We're all signed off with the city and county on our construction permit. We did it! Almost exactly 4 months of renovation and we're ready to move in on Saturday.
We still have a bunch of odds and ends to go that will keep us busy for a while but it's done enough to call this place our home.
Showing posts with label inspection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspection. Show all posts
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Rounding Third...
...and headin' for home! Literally. We are officially six days away from moving into our project and it is frankly, a bit scary. The big news of the weekend was that we passed the final plumbing inspection on Friday. Laura spent the day waiting around for a 90 second visit. Annoying but one less hoop to clear.
We worked on the upstairs bathroom tile for about 12 hours yesterday which is about as much tedium as we could take. Eating pizza made by someone else at 9:30 at night after a long day like that is awesome.
Today we slept in (also awesome), dropped off a whole truckload of cardboard at the transfer station, sanded some molding, sealed the grout and caulked the downstairs shower, grouted a bit of the upstairs shower tile for the last of the plumbing fixture install tomorrow and re-installed the microwave (long story but this time it was done on the first try). Laura wrapped up the pull and knob installation and then we both did a big cleanup of the place. I have scheduled the last of the inspections for tomorrow morning and we want the place to look move in ready. I think we are there so wish us luck!
Here are some pictures of the kitchen (with knobs!):
We worked on the upstairs bathroom tile for about 12 hours yesterday which is about as much tedium as we could take. Eating pizza made by someone else at 9:30 at night after a long day like that is awesome.
Today we slept in (also awesome), dropped off a whole truckload of cardboard at the transfer station, sanded some molding, sealed the grout and caulked the downstairs shower, grouted a bit of the upstairs shower tile for the last of the plumbing fixture install tomorrow and re-installed the microwave (long story but this time it was done on the first try). Laura wrapped up the pull and knob installation and then we both did a big cleanup of the place. I have scheduled the last of the inspections for tomorrow morning and we want the place to look move in ready. I think we are there so wish us luck!
Here are some pictures of the kitchen (with knobs!):
Monday, February 2, 2009
Super Weekend
We have made huge leaps forward since the last post. Our goal of obtaining the OK to install drywall was reached last Friday when our last two inspection sign offs were given. There is a great story to all of it that I will not be posting, primarily to protect the innocent.
We finished up last week with Laura coming down with some type of ailment (it always seems to happen every year around Superbowl Sunday) and a very sick cat. The insulators completed their exposed wall work (still have the blow in to do) and the plumber installed the 300+ pound bathtub. I worked at the house on Friday, Saturday and Sunday cleaning up, installing as much blocking in the walls as I could, installing the downstairs bathroom sub floor and generally getting the house ready for the drywall installation. The carpenter that we hired came by on Saturday and we worked through the plan for the new banister for the stairs to the upper floor and installed some blocking and support for that. My plan was to work on Saturday and take Sunday off to read the paper, make chili, watch the Superbowl and eat said chili. Once at home Saturday night I realized that there were a few important things that I forgot to do so I headed back over to the bungalow on Sunday morning to wrap them up. Laura made the chili and we headed to Chris and Sarah's to watch the big game and eat said chili (and seven others).
I stopped by the house today on my way back from a job site to see if there were any signs of the drywall delivery guys. When I pulled up there were no trucks on the street, but the front door was wide open. I had stopped early this morning to pick up a flashlight on my way to the job site and knew that the door was locked. I heard a lot of racket in the alley as I approached the house and this is what I saw:
We finished up last week with Laura coming down with some type of ailment (it always seems to happen every year around Superbowl Sunday) and a very sick cat. The insulators completed their exposed wall work (still have the blow in to do) and the plumber installed the 300+ pound bathtub. I worked at the house on Friday, Saturday and Sunday cleaning up, installing as much blocking in the walls as I could, installing the downstairs bathroom sub floor and generally getting the house ready for the drywall installation. The carpenter that we hired came by on Saturday and we worked through the plan for the new banister for the stairs to the upper floor and installed some blocking and support for that. My plan was to work on Saturday and take Sunday off to read the paper, make chili, watch the Superbowl and eat said chili. Once at home Saturday night I realized that there were a few important things that I forgot to do so I headed back over to the bungalow on Sunday morning to wrap them up. Laura made the chili and we headed to Chris and Sarah's to watch the big game and eat said chili (and seven others).
