Last of 4

Scroll down, back 3 more entries for the day. The is the really last one of the day. We installed a pot rack as our last task of the day (really next to last but who cares). It gets all of our smaller pans out of the cabinet and easier to reach. The second photo shows that it is not really visible from the den. We have an extra hole due to a miss-measure, but as we are painting the ceiling of the livingroom tomorrow, we can fix that.

The stove has never sit correctly in its space. I asked the contractor about it twice, but no one ever really looked at it. It was a quarter to and eighth of an inch shy of sitting all the way back. Everyone said that it was as far back as it could go.
Well they were partially correct. We removed it and discovered that the electrical outlet was installed far too proud of the brick wall and the stove was hitting it and could not sit farther back. We removed the stove, re-installed the outlet farther back, and then set the stove in and leveled the feet. Apparently the installers did not even look at that. Now the stove sits all the way back in its hole and is flush with the granite on the top and on the front edge.

Finally, storage in the laundry closet

Again, you really can't appreciate how tight this space is, unless you see it in person. The closet is 34" x 44", and the doorway is only 30". since the W/D is 27" wide, and nearly 34" deep with the vent hose, squeezing in four shelves 24" wide and 12 " deep was no small feat. And installing them nearly took the talents of a freak show contortionist. But now we have a better place for all the cleaning supplies than under the kitchen sink - which is already a little crowded with the extra deep sink, the disposal and the water filter.

 

Project Day

Today was project day. Last Saturday we got the blinds hung in the den and towel holders installed in the kitchen. This morning, while Kirk went to Home Depot to return the faulty light in the laundry closet I set to work.

Of course he didn't fully plan to go to HD until we had exhausted all posibilities for repairing what was wrong with the light. And you can't appreciate what a pain that is until and unless you see in person just how tight the washer and dryer fit into the laundry closet. I wish I had gotten a picture of Kirk laying on the impromptu scaffolding, face up, with just his head and shoulders in squeezed onto the top of the dryer while he tried to repair and then finally just removed the light fixture. Then we paused for quite a while in hopes of thoughtfully compiling a comprehensive list before he left. It grew very long.

This picture is of the "Grook" I mounted in the laundry closet. The name comes from grab and hook. In the space of about a foot, it provides 14 unique places to hang or suspend things. It has 5 hooks, 5 holes with rubber knobs and then the spaces between. It's pretty cool and we've already put it to work. 

OK, OK here are some pictures.

We installed the new vertical blinds on the back door and then peeled off the protective plastic on the glass. WE CAN SEE! Sorry BJ, TL, and FIL, for taking so long to update.

We will post some more--maybe final--pics this weekend.
 

November Update

We have been bad about posting for the last couple of weeks. Not too much has happened. All the punch list times were completed, but since that time the sink has developed flow problems (swollen prostate likely), one electric fixture stopped working, and the only door created (laundry room) sticks now.

The trades arrive tomorrow for the plumbing and door. I will point out the electrical at that time. Today or tomorrow I will upload some more pictures.

Remaining for us to do...

1. Hang pot rack
2. Caulk the backsplash Leslie and I installed
3. Repair some of the point work on the bricks using a concrete caulk that dries to an almost exact match of the old mortar.

Tomorrow

The contractor has arranged for all the trades to come by tomorrow to coordinate the punch list. Our two major contributions are complete, the vent-a-hood and the backsplash, so we will not be holding them up. Electric, plumbing, wood work, paint, and general cleanup are on the agenda.

The granite will be cleaned and polished last. There appears to be a crack in the granite and judging by a glue mark on the underside it was there at installation. I do not want to wait for a replacement or live through the installation of one, so I think I will point it out, but live with it.

I am headed up into the attic to check for leaks since it rained all day. Then to bed as it is not 8:30, but rather 10:30.... opps

Another friend returns

The icebox has returned. (yes, I still call it that. It drives Leslie a little bonkers. ...something about a refrigerator or fridge).

There was not as much sweat equity this day. There was quite a bit of running around town. We actually went to Lowes twice and to three different Home Depots. We purchased something at all but one of the five places.

New vertical blinds are ordered for the back door. We picked up stainless steel cleaner, new in-line water filter for the ice maker, new lock set for the front door, towel holders (actually they are TP holders from a bathroom set, but they looked better).

In between all those, we stopped for breakfast, bought new canisters for flour, sugar, and coffee from the container store, visited the Apple Store and caught lunch at Luna de Noche.

Leslie started cleaning the appliances. It seems that when you store them in the garage for two months, they get dirty. (ehh, they likely were not clean when we put them away.)

Good Night

One final pic before we collapse exhausted into bed. 

Now for the backsplash

Then, after lunch, until very late, Kirk and I worked very hard at getting the two backsplashes tweaked and shaved and finally fitted into place, and securing them with liquid nails. It's truly amazing now, but we're exhausted and never had time for dinner.
This is before we pulled off the protective tape.





And finally, "Ta Daah!"

P.S. Yes there are three cabinet doors missing - the painters took them last week to fix some boo-boos in the stain and clear coat finish. I feel a little like Cindy Lou Who, when Santa/Grinch took her tree back to the shop.

Laundry Time!

Then Kirk strained and contorted himself to get the vent hooked up behind the dryer and get everything levelled and situated, and then I did laundry in our house for the first time in two months. YEE HAW!!!! 

