very disturbed about this plumber and it all seems to be continuing. For a while I thought I had found all the problems and now we are just finding more. I will be glad when the last fixture is installed and then we will have the final tally of Plumber Bummers and the final tally of the cost of such nonsense which by the way I fully intend to recover!!!

News Flash!!! More Plumber Problems Just found

2008-06-30T12:54:00.004-04:00

And Your Point.....??

As we try to finish the final installation of the plumbing fixtures more problems are coming to light.

1. The toilet pipe in the master bath has been set too close not only to the side wall but also the back wall. It is set at 11'' instead of 13" and the floor either had to be jack hammered out or as I settled for the toilet is now set so close to the wall it is almost impossible to take the lid off. I refused to let them jack hammer my beautiful tile work!!!!

2. The problem with the guest bath shower head and no hot water was caused by the valves being reversed. Hot to cold and cold to hot. When I was turning on the hot it was always cold. I never thought to just turn on the cold. This is the 4th instance of hot and cold being piped or connected reversed. No excuse!

3. The first picture shows the washer / dryer box installed up side down??? No logical reason for them to do this unless it was done on purpose. Just plain sloppy and disrespectful.

My observation is that this plumber is doing this on purpose. But today I found out the the Plumber I hired to fix this stuff had previously employed the person known to me as the current plumbers best plumber was fired from the job because of those same stupid mistakes he has made all over our home.

Just some pictures to document the problems

Before--Just a tangled mess of wires

2008-06-28T14:08:00.003-04:00

After-- Neat, water tight -No Open holes in wall - All in conduit

2008-06-28T13:45:00.007-04:00

Wat-Er Friends For........

2008-06-26T11:23:00.005-04:00

All this for a Sprinkle a DAY ???

Sometime at or about 9:30 AM, Saturday June 21 "The first day of Summer", appropriately, an assortment of funny looking people in all sizes and manner of human appointment arrived on Stormy Lane just inside the Town limits of MENTAL BEACH.

They brought with them a curious assortment of strange and colorful things. What, I wondered... did any of this have to do with a simple sprinkler system that just tinkles on the lawn a few times a week.? So began the Syrkus of events... One by one they came...

1 Big guy in a black truck with a little midget following him around while a large beige dog kept watch on his truck

1 round guy with a BIG motorized shovel followed by a pony tailed blond woman that followed the shovel wherever it went talking constantly .

1 Dizzy Blonde and her imaginary Dutch helper that she kept calling orders to but he never quite heard them.

Of course I was there to stupid - vise the entire session .
I was needed to keep inventory of all materials so nothing would be lost or stolen.

One by one the following assortment of items found their way out of the various vehicles and onto the soon to be lawn but for now just dirt!

They had with them ....

Things with wires coming out of them

1 thing with a blue handle to turn off a well

7 round black boxes with green tops that had holes in the middle and lids that fell off ( unless you tried to take them off then they stuck)

The 7 black boxes with green tops go over the top of the things with wires coming out of their heads.

62 U.S. Type flags without the red and white

16 strange things called rotors

1 Shit load of things called POP UPS?

1 Big ass Black pump

1 Pain in the ass timer clock

1 broken transformer plug for the pain in the ass clock

Lots and lots long skinny white pipe

Lots and Lots of fat white not so long pipe

Hundreds of curly plastic things, flat things and t-things made from white plastic that matched the long and not so long white pipe

1 roll of flexible something to fit on the pop ups

1 gray box with lots of wires red, green, blue, lt blue, yellow, brown, black and white

1 very very long kinky brown tube with lots holes in it.

1 white thingy wih multiple sides to get the dirt out of the well

1 white thingy with bumps and poky stuff to mover water in and out of the sprinkler heads and around the yard. This thingy also doubles as a tool to give a shower while the water is spurting out of the pop up

5 gray things and 2 big black things with 2 wires sticking out of the tops

2 big round silver cans of clear liquid stuff

Then.... first the Dizzy blonde walked around and stuck the U.S. flags without the red and white into the ground everywhere. Then.... the round guy with the big ass shovel came by with the pony tailed blonde and dug up lines of dirt and played connect the flags with the ditches.

