The contractors have started!
(posted from home)
(This post covers 17 – 24 April, 2012)
---------------------------------
Tuesday, 24 April -
Today the HVAC contractors completed installation of the air handler and compressor (and its pad) and ran most of the wiring, condensate lines, and the coolant lines. The main air distribution box was also put in place.
We also met with the plumber this morning and laid out where the water treatment and purification systems will go and where he'll relocate the washer and dryer.
I spent an hour assembling one of the wire shelving units over at the storage unit and already I can see it's going to make a difference, both for storage volume and ease-of-access. I had put five of these in our basement several months ago but it was only this week that we needed to move them. As soon as I saw the lack of space at the storage unit I knew I needed to put two of them over there also.
---------------------------------
Monday, 23 April -
Our contractors started today. Two of the guys started demolition on a brick wall and floor which had been put in place for a wood stove back in the late Seventies. We had sold the stove and taken out its ductwork more than a decade ago but had never taken out the brickwork. Now that the construction guys are about to dig up the basement floor (to run drains for the new bathroom), it seemed like a good time to also have the old brickwork removed.
The HVAC guys are installing a heat pump and got off to a grand start this morning-- within an hour they almost started a fire in the attic! When one of the techs tried to move an attic wire to the side a bit, he saw sparking and smoke erupt from the hole where the wire goes down through the end wall. That knocked out the kitchen outlets and refrigerator. He took a look down through the wire passage (as best he could) and it appears a nail had been driven in from the outside wall right into the wire passage at some point in the past. It appears this may have been a fire waiting to happen for many years since that nail is under the siding-- it would have been done back in 1977 or so! We temporarily ran a heavy-duty extension cord to the fridge and called our electrician to make an appointment.
I learned of the problem while in town this morning. After we got the contractors started, I went into Lowe's for some wire shelving for our storage unit. Space is limited so we need to do the old rolling-shelf-unit trick. Once we open the door to the storage unit, we'll be able to roll out two of the shelf-stacks for access to the ones behind. I bought two units and wheels for them and dropped them off at the storage unit on the way home to look at the electrical problem.
I climbed up into the attic and found the problem pretty much as described to me. I had thought I might be able to fix it myself. It might be possible to chisel away the 2x6 joist to relieve pressure from the tautly-stretched wires and perhaps even get down to the nail. But once that point is reached I don't know how to fix the wire other than to pull it out. I think I need a pro for this one. The shorted-wire may have damaged the others and I'm guessing one or more of them will have to be pulled back from the panel.
Other than the electrical problem, by day's end both teams had made a lot of progress. The brickwork was removed, ceiling registers have been installed in all the rooms, the air-handler is in the attic and installation begun, and the cold-air return was installed.
That evening we watched three episodes of 'Mad Men'- Season Four.
-----------------------------------
Sunday, 22 April -
I didn't get a chance to make my regular Starbucks Sunday-morning run today. Weather wasn't great (light rain) but we're also preparing for contractors to start work tomorrow-- mostly just cleaning up, making room for them to work, and covering up stuff in preparation for the dust we expect to have stirred up. We made a late-afternoon run to Lowe's and Home Depot for some additional plastic draping material, then had supper at Chili's (Max-a-Ritas and shrimp fajitas!).
That evening we watched 'Fair Game', the story of Valerie Plame, Joe Wilson, and Scooter Libby.
-----------------------------------
Saturday, 21 April -
I did some minor cleanup work today to prepare for contractors coming next week. I made a run into town for stackable plastic storage boxes, then cleared out the closet which has the attic-access door in its ceiling. We will have to do more as we go.
That evening we watched 'Moneyball' with Brad Pitt. Good story but it doesn't quite make sense at the end. It's not clear to me why the A's made their historic run.
---------------------------------
Friday, 20 April -
I again spent the morning on the web and by mid-day needed a ride. I took the back roads to Starbucks then walked my five-miler at Rocky Ridge (1:50 today)
That evening we finished up 'Intelligence'- Season One.
-----------------------------------
Thursday, 19 April -
Labashi accompanied her Mom and Dad to the hospital for Mom's surgery today. All seemed to go well.
I spent much of the day looking for a way to improve my shotgun's 'feel'. The gun has an adjustable stock but I need a little more adjustment range than it affords. I've also been looking for a center bead sight. I had found a 'bird-buster' magnetic sight I thought would work well for this but it didn't fit the rib on my shotgun properly so I returned it.
I ended up writing an email to Mossberg's customer service to find out if additional adjustment shims are made and whether there's an adjustable-comb stock made for it.
We got back into 'Intelligence'/1 tonight. We had watched a half-dozen episodes of this Vancouver-based police procedural but had dropped it in favor of 'Mad Men' DVDs.
-----------------------------------
Wednesday, 18 April -
Labashi is again off to her Mom's for the day today. I spent the morning on the web and ran a few errands, then rode the GS over to the shooting range. I shot the 9 millimeter pistol on the steel-plates range for 50 rounds, then set up a paper target and blasted away another 60 rounds or so. I'm tending to shoot low and right somewhat and need to figure out why.
That evening we finished Season Four of 'Mad Men'. Loving it!
----------------------------------
Tuesday, 17 April -
I updated the blog this morning. Labashi went over to her Mom's to help out during some medical appointments so I fended for myself today.
I took my regular Starbucks ride but otherwise spent most of the day on the Web.
'Mad Men'/3 tonight!