It's a work party!!

Today has been an extremely busy day. First the carpenter and his helper showed up to install the knobs and pulls, and generally finish his portion of the punch list. Of course, right after he left, Kirk and I noticed something he'll need to come back for.
Then the first two Vent Craft guys showed up to start staging for the Vent-a-Hood installation. Eventually three more guys arrived to do the full install. It was a sight to see.
While they were busy at work, Kirk recruited the plumber, who just happened to come by to seal up the roof (for the third time) so it wouldn't leak when it rains tomorrow, to come hook up our new gas dryer. I had managed to get the stack kit installed yesterday, but the gas and vent still needed to be connected. 

Punch list

The contractor asked us for a punch list yesterday. I think he was a little surprised with the list we come up with:

Kitchen.
1. The cabinet box to the left of the stove has some movement in it.
2. The cabinet box to the right of the stove should have a horizontal shelf, and the one to the left should not.
3. Is the stove as far back as it can go?—When facing the stove from the den you can see the edge of the cut out on the right side..
4. Floor trim (1/4 round) around stove area, and under all cabinets in the kitchen.
5. Scratches on the left 1/3 of the smaller granite slab (the one on the back wall of the house.
6. General cleanup of the granite slab to remove glue.
7. Can the switches by the sink be switched (???) move the disposal switch by the sink and the pendant to the other side?
8. Front edge of the brick wall to the left of the stove had the lower brick knocked out of place during demo and a “line” of mortar is missing a few rows above it.
9. Kitchen windows appear to have some clear coat, and paint on them. Can your workers carefully clean them without damaging the lights, or countertop?
10. Please leave us the remaining paint from the kitchen for touch ups.
11. Please clean out all of the cabinets and drawers. There are globs of mud stuck in several places and other drips, drops and lots of dust.
12. Install hardware on doors & drawers.


Laundry Closet
1. Please leave us the remaining paint from the laundry room. There are already dings in the wall to repair.
2. Get the remote thermostat control for the Takagi tankless water heater working.
3. Leaking vent and leaking plumbing stack in the attic.

Den
1. Re-attach the vent cover (currently sitting in the microwave cabinet.
2. “splotch” of varnish on den floor to the front right of the TV. It becomes real obvious when the lights are on and the furniture is put back in place.
3. Also, suggestions/instructions on how to fix scratches we put into the floor. L we already put one.
4. We cleaned some of the white paint spatters of the back (East) wall of the den, but there’s still some more on the ‘hallway wall’ (South) and backyard wall (North).

General
1. General cleanup of the back porch and driveway (buckets, ladders, paint rollers, drywall sections)
2. I would like to have the electrician show me the new circuits (and where to tie-in) for the garage and future outside lights and sockets.
3. Paint the trim around back door to match the aluminum cladding.

"Get used to disappointment"

It's a line from one of my all-time favorite movies, "The Princess Bride". Said by the man in black to Indigo Montoya during a pause in their cliff-top duel. Not so much fun when I'm living it. I refer to the last line in my post "New washer and dryer": "I really don't think I could stand to be disappointed again."

I'm disappointed again! Very disappointed with Sears, Sears.com, the online help dept., the home delivery dept., the repairs and parts dept. and even the "rapid resolution department", which only netted me polite sympathy -- no help at all, and certainly not a 'rapid resolution'.

Rainman had it wrong, it's Sears that sucks!

Their current solution is that the part (stack kit) has been shipped from "Texas" and is expected to be delivered by UPS next Wednesday. So much for Christine in the parts dept. She's moved from my good list to my bad list.

But, I've got a plan...

Over sink triple pendant light

This is one thing we completely agreed upon. When I found this light fixture online, it was exactly what both of us had pictured in our minds for the over sink spot.
It's made by Elk Lighting and each shade is unique, hand-blown Murano glass. We chose the "Starburst" pattern and couldn't be happier with the result. When lit, it casts a beatiful blue glow around the room, and I can't wait to see it with the evening sun setting through the West window. Unfortunately, we didn't get it installed until after 8:00 p.m., so it was a little late for sunset. But it does look really cool from outside th house too! 

Not working

This is the remote thermostat control for our new Takagi tankless water heater. It is unfortunately not working and we suspect that it is not connected to the unit in the attic. 

Finish electrical and plumbing

The under cabinet lights have been installed, the ceiling cans have been finished out, the outlets and switches are all in, the faucet works, the new water filter works (almost too well), the dishwasher has been re-installed (haven't checked to see if it works yet), and the range/oven is back and appears to be working, though filthy.
The punch list is getting shorter... 

New washer and dryer

I was very excited to have my washer and dryer delivered on Monday. Unfortunately, due to errors on the part of Sears, they could not install them, because they had instructed me to order the wrong stacking implement. In fact, after speaking to five different representatives from different Sears and Sears.com departments, I learned that the particular part can't even be ordered online, and no one even new what the part number was. I eventually found that information in the manual which was delivered with the dryer. There is a special place in my heart for a customer service rep. in the parts department named Christine, who kindly and happily expedited the order for the missing "stacking kit", free of charge and promised that the delivery men would bring it on Friday and install the dryer at that time. I really don't think I could stand to be disappointed again.