Then.... the dizzy blonde put the white pipe and white plastic thingies together with the liquid in the silver can and the imaginary Dutch helper came along and put all the dirt back over all the stuff the blonde threw into the round guys holes???

The gray and black things got all their wires tangled together by the dizzy blond as the big guy with the black truck and the midget kept an eye on her progress.

The Dutch man disappeared and the round guy with the talking pony tailed blond took the big ass motorized shovel and drove away leaving me, the dizzy blond and the big guy with the midget to clean up the mess.

Then like magic suddenly everything sank into the ground and water started spurting from the little pop ups and the round black thingsstarted spitting water all over, all the while the pump sang a rumbling tune gurgling and swishing.

As SUN-SET on Stormy lane the big guy with the midget and the watch dog came by and gave me a really nice card thanking me for allowing them to perform on my property. The dizzy blond collapsed and drank a few beers.

The card Read:

The Syrkus has come to Town and because you are so sweet and helpful the following discount will apply

Regular priced Syrkus for the day is ------------$100,000.00
Clown, props and supervisors included

Discount for your extraordinary help----------- 98,000.00

Balance due $2,000.00

Every day now like magic the little gray box turns on my Syrkus in the wee hours of the night and all those little parts magically pop up and perform a beautiful rain dance on my emerald green lawn .

Everyone in Mental Beach Should have their own Syrkus

2008-06-26T10:00:00.001-04:00

2008-06-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

2008-06-25T11:04:00.003-04:00

2008-06-25T10:51:00.004-04:00

2008-06-25T10:47:00.002-04:00

2008-06-25T10:34:00.004-04:00

"WELL WELL WELL " Were Finally Getting" PUMPED" UP

2008-06-24T08:02:00.003-04:00

A real SOD Story

2008-06-24T07:59:00.002-04:00

2008-06-21T17:41:00.002-04:00

Wipe OUT Sprinkler piping

2008-06-21T16:10:00.005-04:00

Chaos Ensues While tryimg to instll sprinkler lines

2008-06-21T15:55:00.004-04:00

ANOTHER UMBRELLA BITES THE DUST

State of the art Server Room

2008-06-17T15:58:00.004-04:00

4 dedicated electrical circuits were pre - wired for this room. Then a high volume AC duct was installed to keep this the coldest room in the house.
All the wires are color coded as to function.
Yellow= video
Lt Grey = Computer , Med Grey= phone
black = cable and air
Blue= IP Phone, fax, extra computer line
Green = Audio
Red= IP Cameras and Security
Then we have Fiber and overhead projector wires below
We will tone out and label ALL wires on both ends.

The front rack is for punch down wiring. The rear rack is for equipment such as routers, audio devices, video devices and computer servers etc.

We used the ZON audio system in every room in the house. Zon allows access to 8 music and audio sources as well as IPOD integration, This system also doubles as a doorbell and intercom/room monitoring system. Every room has individual control of the the audio/intercom/monitoring. Actually in this house you could have 8 different sources of audio playing all at the same time. INTERESTING THOUGHT

HD tv can be streamed to any room as each room has individual control of the video system in that particular room. The video system will integrate cable, satellite and home video with 7 -1 surround sound pre-wired in all rooms. Additional speaker locations are in every room as well as integration with ZON system speakers allowed. Overhead projectors with pull down screens are featured in 3 separate areas in the house, the stage area, library and theater along with the ability to convert the garage to an additional suite/ theater/ rec room in the future

When someone drives up in the driveway it will announce their arrival as well as other alerts.

The system can fully integrate with any security system and can do things like turn on all lights, music , tv etc when there is a breach . The cameras will be pan tilt and zoom cameras that alert on movement and can send an email or phone alerts to any computer or phone along with pictures of the reason it for the trigger. The cameras can be accessed remotely and can work on remote commands from any computer anywhere in the world.

And as you can see there is plenty of room for expansion or upgrading and in todays world where everything changes momentarily this is a must have option.

More to come as we build the system.

Good wired management is a must.