I stopped by the house today on my way back from a job site to see if there were any signs of the drywall delivery guys. When I pulled up there were no trucks on the street, but the front door was wide open. I had stopped early this morning to pick up a flashlight on my way to the job site and knew that the door was locked. I heard a lot of racket in the alley as I approached the house and this is what I saw:
Just a little drywall delivery truck (and yes that is blue sky). The house is now fully stocked of drywall and ready for the hanging crew to arrive. I'm hoping that they are there in force tomorrow to get a big jump on the work.
Tonight I took one of our cats to the vet for the third time (no improvement for about three weeks), Laura and I cleaned up the soon to be for sale house, and I took a load of random stuff to the bungalow. Apparently our collection of construction materials and fixtures do not show well to prospective buyers. Here are some other updated photos:
Main floor bath tub (under the cardboard and OSB).
The master bedroom closet pocket door frame.
Big stack of drywall in the dining room ready to go up!
Temporary filter at the upstairs cold air return.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Inspection Day Complete
Well our goal of four inspections in one day was realized today. There were two things that I knew had to be done this morning to prepare for the various inspectors and I had them both complete by 8:30. The fan project that I undertook last night required a few parts that I picked up on the way home last night (at the big orange box store), and the one and only structural post in the house needed to be installed. I had the fan in by 8:00 as our framer arrived to set the post and base bracket in the basement footing. A little rebar and we were set on that front.
My dad graciously came out for the day to help me since I was going to be there all day. We were told by the inspector we met with before we started re-construction that we would need vents in the attic spaces which I knew would be a challenge. Laura and I bought four vents a while ago (on clearance even!) that met our needs so that was our project while the inspectors came and went.
I was a bit nervous as I always am when meeting with inspectors as they wield a lot of power and can bring a project to a standstill very quickly. The plumbing and electrical reviews went very quickly, with no corrections required. A testament to the plumber and electrician we hired. The framing/structural/mechanical inspection was completed by one guy who will be requiring some costly changes to our project in terms of money, but not in schedule. So we've got that going for us...which is nice.
The biggest items that we have to deal with involve insulating all of the duct work in the basement, and replacing three upstairs windows that are brand new. I attempted to argue that the windows were replacements for exactly what came out of the walls, but this did not matter. They were wrong before and they are wrong still. If I had left the crappy windows in place and replaced them after we were completely signed off he said there would be no problem. So we open the checkbook once more. There were a few smaller items that were on the inspectors list as well that my dad and I took care of for the most part.
Upon hearing the news of our additional window scope, Laura was ready to start arguing with the city to get them to buy off on what has been installed. I told her a story that I was told long ago by the first project superintendent that I worked for. He said that arguing with a building inspector is like wrestling with a pig. Pretty soon you begin to realize that the pig is enjoying it. I have resigned to complying with their requests, stay tuned for Laura's stance.
In general it was a good day "off" from work. The attic vents were completed with only one trip to the big blue box store and one knock to the head that sent me to my knees (I put the hardhat on after that). We fixed a few inspection items including a new attic access hole that I was hoping to not have to do. Our insulation sub confirmed that they will be out next Wednesday to start insulation, and the drywall sub came by to look at the holes in the walls and ceilings that will need to be patched by then. Laura came by after work to meet with a hardwood floor guy that was recommended by our realtor. He has not been so good about returning phone calls and apparently is also not so good about keeping his appointments. He was a no show. So we went to the big blue box store for plywood, concrete and some other miscellaneous items for the next round of tasks.
As I was unloading Laura headed back to the other house to get dinner rolling which was good. I was pretty much worn out from a 12 hour day at the Bungalow. In the cold. In the filthy attic. On my knees. Yeah. Some pancakes and two White Russians hit the spot. Mmmm, mmmm. Dinner of champions.