********** END OF POST **********
(posted from home)
(This post covers 17 – 24 April, 2012)
---------------------------------
Tuesday, 24 April -
Today the HVAC contractors completed installation of the air handler and compressor (and its pad) and ran most of the wiring, condensate lines, and the coolant lines. The main air distribution box was also put in place.
We also met with the plumber this morning and laid out where the water treatment and purification systems will go and where he'll relocate the washer and dryer.
I spent an hour assembling one of the wire shelving units over at the storage unit and already I can see it's going to make a difference, both for storage volume and ease-of-access. I had put five of these in our basement several months ago but it was only this week that we needed to move them. As soon as I saw the lack of space at the storage unit I knew I needed to put two of them over there also.
---------------------------------
Monday, 23 April -
Our contractors started today. Two of the guys started demolition on a brick wall and floor which had been put in place for a wood stove back in the late Seventies. We had sold the stove and taken out its ductwork more than a decade ago but had never taken out the brickwork. Now that the construction guys are about to dig up the basement floor (to run drains for the new bathroom), it seemed like a good time to also have the old brickwork removed.
The HVAC guys are installing a heat pump and got off to a grand start this morning-- within an hour they almost started a fire in the attic! When one of the techs tried to move an attic wire to the side a bit, he saw sparking and smoke erupt from the hole where the wire goes down through the end wall. That knocked out the kitchen outlets and refrigerator. He took a look down through the wire passage (as best he could) and it appears a nail had been driven in from the outside wall right into the wire passage at some point in the past. It appears this may have been a fire waiting to happen for many years since that nail is under the siding-- it would have been done back in 1977 or so! We temporarily ran a heavy-duty extension cord to the fridge and called our electrician to make an appointment.
I learned of the problem while in town this morning. After we got the contractors started, I went into Lowe's for some wire shelving for our storage unit. Space is limited so we need to do the old rolling-shelf-unit trick. Once we open the door to the storage unit, we'll be able to roll out two of the shelf-stacks for access to the ones behind. I bought two units and wheels for them and dropped them off at the storage unit on the way home to look at the electrical problem.
I climbed up into the attic and found the problem pretty much as described to me. I had thought I might be able to fix it myself. It might be possible to chisel away the 2x6 joist to relieve pressure from the tautly-stretched wires and perhaps even get down to the nail. But once that point is reached I don't know how to fix the wire other than to pull it out. I think I need a pro for this one. The shorted-wire may have damaged the others and I'm guessing one or more of them will have to be pulled back from the panel.
Other than the electrical problem, by day's end both teams had made a lot of progress. The brickwork was removed, ceiling registers have been installed in all the rooms, the air-handler is in the attic and installation begun, and the cold-air return was installed.
That evening we watched three episodes of 'Mad Men'- Season Four.
-----------------------------------
Sunday, 22 April -
I didn't get a chance to make my regular Starbucks Sunday-morning run today. Weather wasn't great (light rain) but we're also preparing for contractors to start work tomorrow-- mostly just cleaning up, making room for them to work, and covering up stuff in preparation for the dust we expect to have stirred up. We made a late-afternoon run to Lowe's and Home Depot for some additional plastic draping material, then had supper at Chili's (Max-a-Ritas and shrimp fajitas!).
That evening we watched 'Fair Game', the story of Valerie Plame, Joe Wilson, and Scooter Libby.
-----------------------------------
Saturday, 21 April -
I did some minor cleanup work today to prepare for contractors coming next week. I made a run into town for stackable plastic storage boxes, then cleared out the closet which has the attic-access door in its ceiling. We will have to do more as we go.
That evening we watched 'Moneyball' with Brad Pitt. Good story but it doesn't quite make sense at the end. It's not clear to me why the A's made their historic run.
---------------------------------
Friday, 20 April -
I again spent the morning on the web and by mid-day needed a ride. I took the back roads to Starbucks then walked my five-miler at Rocky Ridge (1:50 today)
That evening we finished up 'Intelligence'- Season One.
-----------------------------------
Thursday, 19 April -
Labashi accompanied her Mom and Dad to the hospital for Mom's surgery today. All seemed to go well.
I spent much of the day looking for a way to improve my shotgun's 'feel'. The gun has an adjustable stock but I need a little more adjustment range than it affords. I've also been looking for a center bead sight. I had found a 'bird-buster' magnetic sight I thought would work well for this but it didn't fit the rib on my shotgun properly so I returned it.
I ended up writing an email to Mossberg's customer service to find out if additional adjustment shims are made and whether there's an adjustable-comb stock made for it.
We got back into 'Intelligence'/1 tonight. We had watched a half-dozen episodes of this Vancouver-based police procedural but had dropped it in favor of 'Mad Men' DVDs.
-----------------------------------
Wednesday, 18 April -
Labashi is again off to her Mom's for the day today. I spent the morning on the web and ran a few errands, then rode the GS over to the shooting range. I shot the 9 millimeter pistol on the steel-plates range for 50 rounds, then set up a paper target and blasted away another 60 rounds or so. I'm tending to shoot low and right somewhat and need to figure out why.
That evening we finished Season Four of 'Mad Men'. Loving it!
----------------------------------
Tuesday, 17 April -
I updated the blog this morning. Labashi went over to her Mom's to help out during some medical appointments so I fended for myself today.
I took my regular Starbucks ride but otherwise spent most of the day on the Web.
'Mad Men'/3 tonight!
********** END OF POST **********
posted by Bezabor&Labashi | 16:42
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