See colored Block here

2008-06-13T20:19:00.003-04:00

www.columbusglassblock.com/products-designer-and-color.aspx?gclid=CPjXtISQ8JMCFQUpgAodd2T0WQ

Some Photo Updates

2008-06-13T19:48:00.006-04:00

Some ideas for the stair railing. How about colored glass block in various sizes and colors to match the fixture. Framed out in cypress to math the molding? Using the same pattern in the fixture. The Handrail would be black wrought iron!

Open letter to the Plumber

2008-06-09T13:26:00.010-04:00

Today I received an email from the plumber trying to explain away all his mistakes "JUST THE FEW I HAVE COMPLAIN ABOUT RECENTLY NOT THE ENTIRE LIST" PLUS HE TOOK 8 WEEKS TO ANSWER THE COMPLAINTS !!! and then he ends making veiled threats. My answers are simple .

Plumbers statements in black

1. Why would I give the plumber who made the problem in the first place the opportunity come back and try it again?

2. The Plumber obviously doesn't have a clue to what is going on by his statement about work being done under his license and permit.!!! Someone who doesn't know whose permit he is working under should not be allowed to work at all.

Guest bath toilet: The toilet is set by height given by contractor
before the flange is set, if this height changes, they make spacers or we
are asked to come and change it. Please note that if you paid someone
$250.00 to make a change that was under warranty through our company, this
was unnecessary and also voids our warranty.

Answer: The contractor did specify the toilet was to be set up 2 1/8" so why did the Plumber affix it permanently to the concrete floor? Void the warranty? What warranty if the work is wrong? My question , why was it not done correctly the first time? Why is it that most everything the plumber has done was done wrong the first time but I am required (demanded) to get the same plumber back to do it again correctly so I can maintain the Warranty?

3. Gas Heater: If the gas regulator was for natural gas then our supplier
has made a mistake, but again, a simple problem to correct. If you would
have contacted me, we could have changed out the regulator at no cost of
course and corrected the issue. Please note that if you had another company
re-pipe or change our work, it voids our warranty.

Blaming this on on the supplier. The supplier only sends the materials you specified. What about you taking responsibility for your inability to get the job done correct the first time. Natural gas vs propane installation . Natural gas was NEVER an option. Propane was specified and is quite different in all aspects from natural gas. You knew what was specified when hired to install. Specific cut sheets and details were specified and supplied. If you knew what you were doing or paid attention to what the contractor specified then it would have been done correct in the first place. Not knowing the difference between what is needed for propane vs natural gas just shows incompetence.

It was the gas companies responsibility to make sure all gas equipment they hooked up was correctly installed and working properly before they connected the appliances and turned on the gas. If the gas company had not found the mistake it could have had very significant consequences and they were right to correct it before they finished the final installation of the gas tank and lines. Calling you back was never an option! What guarantee would one have that it would be done correctly considering the past experience.

Your statement that you would "change out the regulator" is reason enough to justify the gas company to repair your work. If you knew what you were doing you would never have made this statement.

4. Wood Spacers under Toilet: This is a common practice to space the
toilet flange to adjust to the height of the sub-floor and tile. Note: By
removing these, the toilet will be back pitched or possibly could break a
fitting in the ceiling. I have several pictures in my files that show this
practice on many homes.

Give me a break! So what you did was correct? and the result was a leaky ceiling? If it had been installed correctly the first time the toilet would not pitch back and would not leak. It is installed correctly now. Again this is another excuse to justify your mistake.

Wasn't this the day it took 2 people 8 hours to install that toilet? 1 toilet that ultimately leaked and ruined the drywall in the ceiling below? (I remember making the plumber put it in 2 times before he even got it level. ) It did not pitch back just sideways!!!

This was also the day I had to run and purchase parts for a sink that was ultimately installed with crossed water lines. I wonder how one can justify coming to install a fixture without bringing the supplies to do the job. PS: There are several other fixtures that have remained PARTIALLY installed or not properly working. I better not touch them it might void the warranty !

Doesn't matter that they don't work I have a warranty!!

Finally, your statement regarding the upstairs sink connections, I am unsure
of what you are speaking about but am happy to address or correct any
plumbing issues you have.