The next big milestone is still on target, which is to complete the insulation, and have that inspected next Friday. That would allow us to start drywall the following Monday which is huge. That of course hinges on having some heat which is still questionable in that time frame. Wish us luck!
My dad graciously came out for the day to help me since I was going to be there all day. We were told by the inspector we met with before we started re-construction that we would need vents in the attic spaces which I knew would be a challenge. Laura and I bought four vents a while ago (on clearance even!) that met our needs so that was our project while the inspectors came and went.
I was a bit nervous as I always am when meeting with inspectors as they wield a lot of power and can bring a project to a standstill very quickly. The plumbing and electrical reviews went very quickly, with no corrections required. A testament to the plumber and electrician we hired. The framing/structural/mechanical inspection was completed by one guy who will be requiring some costly changes to our project in terms of money, but not in schedule. So we've got that going for us...which is nice.
The biggest items that we have to deal with involve insulating all of the duct work in the basement, and replacing three upstairs windows that are brand new. I attempted to argue that the windows were replacements for exactly what came out of the walls, but this did not matter. They were wrong before and they are wrong still. If I had left the crappy windows in place and replaced them after we were completely signed off he said there would be no problem. So we open the checkbook once more. There were a few smaller items that were on the inspectors list as well that my dad and I took care of for the most part.
Upon hearing the news of our additional window scope, Laura was ready to start arguing with the city to get them to buy off on what has been installed. I told her a story that I was told long ago by the first project superintendent that I worked for. He said that arguing with a building inspector is like wrestling with a pig. Pretty soon you begin to realize that the pig is enjoying it. I have resigned to complying with their requests, stay tuned for Laura's stance.
In general it was a good day "off" from work. The attic vents were completed with only one trip to the big blue box store and one knock to the head that sent me to my knees (I put the hardhat on after that). We fixed a few inspection items including a new attic access hole that I was hoping to not have to do. Our insulation sub confirmed that they will be out next Wednesday to start insulation, and the drywall sub came by to look at the holes in the walls and ceilings that will need to be patched by then. Laura came by after work to meet with a hardwood floor guy that was recommended by our realtor. He has not been so good about returning phone calls and apparently is also not so good about keeping his appointments. He was a no show. So we went to the big blue box store for plywood, concrete and some other miscellaneous items for the next round of tasks.
As I was unloading Laura headed back to the other house to get dinner rolling which was good. I was pretty much worn out from a 12 hour day at the Bungalow. In the cold. In the filthy attic. On my knees. Yeah. Some pancakes and two White Russians hit the spot. Mmmm, mmmm. Dinner of champions.
The next big milestone is still on target, which is to complete the insulation, and have that inspected next Friday. That would allow us to start drywall the following Monday which is huge. That of course hinges on having some heat which is still questionable in that time frame. Wish us luck!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Ready for Inspection
Our subs have been busy over the past week and tomorrow is their day of truth. Justin is taking the day off to be around for our first set of inspections: structural, framing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical. Cross your fingers that we get our signatures. In the meantime, I've been busy arguing with my employer, the gas company about relocating the gas meter to comply with code and meet our load demands. Unfortunately, PSE subcontracts out the work to a company called Pilchuck but does very little in the way of managing their subcontractor; they leave that up to the customer. We need the gas meter hooked up before our drywallers get going so they can hang in heated space, a requirement of their proposal.
Here's our siding & window patchwork in progress.
The electricians made about 100 holes in our plaster walls and ceilings.
Here's our new 95% efficient gas furnace. Oh yeah! Conservation is our game!
Here's Justin dismanteling the bathroom fan the night before the inspection. He never got it back together so we'll have to have our mechanical team back to redo it.
Here's our new 95% efficient gas furnace. Oh yeah! Conservation is our game!
Here's Justin dismanteling the bathroom fan the night before the inspection. He never got it back together so we'll have to have our mechanical team back to redo it.
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