Again give me a break even a child can see the problem and so did you when you were here trying to fix yet another problem created by improper connections of the water piping causing a problem with no hot water in the up bath. Like you said that day "basic plumbing 101" could have avoided this mistake and this was done by your head plumber. You laughed and stated that that plumber would never live this one down. BUT, I spent two weeks and countless hours on the phone and internet talking with several suppliers to try and find the problem. Taking pictures, emailing information and consulting and all it was was a basic plumbing mistake that even you could not find until bringing a rep from your supplier to the location.

Again. Why would I have you back?
Because even your head plumber doesn't know basic plumbing?
Because I might void the warranty?
And NOW you claim you don't know what the issue is? How convenient for you.

Please note that I have a concern that you are having plumbing work
completed under my Plumbing License and permit and I would ask that this not
happen.

Questions: May I see the permit "YOU" pulled? May I see the documentation that shows this work is being done under "YOUR" license? May I see the contract that specified you are the only plumber that can do work for me?

Since when is someone enjoined from working or choosing who works on THEIR property?

I hope to hear from you by June 16th or I will need to contact the
authorities regarding my concerns about work being done under my license and
permit and I will need to address my loss on the material we are still
holding.

Please call "the authorities" about work on my property. Show me the documentation that your company pulled the permit!! Show me the documentation that your company's license is being misused!
Your own the company and you don't have a clue. That is very disconcerting to say the least!

As for materials you are holding. What Materials? Show me the documentation that authorized you to buy or hold any materials for me !

I have a whole list of materials that we discussed but never authorized to be ordered

As a matter of fact your men installed materials that were never ordered . Installed these materials in spite of the FACT they I had purchased materials to be installed and yet they did not install them.

They also neglected/ forgot/ irresponsibly DID NOT INSTALL several items that were ordered and that cannot now be installed so we have to do without them, even though those materials had been specifically specified by the contractor and documented in cut sheets to you.

And what about the parts I supplied for fixtures that you forgot to bring parts for? I guess I better start making my own list of materials furnished and not reimbursed as well as cost to repair faulty work which now counts in the thousands of dollars!!!$$$$

Also items ordered for one master bath were installed into another bath and those fixtures don't even match. "chrome with brushed nickel as well as shower regular head vs adjustable shower head"

PS. The hot cold handles are backwards on that chrome fixture , But that is okay it matches the crossed water lines on the sink and the toilet that you say will pitch back and break pipes. YEA Now we have a completely dysfunctional bathroom and by the way a grossly under rated water heater that supplies 3 gal / minute. The only problem? it feeds 7 water faucets and one shower head that demand 1.5 gal. min EACH and additionally it supplies a dishwasher and wash machine. ALL that on 3 gal/ per minute. Interesting. BUT IT IS UNDER WARRANTY RIGHT!! YOU AN FIX IT!

So all in all I say.

Why in the world would I allow you to come back onto this site and do any work at all?

Why? Just so you can do some more work incorrectly and I can call you again to repair what you did incorrectly?
That makes a lot of sense!
Just so I can get a warranty?
I say on what? I have a better chance without your warranty.

All your company can do is warrant that the first time they do something guaranteed it will be wrong and have to be redone!!

Thought for the Day

2008-06-05T08:12:00.000-04:00

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

--Theodore Roosevelt, University of Paris, 1910

Follow the yellow brick road ---

2008-05-30T15:13:00.003-04:00

Concrete Evidence of GOOD MEN

2008-05-30T13:34:00.005-04:00

2008-05-30T12:09:00.002-04:00

2008-05-30T12:04:00.003-04:00

2008-05-30T12:01:00.002-04:00

2008-05-30T11:58:00.004-04:00

Just for the Record

2008-05-30T11:00:00.001-04:00

Tie in to house slab needed for future closed porch

2008-05-29T08:33:00.003-04:00

The Fence from nowhere to nowhere

2008-05-21T17:08:00.007-04:00

The fence starts in the middle of the front yard and ends in the middle of the side yard???
We aren't sure of it's purpose but the neighbor sure admires it.

Our problem is that it now restricts the final grade and sodding of the West side of the house!!
At least the porta potty has a nice background now!